Huge festival announced for Japan Week in Manchester this September

A fantastic free cultural festival has been announced this September that will see a six-day Japanese culture takeover of Manchester as part of Japan Week 2025.

The festival is being held in Manchester from 4 – 9 September after the city was chosen by the International Friendship Foundation as host city for the prestigious annual Japan Week event, that takes place each year in a different world city. 

First held in Florence and after that in other major cities around the globe including Seville, Boston, and Athens, this year’s festival in Manchester promises to be extra special as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the event that first took place in 1975.

The annual festival showcases traditional and contemporary Japanese culture through arts, music, fashion and sports, and will see a whole host of activities taking place at venues right across the city – all of them free to attend on a first come, first served basis, although some activities will require free-of-charge tickets to be booked in advance.

Through a diverse range of events, workshops, exhibitions and interactive experiences, hosted at iconic venues across the city, the festival promises a glimpse into the beauty and uniqueness of Japanese arts, traditions and more.

From traditional tea ceremonies and calligraphy, to music, arts and grass roots cultural exchange, there will be something for people of all ages to enjoy and appreciate.

The programme includes theatre and stage performances at HOME, traditional tea ceremonies at Manchester Museum, workshops, exhibitions and demonstrations at Aviva Studios and Manchester Central Library, plus a full day of activity with the Hallé showcasing the Hallé Youth Orchestra, Japan Archives, and Japanese instruments.

The week also includes the first UK performance of BLOOM – a brand-new production that fuses music, fashion and dance in a unique celebration of Greater Manchester’s contemporary creative scene. 

It has been created by composer and DJ Afrodeutsche, dance company Company Chameleon, and queer-led fashion brand Belladonis.  The live performance will also feature a string ensemble from the world-renowned Hallé orchestra, including virtuosa violinist Roberto Ruisi.

Centred on the theme of metamorphosis and change, BLOOM was created as a unique gift from Greater Manchester to Japan, marking a landmark year of cultural exchange between the two regions – with its debut performance taking place at EXPO Osaka back in June, ahead of performances in Manchester during Japan Week.

Away from central Manchester local community venues in the north and south of the city will also be hosting Japan Week activity with plans currently being finalised for activity to take place at Gorton Hub, Wythenshawe Forum, and Abraham Moss Library and Leisure Centre.

Mr Hiroyuki Ishizaki of the International Friendship Federation, Japan said: “It is a great pleasure to bring artists and performers from across Japan to the wonderful city of Manchester for an extra special programme celebrating the 50th anniversary.” 

Manchester and the wider city region has a longstanding relationship with Japan, dating back to the 1800s and the industrial revolution, with Japan Week 2025 set to showcase this 200-year history and friendship.

The city’s bid to host Japan Week came off the back of a successful Greater Manchester trade mission to Osaka and Tokyo in December 2023, led by GMCA Mayor Andy Burnham and Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig.

The city region’s relationship with Japan has continued to go from strength to strength since then, with a further delegation from Greater Manchester having recently undertaken a follow-up trade mission with partners in Tokyo and Osaka.

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester and Japan have historic links, going all the way back to the 1800s, when Japanese students came to Greater Manchester to take home the lessons of industry and our connections have been forged ever since. As a proudly international city, our city has always been shaped by people and businesses who have chosen Manchester to live, to work and to invest in.

“Culture has an important part to play in this, helping forge a mutual understanding between cities and countries that in turn helps create the right foundations for joint working and for successfully doing business with each other.

“It is particularly special that Manchester has been chosen to host the landmark 50th celebration of International Japan Week.  

“The programme of free cultural activity for September will allow people from across the city come and experience these unique events and gain insights into Japanese culture for the week. We are looking forward to hosting an important delegation of Japanese dignitaries, businesses and cultural institutions in our city.”

The festival is being delivered in partnership with HOME, Aviva Studios, Manchester Central Library, First Street, and Manchester Museum, with activities also taking place at Hallé St Peter’s and esea contemporary in the Northern Quarter.

Japan Week in Manchester is proudly sponsored by Calbee, Mizkan, Manchester Airport, KAJI, and First Street and Ask Real Estate who have together made the exciting free programme of cultural events possible. 

To find out more information about what’s on during Japan Week in Manchester and to get tickets, visit:  manchesterjapan.com