London’s very own festival of Japanese culture – Japan Matsuri – will take place on Sunday 24 September. In its 9th year and a regular fixture in the London calendar, this energetic annual event brings people together to enjoy an amazing day of Japanese food, music, dance, and so much more. All absolutely free.
This year’s Japan Matsuri will provide a rare chance to see performers from the little-known Japanese form of variety theatre known as yose.
Special entertainment from Japan
Thanks to the generous support of Japan House London, visitors to this year’s Japan Matsuri will be treated to displays of daikagura by Okinaya Wasuke and kyokugoma by Mimasu Monnosuke, both making their UK début with dynamic and surprising yose theatre circus routines involving feats of balancing and juggling.
See Okinaya perform daikagura tricks such as twirling a ball on an umbrella and balancing a tea pot on a stick held in his mouth. Daikagura originally developed from the ceremonial music (shikiraku) and court dances (bugaku) for Shinto shrines.
Mimasu’s special yose theatre skill involves balancing spinning tops, known as kyokugoma, developed during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868). The traditional craft of making colourful tops in a variety of shapes has been inherited by a limited number of artisans. Kyokugoma includes top-spinning on swords, strings, fans, sticks and kimono. Prepare to be amazed by Mimasu and his spinning tops!