Here's a link to an article about the celebration of Lafcadio Hearn (who spent part of his career in Kumamoto) in Greece:

"It was a marvellous night for a romance on the Ionian island of Lefkada in Greece recently as more than 1,000 people gathered after a glorious sunset in the outdoor Open Theatre looking out onto a beautiful blue lagoon to savour a magical performance by a leading puppet theatre from Kumamoto in Japan."

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/celebrating-lafcadio-hearn-1.1899523