Japanese Festival coming to Digbeth

Red Brick Market to host celebration of Far East culture.

Lovers of Far Eastern culture are in for a treat this Spring, with the inaugural Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival taking place at Red Brick Market, Digbeth on Saturday, 26th March from 10-4pm.

Showcasing over 120 local independent traders and artists, Red Brick Market is a treasure trove for those looking for something unique and artisanal for any and all occasions.

By coincidence, quite a few of these businesses are themed around Japanese culture, and it is this group who are organising what will hopefully be the first of many Japanese events at Red Brick Market.

Entry is free, and on the day you can expect fun for all the family with live performances of mighty Taiko drumming and thrilling martial arts demonstrations. For a gentler experience, you can try your hand at traditional Japanese crafts and taste authentic food from the Land of the Rising Sun.

There will be a dedicated pop-up kimono shop, where you can find a souvenir of the day from among hundreds of genuine, vintage garments from Japan.

Shibuya Underground, the brand new bar from Samuel Boulton (of award-winning The Pineapple Club), will be providing a journey for the taste buds into the ancient world of Sake, Japanese rice wine.

Festival organiser Katie Becker of Japan Crafts says, “We are so excited to contribute to the Cherry Blossom Festival. Digbeth is emerging as a cultural hub and events like this help to bring together local businesses as well as world-renowned exponents of Japanese culture”.

With more performers and attractions being confirmed every day, whether you have a yen for the traditional or the ‘kawaii’, you can keep up to date with Cherry Blossom Festival announcements by following @japanfest_brum on Instagram, or visit www.japanfestbrum.co.uk for more details.

The festival is sponsored by thejapaneseshop.co.uk who are offering a 20% discount on first orders from their site (excluding sale items) using code BCBF20, valid until February 2023.