Japan Matsuri in Spitalfields promises a day of traditional and modern Japanese festival entertainment. You will find old favourites such as water balloons and masks, o-mikoshi, bon dancing. Taiko rhythms from Joji Hirota and his taiko drummers and Thames Taiko, will feature alongside the Okinawan beat of the London Sanshin-kai, the specially reformed Frank Chickens ('one of John Peel's favourite groups from the 1980s') and Hanjiro, a 4 piece jazz-type indie band formed in 2007.

No matsuri is complete without good Japanese festival food and there will be plenty of that on 19th September. The crafting area, 'collect a story' and manga wall will provide entertainment for children and others of a creative mind. Demonstrations and displays give insights into an eclectic mix of content with martial arts, cookery, traditional music and more.

Japan Matsuri is organized by the Japan Society and Japanese Residents' Association, with support from the Embassy of Japan, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nippon Club and Spitalfields Trading Estate. We are grateful to the many companies who have provided financial assistance and to the dedicated team of volunteers who have planned the event.

Get involved!
Bring your family and friends to support this day of celebration of the Japanese community in the UK. Japan Matsuri opens to the public from 10am - 8pm on Saturday, 19th September 2009.
Participate in Nodojiman - the J-factor. Anyone, whatever their nationality, who can sing a Japanese song in Japanese, is encouraged to enter.
Enter the Japan Matsuri photography competition, for the best festival image from the day. Capture the spirit of the Matsuri and win fabulous prizes!

Japan Matsuri will take place at Spitalfields market in Brushfield Street E1 just a few minutes' walk from Liverpool Street station(mainline and underground), Aldgate or Aldgate East.

Visit the website at www.japanmatsuri.com or contact intern@japansociety.org.uk to find out more.