This November, there’s good news for folks who are just getting into sake or even for those who have been a fan for some time, as West London Wine School is kindly offering our readers 10% off on all their November events (on Nov 3rd, 17th and 18th). If you are ready to delve further into the world of sake and would like to sample some exclusive selections, check out the event details in our Japanese Events November calendar below.
Another unique event taking place in November is Toyama Week. Located along the Sea of Japan in the Hokuriku region of Japan, Toyama Prefecture is renowned for its premium rice, sake and seafood. It’s also famous for its traditional Wagashi sweets and beautiful Japanese crafts ranging from Suzugami tin paper to Washi Japanese paper. You can get a chance to experience the region’s craft, gastronomy and tourism at (ki:ts) London shop, Japan House London, Pantechnicon and Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation. To find out more details, check out our Ongoing Japanese Events in November section.
Searching for live Japanese performances? If so there’s the chance to see Katsura Sunshine’s Rakugo in English at Leicester Square Theatre, Rieko Makita’s piano performance at Royal College of Music as well as the ever-popular My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre.
Meanwhile in Wales, continuing from October, Kotatsu is holding a Japanese Animation Festival in Bangor and it’s a great opportunity to see some of the finest offerings of animation films from Japan such as The First Slam Dunk and EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME.
November 3rd: Introduction to Sake Tasting
- Date: Friday, November 3rd 2023
- Time: 19:00 – 21:00
- Entrance Cost: £40 (Use the promo code SARAH10 to get 10 % off)
- Location: West London Wine School, located inside The Wine Cellars (access via the Big Yellow Storage Company entrance) 71 Townmead Road, Fulham, London SW6 2SG
This tasting is perfect for anyone new to sake who want to discover how it’s made & taste the diversity of of its unique styles. Sake tutor Sarah will cover the basics of history, ingredients, production and premium classification, introduce the major styles and show how basic wine tasting principles can easily be applied to sake. You will taste 6 different styles of sake alongside cheese and nibbles to help enhance flavours and introduce sake and food pairing concepts.
For more information and booking, please check out the Introduction to Sake Tasting page.
November 7th: Japanese Conversation Group
- Date: Tuesday, November 7th 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 visit the Japanese Conversation Group page.
November 16th & 18th: Happy Origami Workshop
- Date & Time: Thursday, November 16th 19:00 – 20:30 | Saturday November 18th 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 out the Happy Origami Workshop page.
November 17th: Shodo The Art of Japanese Calligraphy
- Date: Friday, November 17th 2023
- Time: 13:30 – 16:30
- Fee: £58
- Location: School of SHODO, The Art Worker’s Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT (first floor)
All materials included and the utensils are prepared. You’ll have 90min x2 (3 hours) of hands-on instruction, including 1 to 1 help and learn essential brush movements, calligraphy techniques and how to use all four treasures of the studies, brush, paper, ink and ink stone. Original templates and exercise templates are prepared and you will receive tips, advice and detailed insights from a practicing calligrapher: plenty of inspiration and techniques to experience the mindfulness process.
For booking and more info, please check the Shodo The Art of Japanese Calligraphy page.
November 17th: Sake Nouveau – Autumn Seasonal Sake
- Date: Friday, November 17th 2023
- Time: 19:00 – 21:00
- Entrance cost: £50 (Use the promo code SARAH10 to get 10 % off)
- Location: West London Wine School, located inside The Wine Cellars (access via the Big Yellow Storage Company entrance) 71 Townmead Road, Fulham, London SW6 2SG
Only a handful of Sake Nouveau, special limited-release sake bottles, make it to the UK each year, and Sarah, sake tutor, has secured some exclusive selections from overseas to let you experience the full range of hiyaoroshi and other seasonal fall sake styles. This class will be great for everyone from sake novices to aficionados, and includes a tutored tasting of six autumn seasonal sake, accompanied by artisanal cheeses and nibbles.
For more information and booking, please visit the Sake Nouveau: Autumn Seasonal Sake page.
November 18th: WSET Level 1 Award in Sake Course (Classroom Format)
- Date: Saturday, November 18th 2023
- Time: 10:30 – 17:30
- Entrance cost: £185 (Use the promo code SARAH10 to get 10 % off)
- Location: West London Wine School, located inside The Wine Cellars (access via the Big Yellow Storage Company entrance) 71 Townmead Road, Fulham, London SW6 2SG
The WSET Level 1 Award in Sake is an enjoyable, relaxed and interactive course that provides the perfect introduction to Japan’s most famous beverage. During this one-day course, you will learn how to taste sake using the WSET method and practice your new skills on seven delicious sake examples served at a variety of different temperatures as well as learning about the basics of sake history, production, categories and service.
For more information and booking, please check the West London Wine School WSET Level 1 Award in Sake: One Day Course page.
November 25th: Katsura Sunshine’s Rakugo with special guest Luca Cupani
- Date: Saturday, November 25th 2023
- Time: starting at 16:30
- Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins including interval
- Ticket Price: £23
- Location: Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester place, London, WC2H 7BX
Now in his fourth year on Broadway and second year in the West End, Sunshine brings the 400-year Japanese tradition of Rakugo comic storytelling to the world! Come for an afternoon of laughter and leave with a piece of Japan in your heart. Take a look at the YouTube video above for Katsura in action and what to expect,
For more info and booking tickets, please check out the Leicester Square Theater page.
November 28th: Junior Fellow Showcase | Rieko Makita piano
- Date: Tuesday, November 28th 2023
- Time: 18:00 – 19;00l
- Ticket: Pay What You Can ( from £2 to £15 )
- Location: Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BS
Royal College of Music Constant & Kit Lambert Junior Fellow 2023/24 Rieko Maikita pushes her creativity to the limit, both curating and performing in this unique concert.
For more info and booking, please visit the Junior Fellow Showcase – Rieko Makita piano page.
Ongoing Japanese Events in November: Toyama Week | My Neighbour Totoro
1) Toyama Week
Toyama Week in London is held from October 31st to November 5th 2023. Toyama Prefecture, located along the Sea of Japan in Central part of Japan, offers an introduction to the region’s craft, gastronomy, and tourism at (ki:s) London shop, Japan House London, Pantechnicon and Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation. The details of each organizer’s event as follows:
*Life-Style Pop-Up Shop – Toyama at (ki:s) London Shop. In partnership with Toyama, they are celebrating the region with a selection of experiences from October 31st to November 5th 2023. Opening Hours: Monday 11:00 – 19:00 | Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 – 19:00 | Sunday 12:00 – 18:30. More details: Life-Style Pop-Up Shop – Toyama
*Wagashi – An Edible Art: Talk & Demonstration by Hikiami Yasuhiro at The Hall, Japan House London and also Online on Wednesday, November 1st 2023 from 18:30 to 19:30, Admission is Free, but Booking is Essential. More info: Wagashi – An Edible Art: Talk & Demonstration by Hikiami Yasuhiro
*The Art of Wagashi with Yasuhiro Hikiami at Sachi x Toyama Wagashi Pop-Up on the ground floor of Pantechnicon. Just drop in between 14:30 and 17:30 daily from November 2nd to November 5th to try authentic Japanese Wagashi and you can also get the chance to watch the Chef creates them. More details: The Art of Wagashi with Yasuhiro Hikiami
*Introduction to the Tea Ceremony and Japanese Confectionery (Wagashi) by Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation on Friday November 3rd from 11:00 – 13:00 (Drink Reception: 12:00 – 13:00). This is an introductory talk event on tea ceremony and wagashi confectionery at Japan House London. Admission is Free, but Booking is Essential. More info: Introduction to the Tea Ceremony and Japanese Confectionery (Wagashi)
2) My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
- Date: Tuesday, November 21st 2023 to Saturday, March 23rd 2024
- Time: 19:00 Monday – Saturday | 14:00 Thursday & Saturday (More details here)
- Running Time: 2 hours 40 minutes including interval
- Ticket: From £25
- Location: Barbican Theatre, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
My Neighbour Totoro is an enchanting coming-of-age story exploring the magical fantasy world of childhood and the transformative power of imagination, as it follows one extraordinary summer in the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei. Book soon for this unmissable, “huge, healing hug of a show” (The Stage). Due to high demand, this show can be sold out quickly, but any returned tickets will be back for sale at any time. You can check for availability by clicking the Check dates & book link on My Neighbour Totoro page.
For more information and booking tickets, please check out the My Neighbour Totoro page.
Outside of London Events: Nihongo Yoga & Social Meeting (Edinburgh) | Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival (Bangor)
1) November 5th: Nihongo Yoga with Japanese and English & Social Meeting (Edinburgh)
- Date: Sunday, November 5th 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.
2) November 11th – 16th: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
- Date: Saturday, November 11th – Thursday, November 16th 2023
- Time: Various
- Fee: Standard £7.50 | Over 60 £6.50 | Student £6 | Under 18 £5.50
- Location: Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, Pontio, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2TQ
An annual festival celebrating Japanese animation and Japanese culture. Films are shown from Saturday November 11th to Thursday November 16th. A chance to see the best animation films from Japan!
For more information and booking, please visit the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival in Bangor page.
Your reviews of Japanese Events November 2023
We hope you found our Japanese Events for November round up helpful, and you’re able to check out some of these fantastic events!
We’ll be updating this Japanese Events November 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 November or December, please get in touch with us through our contact form.
