Mansudae Art Troupe’s Tour in Japan (1973)

In the summer of 1973, North Korea’s Mansudae Art Troupe undertook a landmark tour of Japan, marking the first time a major North Korean performance troupe visited the country since its founding in 1948. Over a span of approximately 41 days, from August to mid-September, the troupe staged performances across key cities including Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Kobe, and others. This unprecedented tour followed the 1972 North Korea–Japan Cultural Exchange Agreement and functioned as a significant act of cultural diplomacy. Known for its appearances across over 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and China, the Mansudae Art Troupe’s Japan tour reflected North Korea’s strategic use of the arts to project national identity.

Tour dates and cities include:

Tokyo (Aug 2–6, 5 days, 7 performances)

Nagoya (Aug 8–11, 4 days, 6 performances)

Osaka (Aug 13–18, 6 days, 8 performances)

Hiroshima (Aug 23–25, 3 days, 4 performances)

Fukuoka (Aug 28–31, 4 days, 5 performances)

Kyoto (Sep 3–4, 2 days, 3 performances)

Kobe (Sep 5–7, 3 days, 4 performances)

Tokyo (Sep 11–13, 3 days, 4 performances)