October will be quite an exciting month for those who love Japanese culture, food and drinks as there will be plenty of fun events and festivals especially focusing on manga (comic books) and anime taking place throughout the month. Our Japanese Events October calendar will be introducing a few of the key ones you need to know.
First, there’s the Japan Matsuri 2023, the UK’s biggest annual festival of Japanese culture and food where you can experience Japanese live music, performances and food. Next, make sure you head to the Myths to Manga Exhibition at Young V&A where you can learn more on the heart of Japanese culture, and there’s also the Anime Screening of Studio Ghibli’s Oscar winning film, Spirited Away at Regent Street Cinema. Meanwhile in Wales, Kotatsu is holding a Japanese Animation Festival in Cardiff and Aberystwyth. If you’re in Bristol, or for those who can make it there, the M Shed will be hosting the annual Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase which boasts a fantastic range of Japanese cultural activities.
Apart from the above, there are sushi and sake related events in October such as Sushi and Wine Pairing by South London Wine School and Sake and Cheese Pairing Evening by West London Wine School, both of which can be extremely enjoyable to attend.
Also, if you’re interested in Japanese arts, check out the MONYOU exhibition by Junko O’Neill to learn and enjoy traditional Japanese patterns and pictorial symbols.
October 1st: Japan Matsuri 2023
- Date: Sunday, October 1st 2023
- Time: 10:00 – 20:00
- Admission: Free
- Location: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
London’s very own festival of Japanese culture – Japan Matsuri – returns on Sunday, 1 October 2023 in Trafalgar Square in the centre of the city. A regular fixture now in the London calendar, this free annual festival brings people together to enjoy Japanese food, music, dance, and activities for all the family.
For more information, please check out the Japan Matsuri 2023 page.
October 3rd: Japanese Conversation Group
- Date: Tuesday, October 3rd 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.
October 6th: Shodo The Art of Japanese Calligraphy
- Date: Friday, October 6th 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. Tips, advice and detailed insights from a practicing calligrapher. Lots of inspiration and techniques to experience the mindfulness process.
For booking and more info, please check the Shodo The Art of Japanese Calligraphy page.
October 12th: Sushi and Wine Pairing
- Date: Thursday, October 12th 2023
- Time: 19:00 – 21:00
- Entrance cost: £50
- Location: South London Wine School, located inside Streatham Wine House, 53A Streatham Hill, SQ2 4TS
Looking for something different to pair with your favourite food, Japanese sushi? Join this introduction workshop to sushi and beverage pairing! On the night you will enjoy four hand-selected wines, including a koshu, Japan’s indigenous white grape varietal that goes beautifully with sushi, and as a special treat, you will also get to taste two premium sakes – all alongside a selection of freshly made sushi from a local restaurant favourite.
For more information and booking, please visit the Sushi and Wine Pairing page.
October 16th: Sake and Cheese Pairing Evening
- Date: Monday, October 16th 2023
- Time: 19:00 – 21:00
- Entrance cost: £50
- 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
Sake and cheese pairing is rapidly gaining popularity in Japan and abroad. Sake and cheese tutor Sarah Stewart will cover the basics of sake and cheese production and information about each producer, along with general sake pairing principles. You will pick up lots of useful information to help you choose your perfect sake and cheese match and find out which sake styles you like most. On the evening, you will taste six different premium sake across a range of styles, accompanied by six artisanal cheeses from local cheesemonger Hamish Johnston.
For more information and booking, please check the Sake and Cheese Pairing Evening page.
Ongoing Japanese Events in October: Japanese Anime Screening (Film) | Japan: Myths to Manga (Exhibition) | Junko O’Neill: MONYOU (Exhibition)
1) Japanese Anime Screening (Film)
Date, Time, Ticket & Location:
- Saturday October 7th 14:30 – 16:55 | £17.90 | Regent Street Cinema
- Sunday October 8th 19:15 – 21:40 | £13.40 | Regent Street Cinema
- Wednesday October 11th 15:30 – 17:55 | £15.90 | Regent Street Cinema
- Thursday October 12th 17:15 – 19:40 | £17.90 | Regent Street Cinema
- Location: Regent Street Cinema, 307 Regent Street, London W1B 2HW
A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.
For more information and booking, please check out the Regent Street Cinema Spirited Away page.
2) Japan: Myths to Manga (Exhibition)
- Date: Saturday October 14th 2023 to Monday August 12th 2024
- Time: 10:00 – 17:45 (Galleries close from 17:00)
- Admission: £10
- Location: Young V&A Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PA
Take an exciting and atmospheric trip through Japanese history – and explore how landscape and folklore have influenced Japan’s culture, technology and design.
For more information and booking, please visit the Young V&A Japan: Myths to Manga page.
3) Junko O’Neill: MONYOU (Exhibition)
- Date: Wednesday October 11th to Sunday October 29th 2023
- Time: 10:00 – 16:00 (Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sun)
- Admission: Free
- Location: Burgh House, New End Square, London NW3 1LT
Monyou’ (文様 pronounced ‘mon yoh’) is the name given to traditional Japanese patterns and pictorial symbols, which are used to decorate woven and dyed fabrics as well as craft objects. Some of them are considered to be auspicious symbols and are used often in repeated patterns.
There will be painting demonstrations as well as displays of materials she uses on Sun 15 October & Thu 19 October, 12 – 3 pm.
For more information, please visit her website https://www.junkooneill.com/ or press release Junko O’Neill: MONYO Exhibition .
Outside of London Events: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival (Cardiff and Aberystwyth) | Nihongo Yoga & Social Meeting (Edinburgh) | Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase (Bristol)
1) October 1st & 20th – 22nd: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
An annual festival celebrating Japanese animation and Japanese culture. There will be a Kotatsu Festival Stand as well as Manga Kissa( free comic corner) where you can read some of your favourite manga or general Japan-related books or magazines.
Cardiff
- Sunday October 1st 2023 | Various Time | Daytime (until 5 pm) :￡7/￡5 concessions Evening (5 pm onwards) :￡8/￡6 concessions | Chapter, Market Road, Canton Cardiff CF5 1QE
For more information, please visit the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival in Cardiff page and you can get tickets from Chapter Box Office .
Aberystwyth
- Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd 2023 | Various Time | Full Price £7.50 Student/Under 18 £6.50 | Aberystwyth Arts Center, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DE
For more information, please visit the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival in Aberystwyth page and you can get tickets from Aberystwyth Arts Centre Box Office .
2) October 1st: Nihongo Yoga with Japanese and English & Social Meeting (Edinburgh)
- Date: Sunday, October 1st 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.
3) October 29th: Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase (Bristol)
- Date: Sunday, October 29th 2023
- Time: 10:00 – 17:00
- Admission: £10
- Location: M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, Bristol BS1 4RN
Enjoy and experience Japanese culture right at the heart of Bristol.
For more information, please visit the Bristol Japanese Cultural Society facebook page.
Tickets are available from eventbrite Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase page.
Your reviews of Japanese Events October 2023
We hope you found our Japanese Events for October round up helpful, and you’re able to check out some of these fantastic events!
We’ll be updating this Japanese Events October 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 October or November, please get in touch with us through our contact form.
