There will be a lantern parade in the Thames Festival Night Carnival with members of the Japanese community and friends, accompanied by Japanese drumming by the Joji Hirota Taiko Drummers. It is organised by a group of people, both Japanese and non-Japanese, raising money for Tohoku, 6 months to the day after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of 11 March. There is more information about the event here and here.
Come and join us!
We are holding lantern-making workshops and other Japanese craft activities on the grass outside Tate Modern on Saturday, 10th and Sunday 11th September 2011. This will raise money for the Japan Society Tohoku Relief fund which is helping local communities affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
We need:
Empty plastic 1.5- or 2-litre mineral water bottles, ideally square bottles with ridged sides such as Volvic or Highland Spring, to provide the basis for the lanterns.
There are four collection points for bottles:
- Embassy of Japan, 101/104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT (contact: Mark McEvoy, tel: 020 7465 6589)
- Japan Society, Swire House, 59 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ (contact: Yuko Kobayashi, tel: 020 7828 6330)
- Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Daiwa Foundation Japan House, 13/14 Cornwall Terrace (Outer Circle), London NW1 4QP (contact: Susan Meehan)
- ICN Gallery, 96-98 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4RH (contact: Taki Togashi)
We are looking for at least 100 Volunteers, prepared wear something like Yukata, happi, samue or martial arts kit (or whatever you choose to define yourselves with Japan). Then we need you to carry lanterns in the Night Carnival and also volunteers to help during the daytime (in shifts between 12 noon and 6 pm) over the weekend of the festival.
Even if you can't make it for the actual lantern parade, please come along on the 10th & 11th of September with your bottles to make a lantern, or to make a donation to the Tohoku Relief Fund...
If you would like to take part in the Night Carnival, or volunteer to help with lantern-making workshops and other activities, please click here to sign up! Alternatively, please telephone the Japan Society office on 020 7827 6330 or email: events@japansociety.org.uk
