Karachi : Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Mr. Jameel Ahmad inaugurated a Japanese pottery exhibition ‘Yakishime – Earth Metamorphosis’ at the State Bank Museum. He was accompanied by the Deputy
Governor SBP Mr. Saleem Ullah and the senior management of the Bank. This two-week exhibition by the Japan Foundation is among the activities by the Consulate General of Japan in Karachi to promote
cultural exchange between Japan and Pakistan. This year, the exhibition is jointly organized with State Bank Museum and Pakistan Japan Cultural Association (PJCA) Sindh.
Speaking on the occasion the Governor SBP highlighted that Japanese culture in general and Japanese
ceramic culture in particular have always been a topic of interest to the public in Pakistan. He elaborated that cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts are instrumental in fostering
understanding and goodwill between nations. ‘The Cultural Agreement signed in 1957 between Pakistan and Japan has been the bedrock for bilateral relations and lays the groundwork for broadening
and deepening the cultural relations between the two countries’, he said.
Appreciating the historic collaboration between the financial institutions of the two countries, Mr. Ahmad shared that the third-ever overseas branch of the Bank of Tokyo was opened in Karachi in 1953.
He was of the view that collaboration between both countries can facilitate and strengthen trade and
investment besides helping the exchange of information, best practices, and regulatory frameworks in financial systems.
Mr. HATTORI Masaru, Consul General of Japan was delighted to see the interest in Japanese culture by the Pakistani audience. He reiterated that the Consulate will strive to bring and curate Japanese cultural exchange programs to further strengthen the relations between the two countries.
The exhibition, which runs until February 7th 2024 introduces the ceramics technique yakishime which
fires unglazed wares at high temperatures. By presenting more than 80 pieces of yakishime from the
earliest examples to contemporary work, this exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to the people of Pakistan to experience a sensibility and aesthetic unique to Japan. Along with the pottery exhibition,
Japan related lectures and workshops featuring Calligraphy, Indigo Dye, Pottery, Origami will be
organized at the State Bank Museum. The annual Japanese Calendar exhibition is also going to take place at the same venue from January 26th to February 7th.
Diplomats, Bankers, Art lovers, and city notables attended the ceremony. The exhibition is open to public, with free entrance from January 25th to February 7th 2024.
