London is a sushi-lovers paradise, not only because the sushi in central London is some of the highest standard in the world, but also because there’s no better place to get fully immersed in Japanese culture.
No matter how you look at it, there’s a big difference between gobbling down a box of sushi in front of the TV and making the effort to find out what real-life Japan really is all about. It’s not until you’ve had an authentic taste of Japanese culture that you can really enjoy sushi to its fullest. And if you’re one of the millions living in central London who are in love with sushi, you really don’t have any excuses at all not to dive right in.
Here’s a look at just a few examples of the amazing Japanese events happening soon in London:
Okinawa Day – June 21 2014
Head over to Spitalfields on Saturday June 21st and soak up the atmosphere of this year’s official Okinawa Day. The event is organised as a means by which to both celebrate and demonstrate a variety of Japanese cultural elements, which means you can expect everything from food and drink to live music performances to traditional dance and more. Martial arts groups are also welcome to attend and put on demonstrations of their own, as are those in the business or producing and retailing Japanese craft products.
Toru Ishii: Delirious Metropolis – 20 May – 15 July 2014
May 20 sees the very first solo exhibition of Toru Ishii hit the UK, in which he attempts to tackle the challenging issue of how traditional art can continue to exist and be of relevance in a highly contemporary world. The event will take place at the Daiwa Foundation Japan House and includes a variety of talks, lecture, public exhibitions and private viewings.
Third Thursday Lecture: From Green to Black: How Black Tea Conquered Britain and the United States and Sencha Japan – June 19 2014
Fancy yourself as a bit of a professional tea-drinker? This could well be the event for you, as Dr Robert Hellyer, Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellow deliver a stirring lecture on the way in which black tea has played such a crucial role in the establishments of so many different national identities, while at the same time remaining a crucial economic asset for centuries.
Tanabata: Fukinagashi workshop – 22 June 2014
For the whole day of June 22, those with an interest in Japanese art and culture are invited to help make the decorations that will be hung on the Royal Festival Hall’s balcony and represent an iconic symbol of the summer in London. Whether you have a few hours to spare, a full afternoon or even the whole day, it’s a great way of being involved in something truly important while learning a little more about traditional Japanese art.
And if you can’t make it to any of the above, you could always just order your usual sushi in central London, get a couple of traditional Japanese movies and spend the night with a few friends – you never know what you might learn!
