11 November 2016
Japan Festival to blossom in Capital
Ichi, ni, san, shi, go! The fifth Japan Festival Wellington is springing into the Capital this November, bringing the
best of the Land of the Rising Sun to the Coolest Little Capital in the World.
Held every two years in Wellington, previous Japan Festivals have exceeded 30,000 attendees, this year’s line-up of free
entertainment and activities is expected to draw thousands more during the week of activities culminating in the
Festival Day on 26 November.
Presented by Wellington City Council, Asia New Zealand Foundation and the Embassy of Japan, with support from
Wellington’s Japanese community, the Japan Festival Wellington celebrates the relationship between New Zealand and Japan
by bringing Japanese culture and businesses to the capital for an array of spectacular events, beginning 18 November
through to 4 December.
Featuring the crazily-funny Japanese ventriloquist Showko, the world’s greatest kendama ninjas Zoomadanke, an exhibition
of some of Japan’s most innovative and interesting cars, acclaimed jazz singer Tsubaki and many displays of Japan’s rich
and fascinating culture, the Japan Festival has plenty to enthral all visitors.
“The sounds, sights and edible delights of Japan will provide an amazing splash of colour and culture to the Capital,”
says Mayor Justin Lester, who is also the Arts and Culture spokesperson.
“The Festival is a great way of celebrating our warm and prosperous relations with our sister city of Sakai, and to
promote the wonderful diversity of culture in our Capital.
“This year’s festival has an incredible line-up. From cutting-edge performance and comedy, flash electric vehicles,
scintillating martial arts and the beauty of traditional Japanese culture in calligraphy, origami and tea ceremonies,
there’s so much to see, hear, taste and create,” he said.
Japan Festival Wellington – activities, entertainment and highlights
The Festival Day is Saturday 26 November 11am –7pm, and is based at the TSB Bank Arena and will feature local and international Japanese performances. Delicious Japanese
food stalls add to the taste of the day and visitors can experience the famous traditional tea ceremony.
The Festival Day features taiko drumming performance and workshop, martial arts displays (Kyudo, Naginata and Iaidō),
origami workshop, tea ceremony, children’s Koten dance and food and cultural stalls.
International performers Showko, Zoomadanke, Aki Tsubaki and calligraphy master Hokai Shibayama will perform on this
day.
• Zoomadanke: Well-known Kendama duo “Kodaman” and “Easy” have enthralled both television and live audiences across Japan to Hawaii
and Brazil, South East Asia and Europe since 2010. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFiiXkonsXY
• Wrapped in a funky kimono and high heels, acclaimed ventriloquist and comedian Showko (2016 Australia’s Got Talent) brings her hilarious ventriloquist show that has entertained audiences of all ages all
over the world.www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKDc99WW3FU
• Japanese singer Aki Tsubaki performs a soulful mix of jazz, bossa nova, flamenco and originals.
• Leading Shousho calligrapher Hokai Shibayama brings vitality to this traditional art form, creating pieces of work that are rooted in the Japanese soul.
After the immense success of the Cosplay Corner and the popularity of Victoria University of Wellington’s kimono booth
in 2014, the Wellington Japan Festival, together with Overload – NZ Comic & Manga Convention will bring to the stage the 2016 Overload + Wellington Japan Festival Cosplay Competition.
Other highlights of the 2016 Japan Festival Wellington include:
• Photo exhibition of Japanese immigrants’ living in New Zealand, 26 November TSB Bank Arena: 12 Japanese immigrants use photography to share their experiences in New Zealand.
• Wellington Children’s Art Exhibition, 21-25 November Michael Fowler Centre: Wellington City Council and three Wellington Artists – Kumiko Matsumoto, Rieko
Woodford-Robinson and Joyce Wu – bring the Children’s art exhibition to Wellington as a part of the Japan Festival.
• A Day in The Life of Wellington and Sakai photo exhibition, 18 November – 3 December, Wellington Central Library Mezzanine Bridge: Wellingtonians and Sakai residents share their
everyday experiences in A Day in the Life photo exhibition.
• Japanese CARnival, 24 November – 26 December 10am-5pm, Te Papa Museum forecourt: The Embassy of Japan and the Wellington City Council
present the Japanese CARnival, exhibiting the newest and most progressive models of Japanese cars and demonstrating
Japan’s spirit of innovation and technology.
• “Wishing Bright Life!” Hokai Shibayama Calligraphy Exhibition, 27 November – 4 December, NZ Academy of Fine Art
• Kirin Beer Garden, 21-26 November 3-8pm (times may vary – please check the Japan Festival facebook page here), Mac’s Brew Bar: Relax by the waterfront and enjoy a glass of Japanese beer in Wellington Japan Festival’s outdoor
Beer Garden, proudly brought to you by Kirin Beer and Mac’s Brew Bar.
• Martial Arts Display, 19 November 1-1.30pm, Te Papa 2nd floor foyer: Enjoy an exciting visual display of some of Japan’s most interesting
weapon based martial arts, including the Samurai sword art of Kendō (the way of the sword), Iaidō (quick drawing of the
sword), the unique whirl of the Naginata (the Japanese halberd) and the power of the Bō staff.