Taiko

Taiko Meantime Summer 2009 highlights

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Taiko Meantime is a popular Greenwich, London-based Japanese drumming group. They have a lot of great events coming up this summer, not only in London but all around the UK!

FA cup final, Wembley (30th May) - 'Taiko Meantime launch the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium! Watch out for us on TV'.

Diorama Festival (24th June, 1st and 31st July) - 'We'll be playing at the foot of the Euston Tower, London for lunchtime shows on 24th June, 1st July (flute and drum duo) and 31st July. This year we're excited to welcome back Nobuko Miyazaki, our great Japanese bamboo flute player, who will join us on the first two shows.'

Glastonbury Festival (27th and 28th June) - 'Taiko Meantime return to Glastonbury for four shows in the Theatre field, accompanied by the fireshow in the evenings. Also featuring Nobuko Miyazaki.'

5th UK Taiko Festival, Exeter (3rd July) - 'Meantime headline the annual UK Taiko Festival, joined by other greats in UK and international Taiko.'

WOMAD, Charlton Park, Wiltshire (24th, 25th and 26th July) - 'We'll be holding workshops and performances at this year's WOMAD Festival at Charlton Park.'

Taiko Summer School, Farnham, Surrey (3rd to 6th August) - 'This four-day intensive Taiko course will propel your current Taiko skills into a new league. Both musically and physically, this course will be challenging and fun. Last few places remaining'.

Details for all of these performances and workshops can be found at www.taikomeantime.com

Posted by Vanessa on 2009年5月29日 08:02 | | Comments (0)

How to Visit Japan Without Leaving London: Part 2

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Shhh! It’s a bit of a well-kept secret that Hammersmith Park boasts a small but perfectly-formed Japanese Garden, originally commissioned for the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910.

Painstakingly constructed, even the bridge crossing the pond was brought in especially from Japan, brick by brick!

It was rescued from neglect in summer 2008 by Friends of Hammersmith Park Japanese Garden and experts from Japan. To keep the garden in shape in 2009, there will be a ‘General Tidying Session’ on May 30th, from 11am-3pm. Get your wellies on and email jb.ex100@yahoo.co.uk to join in.

Following the restoration work on Saturday, there will also be a garden party on Sunday May 31st, from 12pm-4pm! Taiko, bon dancing, story-telling and Japanese food will make this a great day out for the whole family.

Download Garden Party Event Flyer

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Orbital Manga is the nucleus for connecting with all things manga, anime and cosplay in London.

Even better – there’s a wide selection of the latest manga titles available in English. So, it’s just like being in Japan, except you can actually read everything! Yay! Located just around the corner from Leicester Square, at 4c Orion House, Upper St Martins Lane, this slice of Japan couldn’t be closer to home.

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The British Museum’s Mitsubishi Corporation Japanese Galleries have recently been refurbished to tell the chronological tale of Japanese culture from ancient prehistory, to the present...

There are paintings and prints, exquisite Samurai treasures, everyday objects, even modern manga.

When you enter the gallery, you will note the lovely tea-house. The London-based Urasenke Foundation Chado group does demonstrations there on a regular basis – contact the museum for more information about times and dates.

Have you found a little part of Japan in London? I'd love to hear about it!

Posted by Vanessa on 2009年5月19日 11:18 | | Comments (0)