First Look: Japan Week 2025
Last year Manchester was announced as host for this year’s Japan Week festival which will mark the 50th anniversary of the event. The festival is being organised by Manchester City Council and the International Friendship Foundation with support from the Greater Manchester Japan Steering group and partners.
Japan Week will showcase the 200-year friendship between Greater Manchester and Japan via a celebration of cultural collaborations, exchanges, shared experiences and people to people connections. The spirit and artistry of Japan will come alive in the heart of Manchester through a vibrant programme of free performances, exhibitions, workshops, and interactive experiences between 4th and 9th September 2025. With less than 100 days to go, here’s a first look at what to expect as the magic of Japan comes to Manchester.
Hundreds of artists and performers will be travelling to Manchester from Hokkaido in the north of Japan to Fukuoka in the south. Manchester will come alive with the sights, sounds, taste and traditions of Japan. From breathtaking shows to immersive workshops, there will be opportunity to discover the many traditions of Japan in an unforgettable celebration of culture, artistry, history and hospitality.
Highlights of the week-long celebration include:
- Traditional taiko drumming
- Powerful samurai performances
- Elegant Japanese dance
- Traditional music performances with Japanese traditional instruments
- Family-friendly cultural activities such as calligraphy and pottery
- Kimono dressing experiences and cultural fashion displays
- Authentic tea ceremonies
- Traditional food and drink
The diverse events will provide opportunities to learn about Japan’s history and explore what the country has to offer without leaving Manchester.
Some of Manchester’s most iconic venues will host the festivities, transforming the city into a hub of cultural exchange and creativity. HOME will host a range of theatre performances including dance and music. Aviva Studios will host interactive activities with the opportunity to get hands with arts and crafts from across Japan. A stage for dance and music and performances will take over First Street between 5th – 7th September bringing a festival experience to the city.
Manchester Central Library will be a hub of activity including exhibitions and demonstrations of traditional arts and crafts. Exclusive traditional Japanese tea ceremonies can be experienced in Manchester Museum’s iconic setting with an exciting trail of Japanese artefacts adding to the immersive experience.
The wider programme will include an exciting day of interactive music workshops, demonstrations and performances organised by Halle Concerts Society on 7th September at Halle at St Peters.
There will also be a live performance of BLOOM “a love letter from Greater Manchester to Japan” commemorating historical links and looking ahead to future collaborations. Curated and produced by From The Other, BLOOM will bring together music, fashion and dance from Greater Manchester’s creative scene, including composer and DJ AFRODEUTSCHE, dance company Company Chameleon, queer-led fashion brand Belladonis and a string ensemble from Hallé Concerts Society.
ESEA Contemporary in the Northern Quarter will host a vibrant weekend festival spotlighting Japan’s genre-expanding contemporary culture in collaboration with Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, and a live Music event ‘From Tokyo to Manchester’ and will also feature family-friendly creative workshops.
Japan Week is supported by a number of key businesses. Japanese businesses Calbee, Mizkan and KAJI are proudly supporting the event. The Japanese brands will bring the best of Japanese culinary traditions to the festival and their support will help to make the 50th anniversary of the festival a truly special occasion.
Manchester Airport and First Street and Ask Real Estate are also proudly supporting the festivities showcasing the best of Manchester and Japan and supporting a diverse programme of free events.
Residents and visitors alike are invited to immerse themselves in both the timeless beauty and modern vibrancy of Japanese culture. There will be something for everyone to enjoy and experience a taste of Japan in the heart of Manchester.
Further details, including a full programme announcement will follow.