Japanese kirié artist Kubo Shu led two paper-cutting workshops in Egypt. photo credit of Japan embassy
Kubo led two paper-cutting workshops in Egypt on 26–27 March, giving participants in Cairo and Alexandria hands-on experience of the traditional Japanese craft.
The workshops were held at the Japanese embassy’s Media and Culture Centre in Cairo and at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. They introduced Egyptian participants to kirié, an intricate paper-cutting technique, and highlighted growing cultural ties between Egypt and Japan.
Participants practised cutting designs inspired by Japanese and Egyptian motifs, including Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms, and lotus flowers, using precision tools before creating their own handmade greeting cards.
The sessions combined technical instruction with creative work, giving attendees direct experience of the delicate craft.
Kubo, whose work spans exhibitions and cultural programmes across 17 countries, also presented a selection of his previous artworks themed around Japan’s four seasons. His portfolio includes designing New Year greeting cards and product packaging in Japan.
Japanese kirié artist Kubo Shu with Egyptian participants at the two paper-cutting workshops
The workshops are part of ongoing cultural exchange efforts aimed at deepening mutual understanding through the arts, giving Egyptian audiences access to a traditional Japanese technique and contemporary interpretations of it.
Kirié, a meticulous form of paper cutting, has long been associated with Japanese visual culture, requiring patience and precision to produce detailed, lace-like compositions.
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