27 October Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language. The National Unity Radio Dictation

On 27 October, Ukraine marks the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language. One of the day's main events is the National Unity Radio Dictation, which brings together Ukrainian speakers and people who cherish the language around the world each year. Ukrainians in Japan take part too: in 2025, a small group gathered at the Embassy of Ukraine in Tokyo to write the dictation together. Anyone elsewhere in Japan can also participate online.

Ukraine's written heritage reaches back many centuries. Among its remarkable traces are the graffiti preserved on the walls of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. As early as the 11th century, visitors and members of the clergy left short messages about everyday life and prayers on the walls — a kind of ancient counterpart to today's social media platform X (formerly Twitter). These inscriptions survive as valuable sources for studying early features of local speech and daily life in the Kyivan State. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian language faced restrictions and bans under tsarist rule in the 18th and 19th centuries, followed by russification and repression of Ukrainian culture during the Soviet period. Today, amid russian aggression, Ukrainians continue to defend not only their country's independence but also their right to preserve and develop their language and culture.

Ukrainian is also studied in Japan. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Osaka University, and organisations in Kobe, Nagoya and Kyoto offer Ukrainian-language courses. Such educational initiatives give Japanese learners a chance not only to learn a new language but also to discover more about Ukraine's culture and history.

Interestingly, 27 October is also Japan's Day of Written and Printed Culture (文字・活字文化の日). It marks the beginning of the nationwide Reading Week (読書週間), which runs until 9 November. First held in 1947, Reading Week adopted its present dates the following year, encompassing Culture Day on 3 November. The campaign encourages reading and engagement with books, libraries and literature, and resonates with the Japanese expression dokusho no aki (読書の秋), or “autumn of reading.”

The shared date highlights a respect for literacy and learning in both countries. Although the occasions have different histories and purposes, Ukraine and Japan each draw attention on 27 October to the value of knowledge, books and language.