Festival at Ekya School Byrathi Encourages Cross-Cultural Interaction and Sparks Creativity from Japanese Traditions
Art and Education Unite Nations: The India-Japan Children's Mural Project
A remarkable cultural collaboration took place at Ekya School Byrathi during the Japan Festival on August 11, 2025. The India & Japan Children's Mural Project was a joint effort between students from Ekya School and CMR NPS, India, and Japan, under the guidance of renowned Japanese mural artist, Teiko Nishimori.
Teiko Nishimori, the Founder of ICFA Japan, has been leading large-scale mural projects for over 45 years. Her artistic process centres around engaging children in discussions, listening to their ideas, and working together to create murals that celebrate themes such as friendship, peace, and harmony between people, animals, and nature. This was her first mural project in India.
The mural, unveiled by Hokuto Kaya, the Consulate-General of Japan in Bengaluru, in the presence of notable dignitaries from the CMR Group and Ekya Schools, reflects the nature, culture, history, nostalgia, and future of Japan and India. According to Miho Sakata Malhan, Founder of Muse Creation, Bengaluru, who organized the Japan Festival, the mural is a true representation of the friendship between these two nations and their students.
Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy, Founder of Ekya Schools, expressed gratitude for the collaboration and considered the mural a permanent symbol of cultural exchange and creativity. Miho Sakata Malhan remarked that the festival, which included performances, workshops on Origami and Haiku, a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony, and art displays by students, demonstrated how art and education can transcend boundaries, fostering creativity and building bridges between cultures.
Attendees of the Japan Festival left inspired by the power of collaboration and cultural exchange. Teiko Nishimori, reflecting on the project, emphasized the friendship fostered between Japanese and Indian students, expressing hope to continue building this friendship and creating more joint art in the future.
For more information about Ekya Schools and their initiatives, visit their website. This collaboration celebrates cross-cultural creativity and the shared values between the two nations through children's art. The mural stands as a testament to the enduring bond between India and Japan, fostered by the imaginative minds of the next generation.
- The India-Japan Children's Mural Project, an educational event, brought together students from Ekya School and CMR NPS, India, and Japan, with the guidance of Teiko Nishimori, a renowned artist and the Founder of ICFA Japan.
- The mural, a work of art, reflecting cultures, histories, and futures of Japan and India, was unveiled during the Japan Festival, a lifestyle event that included performances, workshops, and art displays.
- The collaboration between Ekya Schools and CMR Group, fostered by the mural project and the Japan Festival, demonstrated how education-and-self-development initiatives can promote cross-cultural creativity and personal-growth.
- The mural, symbolizing friendship, peace, and harmony, serves as a permanent symbol of home-and-garden décor, showcasing the shared values of the two nations and their students.
- Future travelers, visiting Ekya School Byrathi, can witness firsthand the fruit of this remarkable collaboration, a true symbol of the lasting bond between India and Japan, built on the foundation of learning and creativity.
