A huge international cultural celebration featuring hundreds of Japanese performers is set to take over Manchester next year after the city was chosen to host Japan Week 2025.
The prestigious event showcases traditional Japanese culture in a different city each year, with next year’s festival marking the 50th anniversary of the annual event.
The festivities, organised by the International Friendship Foundation, will span arts, music, fashion and sports, bringing an eclectic programme of free events to various venues across Manchester in September 2025.
Manchester’s longstanding relationship with Japan, which dates back to the 1800s and the industrial revolution, will also play a key part in shaping the programme.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “This is fantastic news for Manchester and the latest chapter in a partnership between our city-region and Japan that dates back centuries. We’re bound by ties of innovation, industry and culture that stretch across the globe, and that’s why Greater Manchester led a UK-first mission to Japan last year to strengthen those connections and open up new opportunities for our people and places. We’re excited to see what the 50th Japan Week will bring and look forward to welcoming all of the performers and artists to Manchester in 2025.”
Final dates, venues, and the full programme for Japan Week 2025 will be announced in the coming months.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Mon 27 May 2024
