October was another busy and exciting month for the Collective! The focus of the month was Culture, and members got the chance to deep-dive into learning all about various aspects of Japanese culture through a range of exciting events and activities.
October's Japan Lab featured two cultural workshops! The first workshop was sushi-making, in which the members learned about arugably one of Japan's most iconic dishes, before getting the chance to make (and eat!) their own sushi. The second workshop was Shodo, where the members learned all about the art of Japanese calligraphy before getting the chance to practice using the traditional equipment. Members even got the chance to write their favourite Kanji on sensu (traditional Japanese folding fan) to take home with them.
Also in this month's Japan Lab, the Collective met Thomas Patterson from Multippl for a talk and Q&A, in which they learned more about the Multippl platform and what it represents for East/South East Asian people of mixed-ethnicities. Thomas also talked about an exciting upcoming photography exhibition that would be opening in London later in the month - Hafu2Hafu x Multippl.
On 17 October, the Collective had an additional meet-up alongside the regular Japan Lab and Catch-Up sessions! This was a day full of culture and exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunities...
To start off the day, the Collective visited the Royal Albert Hall and were lucky enough to be able to attend the Schools' Sumo Presentation! Sat only a short distance away from the dohyo itself, the members learned all about sumo as well as its deeply fascinating traditions stemming from Shinto beliefs and rituals, and even got to witness some live demonstrations from wrestlers who had flown over from Japan for the Grand Sumo Tournament that was happening the same week. The Royal Albert Hall was filled with children and young people from across the UK, and there was a real exciting buzz in the air throughout the presentation; it was the very first time sumo had returned to the UK since 1991!
After the presentation, the members hopped onto the tube to Oxford Street to The Casbah, where the Hafu2Hafu x Multippl photography exhibition had made its UK debut. The exhibition, which included photographs by photographer Testuro Miyazaki, offered a thought-provoking insight into mixed-identities and the experiences of half-Japanese people.
Finally, it was time to round off this day of culture with a trip to the British Museum, where the Collective were fortunate enough to be given a tour of the Japan exhibit and to learn more about some of the fascinating artefacts on display. The members also got the chance to look closely at some of the specially preserved ukiyo-e prints in talks led by Akiko Yano and Elena Follador from the British Museum.
At the end of the month, the Collective met up once again for another exciting session, this time at Japan House London! In this session, members participated in a thrilling interactive taiko drumming workshop led by Tamashii School of Wadaiko. This was a chance to get hands-on and try something completely new. The Collective members were quick learners and easily memorised the different rhythms and phrases to shout in-time to the drumming!
After a quick break, the members learned about matsuri (traditional Japanese festivals), as well as the different matsuri you can find and participate in across Japan throughout the year. Building on from this, the members got to try Awa-Odori, which is a special style of dance that is performed every year in August on the streets of Tokushima, located in eastern Shikoku.
What a busy month! Otsukare sama deshita, everyone!
JYC Members' Voices
Sumo Wrestling at the Royal Albert Hall - Reflection by Aysha
Sumo wrestling is a traditional Japanese form of heavyweight wrestling in which a rikishi (wrestler) wins by forcing their opponent outside the dohyo (ring) or by making them touch the ground with anything other than the soles of their feet. It originated in ancient times as a performance to entertain the deities, which is why many symbolic rituals are still performed beforehand such as purifying the ring with salt to ward off evil spirits and having a suspended roof draped with purple curtains to represent a shrine.
The day began with a meeting with other JYC members outside the Royal Albert Hall. We were all very excited, as it was our first time seeing sumo wrestling in person, and there had been a lot of anticipation online beforehand. Once we entered the venue, I was amazed by its size and beauty, it was also my first visit to the Royal Albert Hall, and I was very impressed. I noticed the large suspended roof made to resemble a shrine, and I even caught glimpses of the sumo wrestlers peeking through the curtains before being introduced. Even from a distance, I could tell just how large and powerful they were.
After a short wait, the presenters came out to introduce themselves and gave a brief history of sumo wrestling, explaining how the matches work. I learned that there is a very strict judging system, even referees are expected to resign immediately if they make a wrong call, which shows how seriously the sport is taken. Then the rikishi were introduced. They were truly impressive in size, with the average wrestler weighing around 150 kilograms.
The wrestlers then began their pre-match rituals, which were fascinating to watch. They performed a series of traditional movements such as stomping their feet, clapping their hands, and throwing salt into the ring to purify it. These rituals highlighted that sumo is not just a sport, but also a spiritual and cultural performance.
When the matches began, the atmosphere in the hall was electric. The wrestlers moved with incredible strength and agility, and each bout was short but intense. I was particularly struck by the respect and discipline shown between opponents, they bowed before and after every match, reflecting the honour that underpins the sport.
Overall, attending the event was an unforgettable experience. It deepened my appreciation for Japanese traditions and made me proud to see them shared so beautifully with a wider audience. As a member of the JYC, it reminded me of the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural heritage.
Japan Lab - Reflection by Molly
JYC members arrived for the session that was going to be based upon cultural activities. Reflecting the moon festival that takes place in Autumn when the moon is the brightest. Members got to design their own fan using the calligraphy. Popular were "Autumn." and "Moon." Paints were used for color whilst other members opted just for black and white.
JYC then participated in a sushi workshop where members learned how to make their own sushi, using tuna paste, peppers, salmon or prawns. Members learned techniques and enjoyed the cultural exchange on food. The support during this session was powerful and it felt uplifting once mastering the techniques and getting applause.
There was a talk which resonated with those with mixed backgrounds as well as those mixed with Japanese. It was empowering to know that those that truly don't feel like they fit in can find others that share similar experiences as them and thus find support. Many JYC members found the talk engaging.
Three JYC members gave speeches on different topics. Gyaru, unit 731 and oragami. Each speech was informative and passionate on Japanese topics each one unique. Kopito the Birman cat was also present, and the JYC members loved petting him during breaks in between the session. JYC members also got to try mochi and moon cakes for the mid autumn festival. A beautiful taste into the culture through food as they learned about the Chinese origins and how it spread to countries like Japan. Sweet chili rice crackers were also given for the members to try. Over all this was a culturally rich session perfect for those interested in the more cultural aspects of Japan.
Taiko Drumming and Awa Odori - Reflection by Soraya
We started the session off by listening to a group begin taiko drumming. You could feel it in your chest, and it felt very rhythmic. Everyone who was playing were in sync, and looked like they were really enjoying it.
They introduced the different types of drums - Shime Daiko, Nagado Daiko, and Hirado Daiko.
- Shime Daiko — A small wide Japanese drum with drumheads made from animal skin
- Nagado Daiko — Most popular type of taiko- it’s a long body drum that is very commonly used in festivals
- Hirado Daiko — has a thinner body compared to the Nagado Daiko, but structurally is the same
We first started by stretching. Taiko drumming is considered an exercise, and in order to play properly without injury, we must stretch our arms and legs. We then learnt the stance for taiko drumming, almost like a lunge but diagonally, with the front leg bent slightly and the back leg straight. Using the Bachi (the drumsticks), we held them using our forefinger and our thumb, and then wrapped the rest of our fingers loosely around the rest of the bachi, leaving a few cm below so there is room for movement and fluidity
Then, it was time to do the taiko drumming ourselves. At first, we learnt the basics; “don” which is hit against the centre of the taiko drum, and “ka” which is against the edge of the drum. If you play two “don” right after the other, it becomes “doko”, and similarly with “ka”, it becomes “kara”. Putting everything we learnt together, and creating a rhythm and were able to play two separate pieces together to layer the sounds. It felt like a really authentic taiko experience. This activity was definitely one of the most enjoyable out of everything we’ve done so far.
After the taiko drumming, we had another activity where we watched a mini festival performance, where two of the taiko drummers showed us the Awa Odori female and male dances. The female dance felt more flowy and tall whereas the male one was closer the ground, and wide. We each had a chance to learn both the male and female dances, and then could dance to the traditional festival music.
The female attire was fundamentally composed of 「利休下駄」 (rikyū geta) 、「着物」 (kimono), and 「編み笠」 (amigasa). The rikyū geta are the type of shoes the women wear, which allow them to dance quite literally on their toes. The kimono in Awa Odori is typically shorter than regular kimono, so the brightly coloured undergarments are more visible. The amigasa is the type of straw hat that is worn, and can typically cover the face. There is a type of styrofoam underneath the hat that allows it to be angled down onto the face. Overall it was a very fun activity, and very interesting to learn about a different type of festival in Japan.
The last thing we did in the meeting was discuss our plans for our final project. We covered everything about the audience we would like to invite, including but not limited to: the age; how many invites per member; things the audience may be interested in participating in; and the amount of people in the audience
Final note: this meeting was one of the most enjoyable meetings, and everyone had a really fun time with the Taiko drumming and the dancing.
