September is a good month to see some of the Japanese art and culture related exhibitions and displays such as Aizome (indigo-dyeing) at the Embassy of Japan in the UK. Then, at Japan House London, there is the East Japan Railway Company’s booth display as well as the Japanese Graphic Arts WAVE exhibition. The rail-themed display comes with a working Japanese station vending machine dispensing a variety of Japanese drinks and snacks which will be quite interesting to try. Also, the exhibition of WAVE: Japanese Graphic Arts is worth going to see if you haven’t seen it yet. These events with further details are listed below in the Ongoing Japanese Events Section of our Japanese Events September calendar.
Apart from the above, if you’re interested in live performance, you might like to watch Katsura Sunshine’s Rakugo in English with Luca Cupani at Leicester Square Theatre.
Meanwhile, continuing from July and August, another Japanese festival, Doki Doki, will be held in Manchester to celebrate traditional and modern Japanese culture. For those who are not near to the location, it might be nice to take a day or weekend trip to attend this fantastic festival. You can find more details on Doki Doki along with the other regional event in the Outside of London Events Section of our Japanese Events September 2023 calendar.
September 5th: Japanese Conversation Group
- Date: Tuesday, September 5th 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.
September 7th & 9th: Happy Origami Workshop
- Date & Time: Thursday, September 7th 19:00 – 20:30 | Saturday, September 9th 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.
September 22nd: Shodo The Art of Japanese Calligraphy
- Date: Friday, September 22nd 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.
September 23rd: Luca and Sunshine – Apprentices (Katsura Sunshine’s Rakugo with Luca Cupani)
Rakugo in English: Katsura Sunshine
- Date: Saturday, September 23rd 2023
- Time: 15:30 – 17:10
- Ticket Price: £23
- Location: Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester place, London, WC2H 7BX
Stand-up comedian Luca Cupani, from Italy, and Japanese traditional comic “Rakugo” storyteller Katsura Sunshine, from Canada, apprentice to each other! The result is a hilarious and totally unique hour of cross-cultural comedy like you have never seen! Rakugo is a 400-year-old tradition of comic storytelling in Japan. 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.
Ongoing Japanese Events in September: Aizome – The Craft of Japanese Indigo-dyeing (Exhibition) | Connecting Japan – East Japan Railway Company (Display) | Wave – Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts (Exhibition)
1) Aizome – The Craft of Japanese Indigo-dyeing
Top: Fujisawa Emi; Yatsumoto Kaori; Janice Gunner
Centre: Rhyannan Hall; Jane Callender; Asai Naoyuki
Bottom: Luisa Uribe; Erna Janine; Rob Jones
- Date: Thursday May 11th to Friday September 29th 2023
- Time: Weekdays 10:00 – 17:00 (Closed weekends, UK bank holidays & Sept 18th)
- Admission: Free, but photo ID is required
- Location: Embassy of Japan in the UK, 101-104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT
Indigo is one of the oldest plant dyes in existence. Since it made its way into Japan approximately 1400 years ago, indigo would enjoy popularity among aristocrats and commoners at various points in history. The influence of aizome can be widely seen inside and out of Japan. This exhibition brings together highly skilled artists whose works show the respect for tradition and spirit of innovation, in a variety of materials including textiles, leather, paper and pearl.
For more information, please visit the Aizome – The Craft of Japanese Indigo-dyeing page.
2) Connecting Japan – East Japan Railway Company (JR-East)
- Date: Monday July 3rd to Thursday September 14th 2023
- Time: Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 20:00 | Sundays and Bank Holidays 12:00 – 18:00
- Admission: Free, but Booking Recommended
- Location: Ground Floor, Japan House, London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA
This rail-themed booth display is complete with a working Japanese station vending machine, dispensing a variety of regional drinks and snacks. The display also features a model Series E5 Shinkansen (bullet train) alongside other rail-themed items. The JR-East vending machine at Japan House London offers visitors a chance to try a variety of Japanese products made from regional produce. The machine also contains ochoko (sake cups) in porcelain, copper and stainless steel, each intricately embellished with bullet train designs.
For more information, please visit the Connecting Japan – East Japan Railway Company (JR-East) page.
3) Wave – Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts
- Date: Thursday July 6th to Sunday October 22nd 2023
- Time: Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 20:00 | Sundays and Bank Holidays 12:00 – 18:00
- Admission: Free, but Booking Recommended
- Location: Gallery, Japan House, London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA
Explore the vibrant diversity of Japanese graphic arts in this bold exhibition which bridges the worlds of fine art, commercial illustration and counterculture. The work of a selection of 60 Japanese artists is presented, with late 20th-century innovators Tanaami Keiichi and Yumura Teruhiko featured alongside a number of emerging artists being exhibited for the first time in the UK.
For more information, please visit the Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts: WAVE page.
Outside of London Events: Nihongo Yoga & Social Meeting (Edinburgh) | Doki Doki The Manchester Japanese Festival (Manchester)
1) September 3rd: Nihongo Yoga with Japanese and English & Social Meeting (Edinburgh)
- Date: Sunday, September 3rd 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) September 9th & 10th: Doki Doki The Manchester Japanese Festival
- Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 9th & 10th 2023
- Time: 11:00 – 17:30
- Admission: Standard Saturday Ticket £14.06 | Standard Sunday Ticket £11.37 | Standard Weekend Ticket £22.15
- Location: Sugden Sports Centre, 114 Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HL
An event celebrating both traditional and modern Japanese culture. The festival includes talks, demonstrations, parades and other events showcasing Japanese culture, language, fashion, cosplay, games, music, dance, manga, anime, martial arts and other arts from Japan’s past and present, as well as retail stalls, artist stands, a cinema room and games area. Hot and cold Japanese food is also available to purchase.
For more information and booking, please visit the Doki Doki The Manchester Japanese Festival page.
Your reviews of Japanese Events September 2023
We hope you found our Japanese Events for September round up helpful, and you’re able to check out some of these fantastic events!
We’ll be updating this Japanese Events September 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 September or October, please get in touch with us through our contact form.
