Tama City's Iceland Week 2026: 9 Days of Culture and Equality

Overview of Iceland Week 2026

Iceland Week 2026 is an international cultural exchange event themed around Iceland and gender equality, held over 9 days from Saturday, June 13 to Sunday, June 21, 2026, at venues throughout Tama City with a focus on Tama Center, Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, and Nagayama. This marks the 5th anniversary of the exchange partnership between Tama City and the Embassy of Iceland in Japan. Through a diverse program of films, lectures, food experiences, photography exhibitions, and school lunches, participants can learn about and experience Iceland's achievements — a country that has ranked No. 1 on the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index for many years.

Why Iceland Leads the World in Gender Equality

Despite being a small nation of approximately 370,000 people, Iceland has advanced gender equality through both legislation and social awareness: it legally mandated an equal pay certification system (2018), introduced separate parental leave entitlements for each parent (with fathers' parental leave uptake exceeding 90%), achieved nearly half of its parliament being women, and set legal quotas for women on corporate boards. In contrast, Japan ranked 118th on the 2024 Gender Gap Index — and one of the goals of this event is to give Tama City residents an opportunity to think about workplace reform, parental leave, and women's empowerment as issues that directly affect their own lives.

Commemorative Lecture and Film Screening

Commemorative Lecture (Registration Required / Free)

• Title: The Appeal of Iceland — the World's Top Country for Gender Equality
• Date: Sunday, June 14
• Venue: Vita Hall, 8th Floor, Sekido Community Center
• Details: Journalist Keiko Hamada (former editor-in-chief of AERA) and Sayuri Daimon (former editor-in-chief of The Japan Times) will discuss the realities of gender equality in Iceland and the challenges facing Japanese society in a panel conversation.
• Capacity: 200 (first-come, first-served; free admission)
• Registration: Advance registration required via the dedicated form on the Tama City official website.

Documentary Film Screening (Registration Required / Paid)

• Film: Woman at War (Icelandic title: Kona fer í stríð / Iceland–France–Ukraine co-production)
• Date: Sunday, June 14 (morning)
• Venue: Sekido Community Center
• Fee: ¥500
• Capacity: 200
• Special: Childcare service available

Food Event and Photography Exhibition

Food Event (No Registration Required)

• Dates: Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21
• Main Venue: Tama Center area
• Highlights: Icelandic lamb sausages, seafood sandwiches using North Atlantic fish and shellfish, Icelandic-style beer, and cakes made with Skyr (traditional Icelandic fermented dairy)

Photography Exhibition "Iceland: A Moment's Eternity" (No Registration / Free)

• Duration: All 9 days of the event period
• Venues: Multiple locations throughout the city, including Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, Tama City Hall lobby, and Parthenon Tama
• Content: Landscape photography featuring the Northern Lights, midnight sun, lava plateaus, glacial lakes, and more

School Lunch Collaboration and Children's International Understanding

Elementary and junior high schools throughout the city will serve special lunches during Iceland Week.

• Period: Monday, June 15 – Friday, June 19
• Content: School lunch menus featuring Icelandic food culture, including Skyr and Nordic vegetables
• Special program: The Ambassador of Iceland to Japan is scheduled to visit some schools

How to Participate and Access to Venues

Programs Requiring Advance Registration

• Commemorative Lecture and Film Screening (first-come, first-served via the dedicated form on the Tama City official website)

Programs with No Registration Required

• Food Event (June 20–21)
• Photography Exhibition (all days during the event period)

Access to Main Venues

• Vita Hall, Sekido Community Center: Approx. 5-minute walk from Tama Center Station (Keio Line / Odakyu Line)
• Tama Center area: Directly accessible from Tama Center Station (Keio Sagamihara Line) / Tama Center Station (Tama Monorail)
• Grinarid Nagayama: Directly connected to Nagayama Station (Odakyu Tama Line) and Odakyu-Nagayama Station (Tama Monorail)

An Opportunity for Tama to Look Out at the World

Iceland Week 2026 originated from the host town partnership between Tama City and Iceland, which began in connection with the Tokyo 2020 Games. Now in its 5th year, it has been held annually each June since 2022. Scheduled to coincide with Iceland's National Day (June 17), the event provides a space to think about gender equality, work styles, childcare, and political participation as everyday, relatable topics. Leveraging Tama City's strength as a community with many families raising children and dual-income households, the 9 days offer something for everyone — from food experiences at shopping malls, to in-depth discussions at lectures, to international education for children through school lunches and ambassador visits — allowing participants to engage with the "world's top country for gender equality" in ways that suit their own interests and lifestyles. For the latest information, details, and registration, please visit the Tama City official website at https://www.city.tama.lg.jp/