Japan Festival at Trafalgar Square, London
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Japan Festival at Trafalgar Square, London Taiko Drumming, Japanese Dance, Nodojiman Karaoke Competition, Martial Arts, Cosplay, Manga, Radio Taiso, Yurukyara® Message from Mr Keiichi Hayashi Ambassador of Japan It is a great pleasure events, on this occasion made with tasty rice from for me to welcome you to Fukushima prefecture. However, this year the festival photos by: Ashley Gee-allaway / Brian Cottam / Dal Pai / Elena Chaykina / Gisele Lozada / Hidekazu Nakamura / Masafumi Gucci Yamaguchi / Ronny Birba / Serge Renaudie / Wee Bing Tan JAPAN MATSURI 2014 also features authentic Wagyu beef from Japan, which in Trafalgar Square. This is making its debut in London! 5904_90x125_v4_Layout 1 02/09/2014 17:16 Page 1 spectacular event is now Through our enjoyment of eating together, in its sixth consecutive participating in today’s activities and sharing in year. Each year the festival has gone from strength to the excitement of the stage performances and strength, enabling growing numbers of Londoners demonstrations, I am certain that the warm friendship to experience various elements of Japanese culture, and the deepening ties of mutual understanding presented mainly by the Japanese community in the between the peoples of our two nations will be Your own beautifully appointed UK. JAPAN MATSURI has now become an attractive enhanced still further. compartment in the sky forum in which top performers from Japan can make Our gratitude is due to Japan Matsuri Ltd, consisting their London debuts. The festival’s steadily expanding of the Japan Association in the UK, the Japan Chamber appeal testifies to the excellent relations between Japan of Commerce and Industry in the UK, the Japan Society and the United Kingdom and the extent to which these and the Nippon Club, for arranging today’s event. May • JAL’s daily ties are valued by so many people. I also express my appreciation to the Greater London Boeing 777 The theme of this year’s JAPAN MATSURI is Authority and the City of Westminster Council as well flight between ‘washoku’, or Japanese cuisine. The Japanese culinary as all the other organisations and individuals whose London and Tokyo culture is firmly founded upon a deep respect for nature efforts have been indispensable in making today’s • Fully flat-bed seat and the abundance of foodstuffs with which Japan festival possible. • Unobstructed aisle access is blessed, both on land and in the surrounding seas, • 23-inch LCD monitor and reflects the distinct character of each of the four • Airweave mattress and pillow seasons. Friends of Japan in London and from around sample menus • Retractable privacy partitions the UK will be pleased to find their favourite offerings such as takoyaki and yakisoba, or chirashizushi, a special sushi dish typically prepared to celebrate happy family member Visit www.uk.jal.com or call 0344 8 569 778 Programme 17:30 Hibiki Ensemble Please be aware that exact timings may change during the day. 18:10 SIRO-A Main Stage 18:30 Diana Yukawa 18:55 Radio Taiso – Keep Fit the Japanese Way 11:00 Opening Ceremony 19:05 Reijiro Tsumura: Hakurakusei 11:25 Thames Taiko and O-mikoshi Procession 19:35 Super J-Culture – Fashion Performance 11:40 Radio Taiso – Keep Fit the Japanese Way 19:55 Radio Taiso – Keep Fit the Japanese Way 11:55 Hiroko Tanaka Japanese Dancers 20:10 Joji Hirota London Taiko Drummers 12:15 Judo from the Budokwai * The name ‘yurukyara’ was created by Jun Miura and is his registered trademark together with Fusosha Publishing 12:35 Yurukyara® Mascot show with Naomi Suzuki* 13:05 Japanese Breed Dog Show 13:15 Radio Taiso – Keep Fit the Japanese Way Martial Arts Stage 13:25 Nodojiman – The J-Factor 14:20 Eisa Dance: London Bunka Yochien 12:00 Wakaba Kendo Club 14:30 Radio Taiso – Keep Fit the Japanese Way 12:30 London Aikikai 14:40 Thames Taiko 13:00 Judo with the Budokwai 15:15 British Suzuki Institute 13:30 Wakaba Kendo Club 15:40 Teikyo School Bon Dancers 14:00 Wan-Wan Corner – meet the Japanese dog breeds 15:50 Japanese Breed Dog Show 15:00 Wakaba Kendo Club 16:00 Green Chorus 15:30 London Aikikai 16:15 Radio Taiso – Keep Fit the Japanese Way 16:00 Okinawan Traditional Goju-ryu Karate-do 16:25 Okinawa Sanshinkai – Folk Music and Dance from Okinawa 16:30 Judo with the Budokwai 16:55 Yurukyara® Mascot show with Naomi Suzuki* 17:00 Wakaba Kendo Club 17:20 Radio Taiso – Keep Fit the Japanese Way 17:30 Okinawan Traditional Goju-ryu Karate-do Matsuri Map The National Gallery Piccadilly Circus MANGA WALL Leicester Square WATER BALL GAME MARTIAL ARTS STAGE GUEST AREA Trafalgar Square ■ main stage ■ martial arts stage MAIN STAGE ■ activity area WATER BALL GAME ■ hot food stalls ACTIVITY AREA other stalls INFORMATION CENTRE London ■ Charing Cross ■ information centre Charing Cross Matsuri Performers Japanese Dog Show 13:05 - 13:15, 15:50 - 16:00 Five Japanese dog breeds make their first appearance on the Square for Japan Matsuri this year: Akita, Please be aware that exact timings may change during the day. Akita Inu, Shiba Inu, Japanese Spitz and Japanese Chin. Find out more about the dogs and chat to their Main Stage owners at the special afternoon meet-the-breeds session in ‘Wan-Wan Corner’ in the martial arts area at 14:00. O-mikoshi procession with Teikyo School from 11:25 Nodojiman: The J-Factor 13:25 - 14:15 In true matsuri fashion a mikoshi portable shrine is carried around the site in celebration by students Members of the general public test their vocal chords and try to impress the Japan Matsuri judging of the Teikyo Japanese School. panel, with Minister Hiroshi Kawamura, Dr David Hughes and Michael Spencer. The winner receives a return ticket to Japan provided courtesy of ANA, with other fantastic prizes for the runners-up Thames Taiko 11:25 - 11:40, 14:40 - 15:05 Eisa Dance: London Bunka Yochien 14:20 - 14:30 Formed originally for the Japanese Jamboree at the 2008 Thames Festival, Thames Taiko was an instant hit. Enormously popular participants at festivals, we are thrilled to have them back with us at Japan A huge favourite from past Japan Matsuri, we look forward to the return of the children from the Lon- Matsuri! don Bunka Japanese kindergarten, performing their new and improved Eisa dance. They are charm personified! Radio Taiso 11:40 - 11:55 British Suzuki Institute 15:15 - 15:30 NHK radio taiso is part of the sound track to the lives of everyone who has been to school in Japan - and many others besides. Three official presenters are with us for Japan Matsuri 2014 - chief instructor The Suzuki Method is based on the philosophy and teaching methods developed by the Japanese vio- Hajime Tago and two assistants, Yuka Itsukaichi and Ami Matsushita. They are on stage at various linist, pedagogue and humanitarian, Dr Shinichi Suzuki. Also called the “mother tongue method”, Su- points throughout the day to put Japan Matsuri-goers through their paces. Look out also for a team of zuki is based on the principle that all children can learn. Led by Mona Kodama, this year’s performance radio taiso supporters joining them from Japan, who are in the audience to help you if you get stuck! includes an arrangement of Soran Bushi, written especially for Japan Matsuri. Hiroko Tanaka Japanese Dancers 11:55 - 12:15 Teikyo School Bon Dancers 15:40 - 15:50 Japanese dance (Nihon Buyo) is a refined dance-form developed over four centuries. Designed to be The students from Teikyo School make a welcome return to Japan Matsuri 2014 with their take on performed on stage, it is strongly influenced by Kabuki theatre dance, but also contains elements of Japanese bon dances – an essential part of any festival. Noh theatre and folk dances. The circular movements and props are from Noh and spinning and jump- Green Chorus 16:00 - 16:15 ing are expressions from Japanese folk dance. This is London’s very own Japanese women’s choir which takes great pride in performing Japanese Judo from the Budokwai 12:15 - 12:25 music, singing not only in Japanese but conveying the essence of the singers’ home country. The choir’s Making their debut on the main stage this year, members of the famous Budokwai judo club demon- repertoire includes Japanese, English and world classical choral music and folk songs; conducted by strate precision drilled kata. Mikiko Ridd Yurukyara® Mascot show with Naomi Suzuki* 12:35 - 13:05, 16:55 - 17:20 Okinawa Sanshinkai 16:25 - 16:45 Come and meet some special visitors at 2014 Japan Matsuri! We have five Yurukyara® mascots coming London Okinawa Sanshinkai is a multinational group that shares a love of music from Okinawa and from towns and cities across Japan. Kumamon is joining us together with Sanomaru, Gunma-chan, the surrounding Ryukyu islands. Members range from young children and teenagers through to adults. Ieyasu-kun and Tagatan. Find out where they are from and what they do to promote their home re- They seek to promote and share the unique culture of the Ryukyu people through music and dance gions. You can find them on stage and around Trafalgar Square throughout the day. performance and this year have just returned from performing at the World Eisa Festival in Okinawa Martial Arts Stage Hibiki Ensemble 17:30 - 17:55 Wakaba Kendo Club 12:00 - 12:30, 13:30 - 14:00, 15:00 - 15:30, 17:00 - 17:30 Hibiki performs traditional and contemporary Japanese music known as sankyoku on koto (13-stringed Founded in 1993, Wakaba Kendo Club is the largest children’s kendo dojo in London, with about 30 long zither) and 17-stringed bass koto, shamisen (3-stringed long-necked lute) and shakuhachi registered students aged between five and eighteen years.