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Welcome to the Festival of Japan |
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My love of Japan has led me to experiences beyond my wildest dreams, travelling to Kyoto, meeting geisha and organising The Festival of Japan 2006 being three of the greatest highlights.
Being a part of the business who brought geisha to work in the UK for the first time in 2006 was a life changing experience.
My life revolves around the Japanese culture and my aim is to let everyone know about this diverse and enigmatic country. This site is dedicated to just that.
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Above : My greatest memory: My husband, maiko Miehina and myself at the 2006 Festival of Japan
If you'd like to see a video about us on the BBC's countryfile show, click here
If you'd like to sign up for our newsletter or post in our forum, please click here.
THE FESTIVL OF JAPAN 2008
5th to 7th September
Botanic Gardens and The Oriental Museum
DURHAM
Tickets for The Festival of Japan Geisha events are now on sale. The festival is looking very exciting, we have everything from martial arts, Japanese food, music, dancing, children’s entertainment and of course geisha! Two venues have been chosen this year.
The main festival venue this year is truly beautiful. The Botanic Gardens in Durham is world famous for its array of trees and plant life, as well as having a butterfly house and alpine garden. Throughout the day there will be something on every hour, the children’s corner will be open throughout with a Japanese storyteller, drawing and face painting (please note there will be an extra charge for face painting). Entrance to the festival will cost you only £5.50 (this includes a festival programme and a chance to win a host of Japanese goodies.) A percentage of this will go direct to The Botanic Gardens.
www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden
The second venue is the wonderful Oriental Museum, Durham, a must for anyone with an interest in the Orient. The museum, just opposite the Botanic gardens will have plenty to keep you occupied. Charges for The Oriental Museum are paid directly to them. The Festival of Japan take no percentage of this charge. £1.50 adults, 75p concessions, groups booked in advance and school parties £1, students in higher education free, family ticket £3.50
www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum
Please go to products to buy event tickets. Alternatively you can order tickets by post quoting the event code for example OZ1 – ozashiki . Please make cheques payable to A.G Clay. See full event code details below.
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PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GEISHA EVENTS AND THE BOTANIC GARDEN EVENTS ARE SEPERATE. TICKETS ARE ON SALE TO ENTER THE GARDENS. A PERCENTAGE OF THIS GOES DIRECTLY
TO THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
Oha! Japan
Japanese Mini Season at the Unicorn
11 March – 6 April 2008
Unicorn continues its presentation of world-class international children’s theatre with two plays from Japan, the European Premiere of Kazenoko Theatre’s Hello Maru-Chan and the World Premiere of The Twin Stars by Mike Kenny.
The Unicorn presented Danish company Gruppe 38 in 2007, and a three-week festival of Swedish theatre in 2006.
On Sat 22 Mar, there will also be a community day with events and activities to experience and explore the world of Japanese culture, including: sushi making demonstrations, manga drawing classes, Taiko drumming and a post show discussion about how the Japanese and English see each other.
Hello Maru-Chan
11 March – 30 March 2008Press Performance: Wednesday 12th March at 1.45pm
Hello Maru-Chan comes from Kazenoko, one of Japan’s oldest children’s theatre companies in their first visit to the UK, who collaborate with Australian master puppeteer Peter Wilson to present the story of a child born into an exquisite paper world. In this delicate and heart warming story, Maru-Chan explores the earth, sea and sky around her and meets many fantastic creatures and objects. The work, with music by Japanese composer Yoshie Shimamura , blends simplicity, innocence and beauty as myriad 3D paper creations introduce her to a world of possibilities. Formed in 1950, Kazenoko performs to over 500,000 children from 7 theatrical bases in Japan each year. In collaboration with Peter Wilson it pushes the boundaries of puppetry, and Hello Maru-Chan has been loved by children around the world.
For ages: 4+ The Twin Stars
By Mike Kenny
Directed by Tony Graham 14 March – 6 April 2008Press Performance: Tuesday 18th March 2008 at 7pm
A Unicorn commission, part-biography and part-fantasy, The Twin Stars investigates the early life of one of Japan’s foremost children’s writers – Kenji Miyazawa – and his first story, The Twin Stars, an exhilarating galactic adventure about two stars who become embroiled in a cosmic battle between constellations.
The Twin Stars interweaves the story of Kenji Miyazawa’s life in early 20th Century Japan, the death of his sister, his rejection of life in the family pawnshop and his compassion for the world of poverty he saw around him with his magical explanations of the mysterious world of the heavens.
In a race to restore harmony before sunset, the Twin Stars must pacify the great constellations of the Crab and the Crow so the nightly dance can begin.
Japanese designers Hirotsugu Yabuta and Yukiko Tsukamoto create a stark and beautiful landscape that is transformed and animated by puppets, giant images and delicate costumes.
Kenji Miyazawa has similar status in Japan to Lewis Carroll or Roald Dahl in the UK. Trained as a geologist, his love of nature and the universe form the basis for his work. A number of his children’s works have been made into animated movies (anime) in Japan including Night on the Galactic Railroad, A Well-Ordered Restaurant and Spring and Chaos.
For ages: 7+
Listings Information
Hello Maru-Chan
At: The Unicorn Theatre
Dates: 11 – 29 March 2008.
Times: 10.45am and 1.45pm – please check Unicorn website or contact
box office for times on each day.
Press Performance: Wednesday 12th March at 1.45pm
Prices: Adults £9.50, Children/concs £6.50. Previews 11-14 March, all tickets £5
The Twin Stars
At: The Unicorn Theatre
Dates: 14 March – 6 April 2008.
Times: Vary. Please check Unicorn website or contact box office.
Press Performance: Tuesday 18th March 2008 at 7pm
Prices: Adults £14.50. Children/concs £9.50. Previews 14-16 March all tickets £5
Please contact box office for group information and family tickets.
Box Office: 020 7645 0560 or visit www.unicorntheatre.com
For information and reviewing tickets please phone Vid Simoniti, Press & Marketing Assistant, on 020 7645 0545 or email
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Unicorn is grateful to the following Oha! Japan sponsors: The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, The Japan Society, Japan Foundation, Embassy of Japan in the UK, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Japan Airlines and Stuart & Hilary Williams Foundation.
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