This Japanese festival will have J-pop, martial arts, and plenty of matcha tea
If you’re a Japanese pop culture enthusiast, head to the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter on November 22 & 23 for the Japan Festival…
Get ready to ignite your senses at the Japan Festival 2024, which will take place in Riyadh on Friday November 22 and Saturday November 23.
Held at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter, the free event, organised by JETRO Riyadh, the Japanese Association in Riyadh, and the Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, will set the stage ablaze with the dynamic spirit of Japanese culture.
This year, the two-day event will feature many fun festival booths and exciting performances that visitors can look forward to.
Here are some of the activities you can expect at the festival.
You will have an explosive experience of all things Japanese, traditional and contemporary. The event will feature a Japanese speech contest and stage performances such as anime song concerts and martial arts demonstrations.
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Enjoy a Japanese drum performance by Riyadh Japanese School and the captivating performance of the Shamisen, a traditional three-stringed Japanese musical instrument. Plus, no Japanese festival is complete without your favourite anime songs, which will be performed by the Japanese NBK Band from 9pm to 10pm on both days.
The festival’s cultural richness is enhanced by demonstrations of Japanese martial and self-defence arts, including Aikido, kid’s Karate, Iaidō, a traditional sword-based martial art, and Kendo, a modern Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords and protective armour.
There’s also the Japanese tea ceremony and demonstration featuring ceremonial-grade matcha, the amazing art of traditional Japanese umbrella juggling, and live art painting.
On the second day (Saturday November 23), from 3pm to 6pm, a speech contest will also be held. Participants will give speeches in Japanese and have the opportunity to win attractive prizes.
Sharing the wonders of Japan, you’re bound to be in for a treat at the Japan Festival 2024. So, don’t miss out.
Admission is free, but pre-registration is required via this link. However, registration is not required for residents of the Diplomatic Quarter.
Japan Festival 2024, Nov 22, 5pm to 10pm & Nov 23, 3pm to 10pm, Cultural Palace, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh. Admission is free, but advanced registration (before Nov 17) is required here. @japanembassy_ksa
Images: Social / Unsplash