Head to Aviva Studios home of Factory International this Japan Week to fully immerse yourself in Japanese culture.
Through a range of workshops, demonstrations and exhibitions from performers from across Japan, Aviva Studios is bringing a taste of the country to Manchester. You’ll also get the chance to learn about various destinations and places to visit.
Booking is essential
Programme Starts: 11:00
Programme Ends: 17:30
Learn more about the exhibitors and performers at Aviva Studios on Saturday 6 September below
ARTERA Co., Ltd., are dedicated to promoting and developing Japanese art through both traditional exhibitions and online showcases.
In this exhibition, they bring together a diverse collection of works—including paintings, calligraphy, and crafts—highlighting the rich expressions of artists active both in Japan and internationally.
“We hope this exhibition will serve as a bridge for cultural exchange between Japan and the UK, and offer visitors a chance to discover new artistic encounters through the power of creativity.”
The Meisei Dressmaking School are involved in all aspects of clothing and fashion, including Western dressmaking, traditional Japanese Kimono tailoring (wasai), and kimono dressing.
Their mission is to share the joy of wearing traditional Japanese folk attire – kimono – in a more relaxed and accessable way!
“At our booth, we will showcase our original kimono kidoryu, created by our academy. There will also be an exhibition and live demonstration of shibori (traditional tie-dye) techniques.”
Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association promotes the many attractions of Fukuoka, the gateway to Kyushu, both domestically and internationally.
Fukuoka is a city where history and modernity harmoniously coexist, offering a rich variety of delights including delicious food, warm-hearted people, vibrant festivals, and traditional crafts.
During Japan Week, they look forward to warmly introducing the charms of Fukuoka’s tourism, culture, and cuisine to everyone in Manchester and across the UK, hoping to inspire visitors to add Fukuoka to their “must-visit” travel list.
“We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to deepen our cultural exchange.”
Goto Islands, it is just about 30 minutes from Nagasaki and 40 minutes from Fukuoka.
Why not take a trip to Goto City, a island destination off the coast of Nagasaki?
Here, you’ll be welcomed by stunning cobalt-blue seas and exquisite island cuisine.
Scattered across the islands are beautiful churches built by devoted Christians who preserved their faith in secret—offering a unique cultural atmosphere amidst breathtaking natural surroundings.
Enjoy marine activities, cycling adventures, and of course, the freshest local seafood.
Come and explore Goto, an island full of nature, history, and unforgettable charm!
Kabuki moji Kanteiryū is a unique calligraphic style created especially for Kabuki, Japan’s traditional performing art.
You may also spot this script in ukiyo-e Art, many of which are housed in the British Museum. It is known as a lucky or auspicious script, but why is that? What gives these bold, rounded characters their symbolic meaning?
“People of Manchester—join us and discover the secrets behind this deep and fascinating world!”
Shinju Kawata continues to keep the tradition alive through grassroots efforts, offering workshops in Japan and abroad, contributing handwritten signage for the world famous Kabuki-za Theatre, and creating souvenirs that celebrate this living art form.
Kanji characters, a mysterious legacy of the East, are still used by the Japanese people today. Kanji have roots tracing back some 4,000 years to ancient script – symbols that reflect the worldview, spiritual life, and harmony with nature of those times.
By engaging with these ancient characters, we can reconnect with important values that modern life has caused us to forget.
These mysterious ancient scripts of the East hold a fascinating power that continues to inspire and resonate.
The Japanese tea ceremony sado is a spiritual cultural practice that has continued since the Muromachi period and is still loved by many people today.
At Japan Week, Macha Moments will offer a Matcha Making Experience. Visitors will receive a lecture on how to prepare matcha, and then have the chance to make it themselves.
“Why not take a moment to enjoy the matcha you prepare and relax with a peaceful break?
“We will carefully guide even those who are making matcha for the first time.
Please come and join us!”
Led by Mon-chan, the researcher of muda, the Muda-dan is a special happy group of unique individuals who seriously embrace muda – wasteful activities and ideas.
Believing in the brilliance found in inefficiency, unproductivity, and irrationality, we organize events, create quirky goods, and develop analog games.
“We hope the people of Manchester will enjoy experiencing this new aspect of Japanese culture – muda (wastefulness) – with just a little seriousness and lots of fun!”
It is a great honor for me to be able to participate in the event here in Manchester, UK.I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude—thank you very much.
I have been involved in “Sanmei” (Fate Calculation), a traditional cultural practice of the East, for over 25 years.
Sanmei is an extremely ancient discipline, and while it has taken root in Japan, most people today are only familiar with its surface aspects—which, in a way, is also part of its quiet beauty in Japanese culture.
As part of my life work, I express various ideas through artistic
forms.Through a joyful and natural way of living, I’ve come to appreciate how deeply human relationships are connected to the wisdom of our predecessors.
To express this gratitude and realization, I chose to represent it through Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement).
“The Group of Ryutai Letters” is dedicated to spreading awareness of ryūtai moji, a sacred style of writing believed to have been used in ancient Shinto rituals over 5,600 years ago—long before Chinese characters were introduced to Japan. Through lectures and exhibitions, they promote this ancient writing system across Japan, and are excited to present it here in historic Manchester, UK.
On September 6th and 7th, we invite you to visit our exhibition booth, where you can enjoy a tasting of Japanese tea and receive a special gift: a personalized Ryūtai character artwork in gold ink on hemp cloth featuring a Mt. Fuji design—limited to 100 guests per day.
We look forward to connecting with you through the mystical beauty of Ryūtai moji.
“Bengala”, a traditional Japanese pigment made by roasting and blending iron oxide extracted from the earth, is a natural dye that requires only water and is fully biodegradable—making it an eco-friendly and highly sustainable dyeing method.
“By introducing this aspect of Japanese dyeing culture, we hope to share the values of cherishing what we have, the joy of creating with our own hands, and embracing individuality through color—regardless of skill or experience.
Our goal is to promote the idea of “dyeing as a part of everyday life.”
During the workshop, we invite you to enjoy dyeing together by reviving old T-shirts, breathing new life into them with Bengala.
Zephyros – the god of the west wind in Greek mythology – carried the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, across the Aegean Sea to the island of Cyprus on a gentle breeze. Now, ” Zephyros” brings that same wind to Manchester, stirring up a storm of beauty and inspiration.
“We bring together paintings and calligraphy of Japanese artists.
Let the winds of art and elegance sweep you away!”
