Memories: culture and traditions at Japan Expo 2023!
Japanese culture and traditions are at the heart of the festival. With a dedicated area, stage, exhibitions and the Wabi Sabi space, you were able to immerse yourself in Japanese culture. Would you like to take a look back at what you've seen?
The Japanese guests in the traditional area were numerous this year. Through sales stands, shows and exchanges, they introduced you to their world.
A variety of artists performed on the Sakura stage, dedicated to traditional culture and entertainment. You marveled at the sword-fighting performances choreographed by Samurai Artist Kamui and Rin-Pa. Powerful Taïkos kept you moving to the beat with Sakura Kagura Musou and Tsunagari Taiko Center. Stéphane Ferrandez enchanted you with his demonstration of Rakugo, the Japanese art of storytelling. And let's not forget the dynamic, musical performances of Kumamon, Japan's most popular mascot, and 096K Kumamoto Drama Company, the 100% all-female theater troupe created by manga publisher Coamix, founded by Tsukasa HôJô and Tetsuo Hara.
No fewer than 48 booths showcased the work of talented artists in the Wabi Sabi area! Drawing their inspiration from ancestral techniques or nature, they offered you their creations straight from Japan, and took you into their worlds! Among the various themes, you could find stands for fashion, crafts, accessories, calligraphy, art and music on their stage in the heart of the space!
You could also discover and be entertained by the many traditional game stands, such as :
On the Ichigo stage, our biggest stage, you were immersed in the wonderful world of the young troupe Youth Theatre Japan with their show JAPANderland the Japanese version of Alice in Wonderland.
096k Kumamoto Drama Company also impressed you with their play The Chronicles of the Extravagant Keiji Maeda - THE STAGE PLAY, adapted from the eponymous manga written by Tetsuo Hara. With the shamisen rock duo Kuni-Ken and the mischievous Kumamon, you've been spoiled for choice! Between sword fights, anime songs and Japanese drumming, 096k Kumamoto Drama Company shone with their talents, staging and costumes, for the first time in front of an international audience!
You're in for a treat with the talented chefs who took to the Washoku stage, dedicated to cuisine. Between Emma Obadina's patisserie, chef Seiichi Itô's exquisite dishes, Gastronogeek's dishes accompanied by his friends, not forgetting Yellow Rice, Japanese and Asian cuisine no longer holds any secrets for you
We've got you all muscled up and sweating it out on the Bûdo spaces. Sports associations let you discover their disciplines through demonstrations and initiations.
You could find :
Chibi Dino had the honor of meeting Kumamon on an alley corner; a surprise encounter that promises a beautiful friendship between the two mascots.