Polish-Japanese cultural cooperation

Collaboration with Japan in Polish-Japanese cultural cooperation at Serfenta has been ongoing for many years. Sometimes people are surprised. How did we get from Cieszyn all the way to Tokyo? And now, we’re going to be part of the World Expo in Osaka 2025! This is the largest and most important cultural and economic event in the world. We’ll be there thanks to the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship and our long-standing collaboration with Japan at Serfenta. We’re proud to once again present our work and Poland’s cultural heritage! But how did it all begin?

How did it all begin?

At Serfenta, we’ve been collaborating with Japan for quite some time. Ofcourse, not with the entire country as such, though that’s how we often phrase it—but rather with partners from Japan. It all started with our personal fascination with Japanese culture, but let us now share the story of our Polish-Japanese collaboration.

In 2018, Paulina visited Japan in person and met entrepreneurs who have become our long-term partners. Our partnership began in 2018, when we met Izumi Fujita from Slowart Poland, a Japanese woman living in Poland. She works on promoting Polish cultural heritage abroad. After that, the same year, Paulina was invited to the Hankyu Fair in Osaka, where she presented Polish basketry. At that time, Serfenta was very much focused on showcasing Polish artisan basketry abroad.

OUR PARTNERS

Tomotake Ichikawa and the Takekagoya shop

Mr. Ichikawa took over the basketry craft store from his father and has been running it for years with his wife. They are deeply committed to continuing their family’s heritage business. They sell baskets from Japan and around the world and recognize the great value in craftwork.

„Sometimes the baskets teach us the culture and life of those who live in other areas. Also it depends on “the climate”, the climate decides “what plants are grown there”. Between hot areas and cold areas, near the sea area and near the mountain area, the baskets are going to be different – material, how to harvest, shapes, how to weave, how to use. I think “making baskets” is quite a simple thing, but on the other hand, the world of basketry is so deep and wide. It’s kind of regional, historical, natural, essential, sometimes personal, familiar.” – Mr Ichikawa wrote.

The Itos – Owners of Kagoamidori Shop, currently in Nagano

Kagoamidori – We’ve collaborated with the Itos on many levels, and we are very grateful for that. As a result, small but sweet example: we were featured on a Japanese tenugui hand towel made by Kagoamidori, along with our Polish basket. It’s Zogata basket – an exceptional, unique product very well liked by Japanese customers. They appreciate its authenticity, precise craftsmanship, and the unique material: spruce roots. The tenugui is used in Japan for drying hands and carried in handbags as a beautiful everyday item. In Japan, aesthetic value in everyday products is greatly appreciated. You can view this special towel at Serfenta in Cieszyn.

Thanks to Pola Pong, Paulina also visited the Nokogiri Art Gallery, where she showcased the works of Polish master artisans and Serfenta’s work. She also conducted hands-on Polish basketry workshops in Osaka for Japanese participants.

POLISH BASKETS FESTIVAL IN TOKYO

In 2020, our collaboration led to a Trade Mission, funded by Serfenta. We were supposed to travel to Japan and organize the Polish Baskets Festival with Asako Ito. However, as fate would have it, 2020 was the year the pandemic hit, and the whole event had to take place online. We rose to the challenge and held the festival virtually. But we truly regret missing the opportunity to promote Polish culture in person.

The event was called The Festival of Textiles and Baskets from Poland and also featured a double woven textile from Podlasie. Finally we prepared presentations and materials about Polish craft and cultural heritage for Japanese audiences to promote Polish heritage.

For the festival, we created a special video featuring Cieszyn-based artist and graphic designer Alicja Woźnikowska from Dinksy. Alicja painted a traditional Polish willow basket—the kabłącok—using ink painting techniques. This graphic became our symbol for promoting Polish culture worldwide. You can even see the film and the whole painting process!

We also published a catalog in Japanese based on our book “Baskets – Stories from a Journey Along the Basketry Trail of the Vistula.” This publication made its way to Japan and is still available in our collection. (Let us know if you’d like to get it!)

Are We Still Selling Polish Baskets?

Yes, you can still find them in our store: sklep.serfenta.pl.

Thanks to our strong relationships with partners, we’ve been selling baskets made by Polish Master artisans in Japan for many years. At the same time, Serfenta has undergone a major transformation and expansion, leading us to our own Innovative Model for the Revitalization of Craft—check it out and learn more!

sklep.serfenta.pl

Check also our newest project: https://hiheritage.com/

Craft Experience – A Touch of Polish Culture

Our collaboration is not limited to products. Our specialty is the promotion of the craft experience. Japanese groups have visited us in Poland and taken part in our CRAFT TOUR—a dedicated, immersive basketry experience. They wove with us using wicker and other Polish materials, explored Polish culture, cuisine, language, and experienced craft with all their senses.

We also offer individual craft experience workshops, and people from Japan have travelled specifically to Cieszyn to participate. This allows them to discover Polish culture, our region, and its local secrets. You can see what a visit like that looks like!

Polish-Japanese cultural cooperation – SHARED VALUES

Our partners have also visited us in Poland. Asako Ito came to build a business relationship and to ensure that Serfenta operates in the right spirit—aligned with Japanese values and in an environmentally sustainable way. These values are meaningful for both of our countries, for us personally, and for our partners.

Botanical materials and a tactile connection with nature, authenticity, sustainability, combining heritage values with business, and masterful craftsmanship that emphasizes the creator—these are the values we share.

In 2023, we had the pleasure of meeting our partner Tomotake Ichikawa in person in Poland during the International Festival of Basketry and Wickerwork in Poznań. It was a beautiful moment of reunion and also an opportunity to meet a Japanese basketmaker who creates stunning pieces.

In 2023, we had the pleasure of meeting our partner Tomotake Ichikawa in person in Poland during the International Festival of Basketry and Wicker in Poznań. It was a beautiful moment of reunion and also an opportunity to meet a Japanese basketmaker who creates stunning pieces.

TOUCHING JAPAN – knowledge and experience

In 2023, we took part in Touching Japan in Warsaw, organized by SWPS University at the invitation of Dr. Olga Barbasiewicz, a specialist in Polish-Japanese relations. We shared our partnership story and international experiences at Serfenta and even met the Ambassador of Japan in Poland.

Through our work, we’ve also made connections with the TOBUNKEN Research Institute and enjoyed a warm exchange of experiences with Yumi Yoshida from Asagao.pl. Together with Asagao and the Polish Institute in Tokyo, we participated in the Polish Festival in Tokyo 2021.

EXPO OSAKA 2025 – Polish-Japanese cultural cooperation

This year, we are honored to take part in the economic conference at the Expo in Osaka, as part of the Silesian Voivodeship program, organized by the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship. We’ll present the success of our association and company, and, of course, talk about the unique nature of our Polish-Japanese cooperation in the field of cultural heritage. We are proud and thrilled to showcase Polish cultural heritage in Japan. And of course, we won’t forget our beloved hometown—Cieszyn and Cieszyn Silesia.

If you’re planning to attend Expo, feel free to reach out! We’ll be there in person on May 6–7.

Heritage that drives the future

Poland will be showcased under the slogan: “Poland. Heritage that drives the future”—emphasizing how important it is to draw inspiration from the achievements of past generations and transform them into a force for the future.
And that is exactly what we do at Serfenta ❤ We’re excited and happy!

Polska Agencja Inwestycji i Handlu – PAIHPoland at EXPOExpo2025 大阪・関西万博 Cieszyn robi wrażenieMiasto Cieszyn