Cape Town - Japan is one of my dream travel destinations and, if you want to learn more about the country, you should head out to Blaauwklippen Market tomorrow for the culmination of the Japanese Consulate’s Cultural Week - the fifth annual Japan Day.
Organised by the Office of the Consul of Japan in Cape Town with volunteer support from the Cape Town Japan Club - an active association which fosters friendship and cultural exchanges with the local community and comprises 200-plus Japanese residents and their South African friends living in Cape Town - Japan Day is dedicated to sharing various elements of Japanese culture.
From 11am till 4pm, the event will showcase exciting, exotic and fun aspects of Japan and Japanese culture. Performances will include martial arts demonstrations of aikido, karate, kenjutsu, (Japanese sword demonstration), taiko drumming seen at many festivals throughout Japan, shakuhachi (Japanese flute), a cosplay show (popular among Japanese youth and exported globally) and food demonstrations by a Japanese restaurant owner/chef.
Exhibitions will include bonsai, koi fish as well as ikebana and sumi-e (drawings by Japanese brushstroke).
Visitors will be able to participate and try shodo (calligraphy), origami, go (Japanese chess), trying on yukata, which is a casual summer kimono worn at summer festivals, as well as traditional games like kendama, taketombo, wanage and darema otoshi, which have been played by Japanese children for centuries. Toys will be available too.
The festival is free. Blaauwklippen Estate is on the R44 in Stellenbosch. For inquiries,visit the Facebook page.