An international cultural festival featuring hundreds of Japanese performers showcasing traditional Japanese culture is set to take over Manchester for a week next year after the city has been chosen to host Japan Week 2025, a prestigious annual event taking place in a different world city each year.
First held in Florence, Italy and subsequently held in major cities including Boston, Seville and Athens, next year’s festival in Manchester promises to be extra special as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the event.
The annual festival – which showcases Japanese culture through arts, music, fashion and sports – is organised by the International Friendship Foundation and will see free events take place in Manchester in early September 2025 at venues right across the city.
Manchester and the city region has a longstanding relationship with Japan, dating back to the 1800s and the industrial revolution. Japan Week 2025 will showcase this 200-year history and friendship.
Mr. Hiroyuki Ishizaki of the International Friendship Federation said: “It is a great pleasure to host our 50th Japan Week in the historic and beautiful city of Manchester. We look forward to bringing our artists and performers to this wonderful city next September.”
The city’s bid to host Japan Week followed a successful Greater Manchester mission to Osaka and Tokyo in December 2023, led by GMCA Mayor Andy Burnham and Leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Bev Craig, and supported by Marketing Manchester.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is a diverse and welcoming city enriched by our international communities. We’re proud of our historic connections with Japan and look forward to continuing to develop new and renewed partnerships. Culture is a great way to foster mutual understanding between cities and countries, and we know that large cultural events bring benefits such as jobs and volunteering opportunities to the city for our residents and communities. I look forward to welcoming the Japanese visitors to Manchester next September.”
