Japan Matsuri in London - Sunday 29th September 2019

Date: 2019 September 25 20:41

Posted by Joe

Fans of Japanese culture in London this weekend will want to head to the Japan Matsuri in Trafalgar Square. Now in it's 11th year the free event is set to run from 10am to 8pm on Sunday 29th September 2019. As always there'll be lots to see and do. Including a watching expert martial arts demonstrations, Japanese music and dance performances.

One of the main draws is always Japanese street food. We've also been told that Japanese fast food favourite MOS burger will be making their UK debut. There's always so much good Japanese food there it can be hard to choose what to eat! Yakisoba! Sushi! Hmmm. It's hard not to drool thinking about food while typing this!

There's also a great family activity tent will teach parents and kids alike manga, calligraphy, origami
and more.

This year's Matsuri marks the official opening of the Japan-UK Season of Culture - an exciting and varied programme of events taking place until the end of 2020.

Full Story

Press release as follows:
SUN 29 SEPTEMBER 2019
10AM - 8PM
TRAFALGAR SQUARE



UK'S BIGGEST FREE JAPANESE FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS SEPTEMBER

Sunday 29th September
Trafalgar Square, London
10am-8pm
Free

• The UK's biggest festival of Japanese culture will take place at Trafalgar Square on Sunday 29 September
• The martial arts stage will showcase expert demonstrations from karate, kyudo, aikido and kendo groups from around the UK
• An eight headed giant monster made from paper will astound the audience to tell the ancient Japanese myth The Story of Orochi
• Full main stage programme of Japanese music, performing arts and dance
• Fill up on authentic Japanese cuisine from 16 of the best Japanese street food stalls including the UK debut of Japanese fast food favourite MOS burger
• The family activity tent will teach parents and kids alike manga, calligraphy, origami and more

Japan Matsuri, the UK's biggest free annual celebration of Japanese food and culture, returns to Trafalgar Square this year as part of the Japan-UK Season of Culture 2019-2020.

With the UK watching their rugby teams battle it out in Japan, the festivities are coming to the UK with workshops, performances, and a feast of Japanese food including takoyaki octopus balls, yakisoba, sushi, kagi-gori (shaved ice), wagyu burgers and much more.

The ancient Shinto theatrical entertainment of kagura will come to the heart of London to tell The Story of Orochi (The Giant Serpent). A 17 metre long costume made entirely out of bamboo and UNESCO-listed Japanese paper will mimic the undulating movements of the serpent in this popular play of Japanese mythology. The Otsu Kagura troupe has travelled all the way from Japan to bring this unmissable display of Japanese culture to London.

The whole square will be bustling with activity areas, stalls selling Japanese goods and offering information on travel in Japan, alongside a second stage dedicated to martial arts where the full spectrum of Japanese martial arts will be on display.

Alongside a jam-packed programme of music, entertainment and food, Japan Matsuri is the perfect event to experience the best of Japanese culture in the UK.

The festival is arranged by volunteers with the support of the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority, Westminster Council, The Japan Association, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, the Nippon Club, Japan Society, the Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan.

Latest information can be found here: http://www.japanmatsuri.com/?page_id=1506

About the Japan-UK Season of Culture

The Japan-UK Season of Culture will unfold in 2019 and 2020, when Japan hosts two sporting landmarks: the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020. It seeks to build on the British people's keen interest in these events byshowcasing Japan's multifaceted attractions. We hope that people all over Britain will join with us in embracing this chance to deepen mutual understanding, thus helping to create an enduring legacy

About the Japan Foundation

The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and became an Independent Administrative Institution in 2003. It promotes international cultural exchange between Japan and the rest of the world, and provides financial support for a range of international cultural exchange programmes. The activities are financed by annual subsidies from the Japanese government; capital gains accrued from the management of our original endowment fund, and contributions and donations from the private sector.

The Japan Foundation London coordinates all of the Foundation's programmes within the UK. It also offers grant support to small projects under our Local Project Support Programme, which is designed to help with the costs of UK-based projects that may not be eligible for funding under our annual programmes. In addition to these central activities, it organises lectures, workshops, seminars, courses, exhibitions and performances.

About Japan Matsuri

Now in its 11th year, Japan Matsuri has grown in to the largest free festival in the UK celebrating all aspects of Japanese culture. This year marks the launch of the Japan UK Season of Culture, a bilateral season of cultural events happening in both nations. For information on the Season of Culture please see

https://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/SeasonCulture/index.html

Source: Japan Matsuri