Summertime is a Matsuri (festival) season in Japan, and with this in mind, the Japan Society and Embassy of Japan in the UK are co-organising the Japanese Garden Community Day in August. The event is free to attend and where you can enjoy a summer afternoon of family fun and entertainment including epic performances by Thames Taiko, and a Bon Odori dance that you can even join in as well.
If you’re interested in live music, the Piano Concert- A Harmony of Anime & Games Performance by Kikuchi Ryota and the Japanese Traditional Instruments Duo Concert by Rumiko Setoguchi and Kazuhisa Kumamoto are also being held in August and you can enjoy their great performances free of charge.
In August, most of the usual Japanese art and culture related classes and workshops are off for the summer holiday, but there are the Ikebana (flower arrangement) display and Chado (way of tea) demonstrations at Japan House London or you might like to try doing furoshiki (gift-wrapping), shodo (calligraphy), soroban (abacus), etc. at the Japanese Garden Community Day.
If you would like to practice your Japanese speaking skills, there’s the Japanese Conversation Group by the Japan Society in London, and if you’re living further north and close to Edinburgh, you can try out the Nihongo Yoga and Social Meeting.
The events dates with further details are all listed below in our Japanese Events August calendar. Also, most of the August Events are free to attend, so please do try checking them out and enjoy your summer holiday!
August 1st: Japanese Conversation Group
- Date: Tuesday, August 1st 2023
- Time: 19:00 – 23:00
- Cost: No Booking Required – Just turn up and pay at the door a small fee to cover the costs of the buffet
- Location: Shakespeare’s Head, 29 Great Marlborough Street, Soho, London W1F 7HZ
The Japanese Conversation Group provides a friendly and informal atmosphere for Japanese speakers of all nationalities to come together and speak Japanese – intermediate level recommended. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month. They begin at 7.00pm and finish around 11.00pm.
For more information, please check the Japanese Conversation Group page.
August 6th: Japanese Garden Community Day
- Date: Sunday, August 6th 2023
- Time: 12:30 – 17:30
- Cost: Free. No Booking Required – Just turn up on the day!
- Location: Japanese Garden – Hammersmith Park, South Africa Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 7FW
Bring your family and friends for a summer afternoon in the peaceful surroundings of Hammersmith Park’s Japanese garden. Why not pack a picnic to enjoy on the grass under the shade of a tree, or try some delicious homemade wagashi from Café An an and onigiri from SushiHeads. There is also Clearspring with their range of organic snacks and tea, plus plenty more snacks and sweets to try from Ichiba! Also, there will be a performance from Thames Taiko, and you can join in the Bon Odori dance as well as you learning how to do furoshiki gift-wrapping, soroban Japanese abacus, etc.
For more information, please visit the Japanese Garden Community Day page.
August 9th & 10th: Piano Concert by KIKUCHI Ryota
- Date, Time & Location: Wednesday August 9th 19:00 – 20:30 St James’s Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL | Thursday August 10th 16:00 – 17:00 Yamaha Music London, 152-160 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 8YA
- Admission: Free to attend, but booking is essential.
Experience the captivating melodies of anime and games with KIKUCHI Ryota’s piano concert!
A popular YouTuber and pianist, he transforms numerous music pieces into unique arrangements. Will your favourite song be featured? Come and see! He will also perform at Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham on Tuesday, August the 8th as well as at St James’s Church on the 9th and Yamaha Music London on the 10th.
For more information, please check the Piano Concert: Anime & Games Performance by KIKUCHI RYOTA page.
August 18th: Japanese Traditional Instruments Duo Concert
- Date: Friday, August 18th 2023
- Time: 12:30 – 13:10
- Admission: Free
- Location: St. George’s Church, High Street, Beckenham, BR3 1AX
“ East Meets West”
Japanese Traditional Instruments Duo Concert
Shinobue ( Japanese Bamboo Flute) | Wadaiko ( Japanese Drum)
Performer ; Ms Rumiko Setoguchi (Bamboo Flute) | Mr. Kazuhisa Kumamoto (Japanese Drum)
For more information, please visit the Japanese Traditional Instruments Duo Concert page.
August 19th: Happy Origami Workshop
- Date: Saturday, August 19th 2023
- Time: 14:00 – 15:30
- Fee: £15
- Location: THE SNOOTY FOX (Opposite Canonbury Overground Station), 75 Grosvenor Avenue, London, N5 2NN
This is a wonderful Origami experience where you will learn about Japanese traditions. Just by folding paper, you will be happy and calm and before long it will bring a smile to your face. Japanese Origami artist Toshiko, a member of British Origami Society, will be teaching you how to fold beautiful flowers like tulips and lilies, kimono book marks, lovely gift & jewellery boxes and kawaii dress bunting.
For more information and booking, please check the Happy Origami Workshop page.
Ongoing Japanese Events in August: Ikebana Month by Month (Display) | Chado Demonstrations
1) Ikebana Month by Month
- Date: Monthly from July 2023
- Time: Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 20:00 | Sundays and Bank Holidays 12:00 – 18:00
- Admission: Free | Drop-in
- Location: Ground Floor, Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA
Slow down and appreciate the subtle changing of the seasons and passing of time with a monthly display of ikebana, Japanese flower design, created by members of Ikebana International London Chapter. Each display is made by a member of Ikebana International from a variety of ikebana schools including Ikenobō, Nippon Kadō Koryū, Ohara School of Ikebana, Ryūsei-ha and Sōgetsu School. The next arrangement is on display from Friday 4 until Monday 7 August and takes inspiration from hazuki (lit. ‘month of leaves’), the Japanese name for the eight month of the lunar calendar.
For more information, please visit the Ikebana Month by Month page.
2) Chado Demonstrations by Tankokai UK
- Date: Saturday, July 22nd to Saturday, September 23rd 2023
- Time: For Saturday August 12th 16:00 & 17:00 (Booking opens on July 28th) | For Saturday September 23rd 16:00 & 17:00 (Booking opens on September 8th)
- Admission: Free but booking essential (*Spaces for each demonstration are limited)
- Location: The Hall, Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High St, London, W8 5SA
Chadō (the Japanese Way of Tea) Demonstrations are held monthly by chadō practitioners from Tankokai UK, an association connected to Urasenke, one of the largest tea schools in Japan. Each event offers guests an opportunity to experience first-hand the values and significance of the Way of Tea in everyday life. During each event there is also the possibility to ask questions to the practitioners and enjoy a bowl of matcha along with chagashi sweets.
For more information and booking, please visit the Japan House London Chado Demonstrations page.
Outside of London Event: Nihongo Yoga & Social Meeting (Edinburgh)
August 6th: Nihongo Yoga with Japanese and English & Social Meeting (Edinburgh)
- Date: Sunday, August 6th 2023
- Time: 11:00 – 12:30 (about 45mins yoga practice & 45 mins tea time)
- Fee: £10 although if you bring snacks to share with everyone it is half price.
- Location: Yoga Studio Art and Spirituality, 6-8 Alexander Drive, Gorgie, Edinburgh, EH11 2RH
This is a unique class for people who study Japanese or like Japanese culture and allows them to have the chance to meet new like-minded people. Instructor Kotomi will conduct the class in both English and Japanese. She enjoys spending time with class participants after sessions and for everyone to socialise and get to know each other. At Nihongo Yoga, you can get plenty of opportunity to talk after.
You can find more event information here: Nihongo Yoga with Japanese and English & Social Meeting.
Your reviews of Japanese Events August 2023
We hope you found our Japanese Events for August round up helpful, and you’re able to check out some of these fantastic events!
We’ll be updating this Japanese Events August 2023 page as we get more info, so please do come back to check it from time to time, and please feel free to comment below on your experience if you were able to attend! This will give our readers a better idea of what to expect and may encourage them to join future events by the same organizers.
Also, if you’d like to submit information for your Japanese event coming up in August or September, please get in touch with us through our contact form.
