Japan Festival

03/05/2022

Why not celebrate ‘Children’s Day’ on Thursday with these great activities from our wonderful funders, Japan Society. 🇯🇵 🎏🐉

The Children’s Day Festival is celebrated on May 5th in Japan every year during the Golden Week holiday. On this day, families pray for the health and happiness of their children. It is called Kodomo no Hi in Japanese.

23/03/2022

Thank you to the person who provided this lovely feedback for Japan Festival 2022. ❤ We're so glad your daughter and husband enjoyed themselves!

16/03/2022

We've been going through all the feedback for Japan Festival 2022 and found this lovely comment. ❤

It's wonderful to know there's an appetite for cultural events like ours in Gravesend!

25/02/2022

Here are some more photos from last weekend's Japan Festival – taken by our lovely manga Artist Lana Arkhi from Kent Talents Art Studio & Gallery. 💕

24/02/2022

Some photos from our event in Gravesend last weekend! Again, thanks so much to everyone who came along. 😄

If you have any photos from the event you'd like to share, please tag us in your posts or drop us a message!

23/02/2022

Proud to share this wonderful comment we received about our Japan Festival event last Saturday! ❤

A big thank you to everyone who came along & helped to make the event a success! 🙏

If you haven't already, please fill out our feedback form – it only takes

16/02/2022

Japan Festival is 3 days away, and we have limited tickets left for some of our workshops! 🇯🇵

🎭 Kamishibai: Japanese theatre show, great for young children! Run by Haruka from A Thousand Cranes.

✏ Manga: learn how to create manga-style artwork with Artist Lana Arkhi.

🍵 Tea Ceremony: Tea With Kyle will perform a traditional tea ceremony & share some of the history & traditions behind it.

🔶 Origami: learn to make a range of paper objects you can take home afterwards! Run by Una Marzorati.

😋 Tea Making: learn the basics of the tea ceremony and make your own matcha tea with Tea With Kyle.

💃 Bon Dance: fun and easy-to-learn Japanese dance, run by Haruka from A Thousand Cranes.

Book tickets before they sell out: https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

14/02/2022

Ever fancied meeting a samurai? 🤩 This Saturday is your chance!

Come along to Japan Festival and say hello to our Samurai, Russell Palmer.👋 From 2pm, he will be offering FREE 'Selfies with a Samurai' and chatting to visitors about the history of the samurai. There will also be a special free Japanese Kimono display.

A Kentish Samurai is a rare Kent-based reenactor who portrays the Samurai of Japan, dressed in authentic custom-made Samurai armour.

He is part of Hysterical History. which provides workshops for Primary schools and heritage sites nationwide. They have the only forged swords made for the public to be able to hold!

Our samurai warrior can tell you all about the world and code that the samurai lived their lives by.

Check out our full list of workshops and events: https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

14/02/2022

With just 5 days to go, tickets are selling out fast! 😲

✨ A big thank you to everyone who has already booked tickets! ✨

Already sold out: ALL sushi workshops, ALL holiday club workshops, one Kamishibai workshop, and one Taiko workshop.

Limited tickets left for Manga, Bon Dance, Tea Ceremony, Tea Making, Origami, Kamishibai, and Taiko.

🤔 Thinking about getting tickets to one of our workshops? Book now to avoid disappointment 👉 https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

12/02/2022

Kensei Taiko are incredible. Don’t miss your chance to learn from sensei Bill next week, 19th Feb at Eastgate community centre.

What a fantastic start to the festival!

11/02/2022

Bon Dance is coming to Japan Fest 2022, hosted by Haruka Kuroda from A Thousand Cranes! 💃

Have a go at this fun and easy-to-learn dance – accessible to people of every age and ability. (If you/your child loves to dance, this is the perfect workshop!)

Traditionally performed during Obon ('Bon Festival'), Bon Dance dates back to almost 600 years ago!

A Thousand Cranes is a company that specialises in telling the stories & teaching the traditions of Japan and other East Asian countries.

👉 Bon Dance tickets are still available for both our children's workshop on the 18th and our all-ages workshop on the 19th.

Info & booking: blueprint.yapsody.com

10/02/2022

Japan Festival visitors are in for a delicious treat! 😋 We're hosting a sushi-making workshop run by sushi master Miranda, founder of ChiChi Bites.

Participants will get FREE sushi and chopsticks with this workshop! 🍱 (Meat-free options available.)

Whether you’ve never made it before or already have some decent sushi skills, it can never hurt to learn from a master!

About Miranda:
• As a qualified Food Science teacher in secondary education, Miranda has taught extensively in classes and holiday workshops specialising in Sushi.
• For 15 years, she has run her own business, ChiChi Bites, which is now based in Kent.
• Miranda has a love of Japanese food and all hearty communal foods for parties and family occasions.

Miranda will be running 2 sushi workshops on Saturday 19th. Book tickets now to avoid disappointment: blueprint.yapsody.com/

08/02/2022

🥁 Drumroll please...we're excited to announce Taiko Drumming will be coming to Japan Festival 2022!

Join our amazing Taiko drummers and learn how to play this wonderful form of Japanese Drumming.

Expect lots of fun and excitement with Kensei Taiko, a Kent-based Taiko drumming group led by Sensei Bill.

‘Kensei Taiko are a little bit of The East in Kent’.

Want a taster? Kensei Taiko will be performing for free in Gravesend this Saturday 12th:
• 12pm at Gravesend Town Centre (near McDonald’s)
• 2pm outside Pepper Hill Sainsbury's

2 Taiko workshops will take place on Saturday 19th. For information & booking, visit: blueprint.yapsody.com

07/02/2022

✨Only 12 days to go until 2022! ✨

Celebrate Japanese culture in Kent with this day filled with exciting performances and workshops. 🇯🇵

Enjoy special performances & workshops featuring origami, sushi making, dance, drumming & more.

We will be joined by an array of master artists, creatives and teachers from the UK and Japan, many of them masters. All ages welcome!

• Sat 19 Feb at Eastgate Community Centre
• Info & tickets: https://bit.ly/japanfest-22

Please share this event with anyone who may be interested!

04/02/2022

It's currently National Storytelling Week, so we figured it would be a good time to talk about our Kamishibai theatre show! 🎭

Kamishibai Theatre is a traditional way of telling stories from Japan. 🇯🇵 It will be presented by theatre company A Thousand Cranes and the wonderfully talented Haruka Kuroda!

Haruka has been Co-Artistic Director of 1000 Cranes since 2021. She is also an actress, voice-over artist, fight director & intimacy coordinator. Since graduating from Guildford School of Acting, she has embarked on a successful career in Theatre, TV & Film.

We really recommend Kamishibai if you have very small children, but older children will love it too. ☺

👉 Haruka will present 3 Kamishibai performances on Saturday 19th Feb.

For more info and booking, visit: https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

03/02/2022

Introducing tea specialist Kyle Whittington, who will perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony ('Chanoyu') at Japan Fest 2022! 🍵🎉

Kyle is part of a new wave of international Chanoyu practitioners making the practice more globally accessible. He practices the Ueda Sōko Ryū of Chanoyu as part of Sōmu Shachū.

Currently, Kyle is working towards his teaching certificate and building a chash*tsu 'Japanese Tea Room' at his home.

Kyle also researches and makes textile goods for Chanoyu at his studio shifuku.

👉 Kyle will perform a tea ceremony and host several matcha tea workshops on Saturday 19th Feb.

For more info and booking, visit: https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

02/02/2022

✨Japan Festival 2022 arrives in Gravesend this month!✨

Come along to this fantastic celebration of Japanese culture, hosted by Blueprint Arts and partly funded by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.

Featuring special performances & workshops in manga, origami, sushi making, tea making, taiko drumming & more.

🗓 When: Saturday 19th February, 10am to 5pm
📍 Where: Eastgate Community Centre, Gravesend
🎟 Workshop tickets: £3 for children, £5 for adults.

See our full list of workshops & book tickets now: https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

01/02/2022

✨As part of the run-up to Japan Festival 2022, Blueprint Arts will be hosting a holiday club over two days. ✨

Featuring workshops based on arts and cultural practices in Japan – such as manga, origami & ninja training! 🥷

Book individual workshops for £3, or have your child attend all day (10am-4pm*) for just £10! (Note: LIMITED DAY TICKETS LEFT)

🗓 Dates: 17th + 18th February
📍 Location: Springhead Park Primary School
👉 For children aged 4 to 12 years old

See our full list of workshops & book tickets now: https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

*Wraparound care is available for parents who need it! (9-10am & 4-5pm)

28/01/2022

Tickets for Japan Festival 2022 are now on sale!

🎟 Individual workshops: £3 (child), £5 (adult)
🎟 Full-day school workshop (4-12yrs, 17/18th): £10

Book now: https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

28/01/2022

We're excited to introduce you to our manga artist for Japan Fest 2022 – Artist Lana Arkhi! 🙌🎉

Lana graduated from the Moscow University of Lenin, in 1991, where she studied Arts and Crafts. Her career started in ceramics, but more recently she also produces watercolours and acrylics. In 2012, she moved to England and now resides in Kent.

Many of her works have been sold to private collections across the world, including the UK, Russia, Australia, the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Israel, France, Germany, Austria and Ireland.

She also runs her own artists' studio in Broadstairs, teaching a range of art forms (including Manga!) to all ages.

👉Lana will be running Manga workshops for children on the 17th Feb, and for all ages on the 19th. For info & booking, visit: https://blueprint.yapsody.com/

27/01/2022

🚨 Tickets for Japan Festival 2022 & our pre-festival school workshops are now on sale! 🚨

This February, Japan Festival arrives in Gravesend. We'll have 2 days of children’s workshops for children aged 4-12 (on 17th & 18th), followed by our main event, for all
ages, on Saturday 19th at Eastgate Community Centre!

👉 Event information: bit.ly/japanfest-22
👉 Tickets: blueprint.yapsody.com

Please share this with anyone who may be interested!

(Organised by Blueprint Arts and partly funded by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation)

24/01/2022

Wow! We can’t promise a glass teahouse but we will have tea ceremony at our festival. Tickets go on sale Wednesday. 👁 🍵 🫖

Valley Gallery and the Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery Time Corridor will open on the scenic art island in March 2022

24/01/2022

We're excited to introduce you to one of the artists participating in Japan Fest 2022 – the talented Una Marzorati (Unamarz)! 👋

Una Marzorati works with modular origami, exploring different patterns and combinations. For her, art is about showing beauty. Her intent is also to bring healing to the people who see and interact with her productions.

Her work reflects patterns and shapes we can see all around us in nature (if we pay close attention) and the shapes of invisible energies.

Be sure to visit Una's page to see examples of her work!

More artists are to be announced shortly! Follow Japan Fest for all info & updates.

19/01/2022

A few of our followers have expressed confusion about where our February 2022 Japan Festival is taking place.

Japan Festival has officially moved from Lincoln to Gravesend, Kent.

We are sad to leave the Japan Festival's original home of Lincoln, but we are also excited about bringing it to our new home in Gravesend! ❤️

We apologise for any confusion caused by this change in location.

For more information about Japan Festival, please visit japanfestival.co.uk

18/01/2022

🎉 Japan Festival is officially taking place this February in Northfleet, Kent! 🇯🇵

Come along to this fantastic celebration of Japanese culture, hosted by Blueprint Arts. Featuring manga, origami, tea ceremonies, and more!

Main Japan Festival:
📅 Saturday 19th February
📍 Eastgate Community Centre

Pre-Festival Workshops (for 4-12 years):
📅 17th & 18th February
📍Springhead Park Primary School

👉 Follow us on social media & visit japanfestival.co.uk for more info, updates & booking.

05/03/2019

We were very lucky to have such fantastic volunteers supporting us throughout A BIG THANK YOU 👏 to Abi, Melissa, Tomomi, Mia, we couldn’t have done it without you!

04/03/2019

A selection of images from Lincoln Japan Festival in 2019. Many thanks to everyone who attended, volunteered to help, ran workshops or supported our event in any way!

23/02/2019

Engrossed listeners at this mornings Tea Ceremony