Japan’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary entertainment scene will take center stage in Morocco throughout November 2026, with a series of events organized by the Embassy of Japan in Morocco. The celebrations coincide with Japan’s national Culture Day, known as Bunka no Hi (文化の日), observed annually on November 3 to honor culture, artistic expression, and freedom. This year’s program also forms part of the commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Morocco, bringing together traditional Japanese culture, anime, manga, and cinema across Rabat and Casablanca.

The festivities will begin with the Japanese Anime & Manga Festival, scheduled for November 9 and 10. Dedicated to the creative worlds of Japanese animation and comics, the event will take place on November 9 at the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat, followed by a second session on November 10 at the Anfa Cultural Complex in Casablanca. Both events will run from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, offering audiences in the two cities an opportunity to celebrate Japanese pop culture and its growing international influence.

Cinema enthusiasts will have another major event to look forward to on November 13, with a special screening of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (La Traversée du temps). The screening will be held at the Ciné-Théâtre Lutetia in Casablanca at 7:00 PM, in the presence of acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda, the director behind the animated feature. His attendance represents a notable highlight of the cultural program, offering Moroccan audiences a rare opportunity to experience one of his celebrated works in a special setting.

The month’s celebrations will culminate on November 26 with JAPAN FESTIVAL: Tradition Meets Pop Culture, Du Soleil Levant à Al-Maghrib, beginning at 5:00 PM at the Villa des Arts in Rabat. The event will highlight the meeting of Japanese traditions and modern pop culture, reflecting the cultural connections between the two countries. Through this varied program, the Embassy of Japan aims to introduce Moroccan audiences to different aspects of Japanese creativity while strengthening cultural exchanges during this significant diplomatic anniversary.

Japan Celebrates 70 Years of Morocco Ties with November Cultural Events