The main stage plays host to a variety of performances with some great surprises, new friends to the festival appearing for the first time from Japan and also old friends who are making a welcome return.
Put on your track-suits and get ready to be put through your paces! To keep you fit throughout the day, all the way from Japan there will be exponents of Radio Taiso as seen on Japanese television. For the first time, a selection of Yurukyara®, the character mascots so popular in Japan, will perform and be around to entertain you. Look out for Kumamon®, Gunma chan®, Tagatan®, Ieyasu kun® and – voted the current cutest mascot in Japan – Sanomaru®. Just as cute are this year’s special appearances by a variety of Japanese dog breeds from the large Akita to the small Japanese Chin. After seeing them on the stage there is the chance to meet them all for yourselves.
There is amazing festival taiko drumming, Japanese dance, a live Nodo Jiman karaoke contest with fantastic prizes, classical Japanese music, violin virtuosity from the children of the British Suzuki Institute and the amazing Diana Yukawa. Get ready to be astounded by the feats of skill in the Martial Arts area with demonstrations of kendo, judo, aikido and karate. |
