The Japanese traveling exhibition “I Love Sushi” opened Thursday, September 17, at the Mohammed El Fassi Gallery in Rabat as part of celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Japan.
Organized by the Embassy of Japan in Morocco in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the exhibition will run until October 2 and invites Moroccan audiences to discover sushi from a different perspective. Beyond its status as an iconic part of Japanese cuisine, sushi is presented as an expression of Japanese craftsmanship, aesthetics and culture.
The exhibition by the Japan Foundation, Japan’s organization dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries, explores the different facets of sushi, its evolution in Japan and the diversity of its forms and preparations.
The exhibition also focuses on the importance placed on presentation, balance, colors and seasonality, all of which hold an important place in Japanese culinary culture. Visitors can discover a selection of sushi models that allow them to closely observe the diversity and aesthetic richness of these preparations.
Through a visual and educational approach, the exhibition offers visitors a better understanding of sushi, its history, different forms and place in contemporary Japanese culture. It also shows how sushi, while remaining deeply rooted in Japanese tradition, has adapted and developed in different parts of the world.
Speaking to the press on the occasion, Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Morocco, Nakata Masahiro, welcomed the opening of the exhibition, describing it as a valuable opportunity for Moroccan audiences to discover “real sushi” and its history.
Stressing that Morocco is “a very important partner” for Japan, Masahiro expressed his hope that bilateral cooperation would be strengthened further, particularly through the promotion of cultural exchanges.
Nadia El Hayad, head of the Visual Arts Division at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, also welcomed the initiative by the Embassy of Japan in Morocco to organize the exhibition devoted to sushi, an iconic element of Japanese cuisine.
She added that the event, which runs for around two weeks, is particularly significant because it is a traveling exhibition that is being presented in several countries.
Through sushi, the exhibition also provides an opportunity to showcase values associated with Japanese culture, including attention to detail, harmony, respect for the seasons and the pursuit of balance, making cuisine a vehicle for intercultural dialogue.
