The Bunbury community are pleased to welcome the return of the South West Festival of Japan for another year.
After a hugely successful event in 2019, the third annual festival - along with the Japanese Film Festival Satellite at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre - will commence on September 4.
This year's event will celebrate the culture of Japan through arts, crafts, workshops, music, popular culture, food and more.
Some activities will take place at the Friendship Garden in Queens Park under the blossoming plum trees.
The official festival days will be held on September 5 and 12 at the Stirling Street Arts Centre.
This year's event will also include:
- A CBD Stamp Rally from September 4 to 12, with three prizes to be won;
- Workshops in Taiko, Japanese Sweets Making, Manga Art, calligraphy and origami;
- Virtual events in Travel writing, Japanese Tea, Japanese Home-style Cooking, Doing Business in Japan, and Haiku.
The main festival days will include Japanese drumming performances, traditional Japanese dance, martial arts, a Japanese Tea Ceremony, and cosplay.
Festival goers can taste Japanese food from Kokoro, Ninja Cuisine, Peko Peko and Fumi's Japanese pancakes.
Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said the festival was a great way for the community to immerse itself in Japanese culture.
"The City of Bunbury honours its Sister City relationship with the Japanese city of Setagaya and the South West Festival of Japan celebrates this connection," he said.
"I encourage everyone to attend this community event."
Your Turn Events owner/operator Renee Morrison said, given the current circumstances, it is an opportunity for the community to come together and experience the Japanese culture in Bunbury.
The event is sponsored by Simcoa Operations, WAPRES, Moshi Moshi, and the Japan Local Government Centre - Sydney.
