Japan Matsuri


The much-loved JAPAN MATSURI returns to London on Saturday 27th September at Trafalgar Square in the central of London.

The much-loved JAPAN MATSURI returns to London on Saturday 27th September at Trafalgar Square in the central of London. This dynamic annual event brings people together to enjoy Japanese food, music, dance, family activities and much, much more.

Everything kicks off at 11 am and runs through till 9 pm. On the performance stage at various times throughout the day are our special guests from Japan putting everyone through their paces with Radio Taiso, exercise routines which all Japanese people have grown up with.

The Japan Matsuri team is busy planning an exciting programme for the day, including the thrilling sounds of taiko and other fabulous musicians, festival dance and opportunities for audience participation including the ever popular Nodojiman! Watch this space for more information.

Enjoy the atmosphere of a Japanese festival with food from the numerous stalls. All the family can join in the fun in the activities area with games and dressing in kimono. Try your hand Japanese cartoons on the manga wall.

Japan Matsuri is organized by Japan Matsuri Ltd., comprising the Japan Association in the UK, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the UK, the Japan Society and the Nippon Club, and supported by the Embassy of Japan.

www.japanmatsuri.com

SELECTED ARTIST INFO

 

Japan Matsuri 2014

 

The Japan Matsuri, now in its sixth year, is a dynamic annual event that brings the Japanese community and Londoners together to enjoy an amazing day of Japanese culture, food, live music, martial arts, dance, arts, crafts and much more. There is a strong family focus with lots of free activities for children. It's the largest annual gathering of Japanese people in the UK and a great family day for all Londoners.

 

Family Activities

 

 Japan Matsuri 2014

 

Japan Matsuri 2014 offers a fantastic family fun day with an amazing array of traditional Japanese games, chances to learn the secrets of Origami or become a manga artist and display your masterpiece in front of the National Gallery. All this along with stunting live visual displays blending the best of modern and traditional Japan.

 

Throughout the day, there will be an opportunity to play Japan's three most loved and popular festival games, we will be running origami and manga art workshops. There will be a fabulous opportunity for all the family to display their artwork skills in front of the National Gallery on the amazing Manga Wall. During the afternoon see a range of exquisite visual displays combining traditional Japanese costumes and fabrics with live models in original artworks inspired by the National Gallery collection and St Martin-in-the-fields.  To add to the amazing festive fun Japan's top five most lovable mascots will be making regular appearances to charm the hearts of young and old alike.

 

Performance and Stall

 

Radio Taiso

 

Radio Taiso is back!! Let's exercise together!!

 

Radio Taiso ( Radio exercise) appeared on Japan Matsuri 2012. They had big attentions from the audiences.

 

The performers come from the exercise NHK TV show in Japan. Radio exercise is a popular activity in Japan, where schools and offices exercise for 3 minutes every morning to energise their students and workforces. The presenters of this TV show will be appearing at Japan Matsuri to put the attendees through their paces!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS92XkVKM0Q

 

Yurukyara

 

Yurukyara® Mascot Show with Naomi Suzuki Lately there has been a growing trend in Japan for “Yurukyara” (laid –back characters), cute mascots to aid in the PR of major towns and cities. This year’s Japan Matsuri, the biggest Japanese culture event in the UK, will host the most popular Yurukyara mascots, as voted by the citizens of Japan. They are SANOMARU, KUMAMON, GUNMA-CHAN, IEYASU KUN and TAGATAN. KUMAMON is the star  Mascot. SANOMARU was No1, and GUNMA-CHAN and IEYASU KUN were top finalists of “Yurukyara Grand Prix” 2013 which is the most famous cute mascot competition in Japan. TAGATAN did not win the competition but TAGATAN works hard to spread the word about this gem of the UNESCO Memory of the World register.

 

TAGATAN is looking forward to meeting Naomi Suzuki, MC for the show who is an ambassador of TAGATAN. We hope we can introduce this new and exciting part of Japanese culture to the UK together with venue in London. We believe that this event will not only be beneficial to the Japanese local governments, but also help to strengthen the ties between Japan and the UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6W-7PBR4jQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBN_FzDCA2k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Nr6cdvoqg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRGcOhdjQQo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_d4VOUpknc

 

?The Super J Culture Fashion Performance This haunting performance is a fusion of Japanese tradition and Western style. Fashion models will grace the catwalk in front of a backdrop of the 4 Japanese seasons. These 4 Japanese-themed worlds will showcase a collaboration of beautiful and nouvelle music, kimono co-ordination, and dynamic dance & kung fu performance. With the addition of traditional Japanese instruments such as the shamisen and taiko drums, the stage will be transformed into a fantastical never-before-seen spectacle. Music Producer and Violinist, Ryoma, is a highly reputable and talented up-and-coming artist. Vocalist Naomi Suzuki (AJ Unity) is the most well known Japanese vocalist in the UK, whose oriental voice is often described as surprisingly beautiful. Joji Hirota is the best taiko drummer in the UK. Our designers are currently in charge of costuming in a variety of Hollywood movies, British dramas, and commercials as well as famous fashion magazine Vogue. David Cheung is an amazing professional stunt actor who has worked on various feature productions including Skyfall and 47 Ronin. He is also a martial arts specialist and performs at various shows.

An on-stage collaboration of flickering torchlights, intense ninja dance, music, and beautiful kimono-inspired fashion will transport spectators.

http://www.ajunity.com/  http://www.naomisuzuki.co.uk/  http://ryoma-project.jimdo.com/

 

Joji Hirota

 

Composer, Japanese Taiko Drummer, Multi-Percussionist, Shakuhachi player and Singer Joji's prolific career spans over 30 years and 16 albums, sculpting dynamic landscapes of rhythm and haunting melodies with the themes of nature and the beauty in every day life. Since receiving a commendation from the UK Japanese Embassy from Ambassador Orita in 2003 for his contribution to Japanese culture overseas through his musical activities, he has continued to work on a vast number of diverse projects, and with his recent 'Beyond The Requiem' charity concert tours with the London Metropolitan Orchestra in the UK and Japan, has strived to make a difference by supporting the people affected by the Earthquake disaster of 2011 through music.

http://www.jojihirota.com/index.html

 

Tsumura Reijiro

 

A Noh actor and important intangible cultural heritage.

 

 

Stalls

 

Washoku

 

Traditional Japanese cuisine, has been widely lauded around the world.

In December 2013, it was granted the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage designation.

There a lot of Japanese stalls people can taste popular Japanese foods!

 

Washoku is a social practice based on a set of skills, knowledge, practice and traditions related to the production, processing, preparation and consumption of food. It is associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature that is closely related to the sustainable use of natural resources. The basic knowledge and the social and cultural characteristics associated with Washoku are typically seen during New Year celebrations. The Japanese make various preparations to welcome the deities of the incoming year, pounding rice cakes and preparing special meals and beautifully decorated dishes using fresh ingredients, each of which has a symbolic meaning. These dishes are served on special tableware and shared by family members or collectively among communities. The practice favours the consumption of various natural, locally sourced ingredients such as rice, fish, vegetables and edible wild plants. The basic knowledge and skills related to Washoku, such as the proper seasoning of home cooking, are passed down in the home at shared mealtimes. Grassroots groups, schoolteachers and cooking instructors also play a role in transmitting the knowledge and skills by means of formal and non-formal education or through practice.

 

https://en.cookpad.com/what-is-washoku

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/RL/00869

 

Notes to Editors

Features, previews and interviews requested please

August 29, 2014 7:26am ET by Manilla PR Ltd.   Comments (0)

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