Rascals
Joint Japan Venture
November 2007 – present
Funds have been awarded to the Rascals group to help finance the events of the elderly community. The Rascals group hold Japanese related events to strengthen the bonds within the community.

Interface Learning
Japanese Arts Summer School
July – August 2007
A Japan themed float was created for a parade in July. This was then followed up by an exciting 3 day intensive Japanese arts school teaching 13-25 year olds about manga, taiko and costume design.

Frith Manor Primary School
Ourselves our Culture
Februry – March 2007
This event was held in part celebration of the re-opening of a school building that was destroyed by a fire in 2000. Japanese language and culture was taught, with performances from Joji Hirota too. 15% of the school are of Japanese origin.

crossover uk
“The Renewability” Haiku Hike
November 2006 – February 2007
The haiku and photos made during the interactive Haiku-Hike project show the different stages of development and environmental changes at the site of the London Olympics 2012.

University of Leicestershire – Japan Society
Japan in a Day
November 2006
The Japan day presented various activities related to Japan. Workshops on noh and tea ceremony were held. Participants learned about manga, ikebana and calligraphy. A talk on Japanese Space Science was given by the Japanese Space Agency Professor.

Japan Society North West
Japan Day Manchester
October 2006
A fun day at Manchester Town Hall filled with Japanese activities. Over 1500 people attended and watched demonstrations of martial arts like iaido, archery and cooking and tried on traditional costumes.

Centre for Deaf Studies, University of Bristol
British Sign Language Haiku Festival
July 2006
The festival introduced deaf poets to Japanese haiku as these strongly emphasise on visual images. Workshops on Japanese and English haiku were held, and the participants enjoyed a haiku performance by professional deaf poets. A haiku contest was also held.

Craig yr Hesg PTA
Glynoch Multi Cultural Festival
July 2006
The first festival ever to be held in Glynoch introduced adults and children to different cultures. A workshop on Japanese kites was held and children could dress up in kimonos.

Arts Depot, London
Asobi!
May 2006
An event to celebrate the Japanese Children’s Day.

Oxford University Japan Society
Oxford Summer Matsuri
May 2006
The Matsuri saw events ranging from traditional noh drama and ikebana workshops to issues relevant to contemporary Japan, including lectures about the rituals of the yakuza.

Geisha Events
Festival of Japan, Masham
May 2006
Two maiko were invited from Kyoto for this event, which also included displays of kites, kimono and bonsai as well as range of workshops.

Preston Lodge High School
Expressive Arts Cross Curricular Project – Japan
January – May 2006
An extended Japan-related project incorporating theatre, art, music and an exhibition.

The Japan Society of the University of Sheffield
Japan Day “Breaking the Barriers”
January 2006
The Japan Day included a Taiko performance by Joji Hirota and a talk show with Ayumu Takahashi. The J-Rock/Pop Band Axia also performed, the over 1000 people who attended were able to try origami, shodo and go.

Brighton & Hove Japanese Club
Japanese Club Open Day
May 2005
This local Japanese Saturday School held an Open Day to exhibit children’s work and Japanese culture in general. The event was open to the local community, with the aim of enhancing mutual understanding and cultural awareness.

Japan Desk Scotland
Japanese Class in Glasgow
April 2005 – March 2006
Saturday morning Japanese classes run by volunteers for the local community.

Oxford University Japan Society
Oxford Summer Matsuri
May 2005
This two-day event, open to all members of the community, was designed to celebrate Japan and Japanese culture with an emphasis on participation in activities such as sushi, origami, calligraphy and theatre. There were also demonstrations of ikebana and the tea ceremony, as well as a series of educational lectures on different aspects of Japan.

Links Japan
Pavement Blossom: UK-Japan Homeless Project
April – May 2005
A series of events was held as part of the UK-Japan Homeless Project, including an exhibition of portraits of the homeless experience in Japan and the UK by Geoff Read, and the screening of a documentary about a Japanese homeless man alongside a film about homeless people in the UK. A discussion meeting was also held to explore the power of art to tackle the isolation of people living on the streets.

Helensburgh Blossom Festival Association
Helensburgh Blossom Festival
April 2005
A two-day event was held to celebrate Helensburgh’s cherry-blossoms, drawing on links between Scotland and Japan. The festival involved Japanese food, drink and cultural displays as well as participation by the local Japanese community.

Hillhead Children’s Garden
Japanese Seed Planting Festival
March 2005
Japanese vegetable seeds donated by Kuhone village were planted at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, to introduce local children to Japanese food and culture and with a view to developing the connection with Japan in the future.

Japanese Matsuri for Glasgow
Hina Matsuri
February 2005
Hina Matsuri was held at Wellington Church in Glasgow. The free event consisted of two themed parts: Japanese Experience, with participatory areas for visitors (with kimono, origami, calligraphy etc) and Taiko Performance, featuring Mugenkyo and workshop participants. The Matsuri attracted more than 2000 visitors.

Leicester Japan Society
Japan Day
November 2004
Leicester Japan Society, with the Embassy of Japan and De Montfort University, presented a Japanese Festival in Leicester. The main focus of the day was a UK-Japan Art Exhibition and there were also workshops in origami and calligraphy, demonstrations of ikebana, sushi, and aikido as well as a language taster session and a Japanese film show.

Gilfach Goch Community Association
Gilfach Goch Carnival
August 2004
A demonstration of ikebana was held as part of the Carnival, which was attended by 1500 people. The demonstration was given by Sumie & Toshi Takahashi, who also answered questions about Japanese culture and traditions.

Sand Palace Arts
Nebuta Float
December 2003
A project with a local youth group: the objective was to work as a committed team and to take initial ideas through to completion with the creation of a stunning illuminated nebuta-style float and participation in a large community event.

Similar projects supported include:

Pegswood Community Project
Pegswood Community Festival (July 2006)

Japan Society of Petersborough
Petersborough Festival 2006 – A Global Summer (July 2006)