Okinawa is the Southernmost prefecture of Japan and is blessed with subtropical temperatures and a unique art, music and food culture. It is actually a chain of islands called the Ryukyus, over 1,000 kilometres long.
Okinawa Day 2013 brings a taste of Okinawa to London for a day, in a free outdoor event organised as a part of the Spitalfields Estate Community Events Programme. This is the 5th annual Okinawa Day and the organisers are committed to promote the diversity of Okinawan culture through a wide range of events; performing arts (folk and classical songs accompanied by sanshin lute; Taiko drumming performance and Eisa dance) and arts and crafts, food, tourism information etc… At the same time, they encourage the participation of a wide audience, and families with young children are welcome. There will be workshops in Eisa dance for young and adult audiences alike and a dedicated stall to provide various activities for children.
Okinawa Day 2013 is a great opportunity to promote the diversity of Japanese culture and the uniqueness of Okinawan culture to the UK, which produces the highest visitors’ number to Okinawa among European countries. Due to the success of Okinawa Day in previous years, the Okinawa Day committee hopes to further official connections between Okinawa and the UK and there is a plan that a prefectural governor or senior prefectural officials from Okinawa will visit the UK to experience other planned events including the Japan Matsuri festival and Brighton Festival in September/October 2013.
Come and experience the fun of Okinawa Day 2013!
Okinawa Day 2013 is held in association with and supported by: The Embassy of Japan, Japan National Tourism Organisation, The Great Britain Sasakwa Foundation, Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau, Japan Foundation,Japan Local Government Centre, SOAS University of London and Spitalfields
Please see the Okinawa Day website for more information about activities on 22nd June and videos of last year’s music and dancing!
For more information about Okinawa, please visit ‘Okinawa Story’
