Japan Matsuri in London

Why? Why is there a need for this kind of thing? Why do countries feel the compulsion to share their 'culture' this way? Do we want to see Morris Dancing and Maypoles in Shinjuku? I don't think we do, do we...?

In costume? Looks a lot more Russian to me.

Do we want to see Morris Dancing and Maypoles in Shinjuku?

Yes, much nicer than the chinpira, sex business workers and drunken salarymen we usually see there.

That's one of the things I loved about London; you could experience all kinds of cultures, festivals, fusions - as many as possible.

Be it yabusame in Hyde Park, or morris dancing in Notting Hill (yes, really).

@Geoff;

Surely your very avatar is sharing your culture?

Do you have any issues with "British" pubs in Japan? Films like Dunkirk showing at your local Toho?

BBC news every morning on either NHK or Dlife?

I certainly don't. The world is richer for it.

Senbonzakura miku cosplay?

what dance is this?

doesn't look like any kind of "costume" I know.  More some cosplay thing aping an anime or manga character.

According to the banner, the Matsuri went on for most of the day. This picture would have only been a very small part. I am assuming that there would have been a majority of some very traditional culture. Good stuff indeed.

Why? Why is there a need for this kind of thing? 

I suppose you then also protest the St Patrick's Day parades, Christmas, Halloween events, and Oktoberfest events in Tokyo?

Why stop your protest there? Why not also protest Chinatown in Yokohama, Koreantown in Okinawa, Deustch village in Chiba, Huistenbous in Nagasaki?

Can't protest Huistenbos or Shima spain village - they are just tooooooo good.  Maybe then this picture is a good representation of how great the Japan matsuri in London really was.

Wow !

@ Akina Linh

I know but don't let the incessant bickering put you off. Most of us are delighted to share, enjoy and learn from other cultures.

Hardly be living here, otherwise :-)

Geoff Gillespie, London is a world city, we have festivals from every kind of culture - Diwali, St Patrick's Day, Eid, Chinese New Year - here, and thoroughly enjoy them. Matsuri is enormous fun, with traditional and J-Pop music, cosplay and kabuki, kendo and karate, all sorts of Street food and a mighty taiko show to finish. You have a problem with this?

Wow...that got a reaction, didn't it? To everybody who is so incensed at my opinions - and that's all they are, subjective opinions, nothing more and nothing less, it's important to remember that - may I answer thus...

@ Hillclimber

How else do you share you culture with random people not already associated with a organisation?

I’m curious as to why you feel it is so necessary to share you 'culture' in the first place. What is to be gained from it, I wonder...?

@ Toasted Heretic

Surely your very avatar is sharing your culture?

I saw a kid wearing a USAF bomber jacket in Shinjuku last week. It didn't make him a B29 pilot, did it?

Do you have any issues with "British" pubs in Japan?

Absolutely I do, "British" pubs like The Hub are the epitome of what goes wrong when "culture" is misappropriated. British pubs are, by their very definition, in Britain...

BBC news every morning on either NHK or Dlife?

...with terrible translations? No thanks, I’ll go directly to BBC World and get it first hand if it's all the same to you.

@BeerDeliveryGuy

I suppose you then also protest the St Patrick's Day parades, Christmas, Halloween events, and Oktoberfest events in Tokyo?

Spot on. The Japanese don't have the foggiest idea as to what St. Paddies day, Halloween, Christmas or Valentine's Day are all about and they should leave them well alone. Pathetic...

Why stop your protest there? Why not also protest Chinatown in Yokohama, Koreantown in Okinawa, Deustch village in Chiba, Huistenbous in Nagasaki?

So much to do, so little time....Actually, the Chinese and Korean communities are long established here, so I guess there's more logic in that.

@ Heather Owen

London is a world city

Being as I am a South Londoner, I am aware of that fact...

we have festivals from every kind of culture - Diwali, St Patrick's Day, Eid, Chinese New Year

Unlike Japan's largely homogenised society, the people who celebrate the festivals you mention are mainly British citizens celebrating the 'cultures' of their indiginous home countries. In this respect, there is no comparison to be made with Matsuri in Trafalgar Square. The people sharing their 'culture' with the British here are not themselves British citizens, are they? J-Pop, Cosplay, Kabuki...all things the Brits can happily live without, I would think.

Sandbags at the ready......

Geoff Gillepsie

Nice to read sensible opinion.

People forget their own culture and believe as said that wearing a costume make them bearer of that culture.

Please don't misinterpret me : I am all for having fun but then hold this in a specific exhibition center, not in the open.

For instance, I do hate Christmas in Japan where everything except the spirit of generosity is showed.

At the same, globalization wins it all and I don't think much can be done against : one pot the same. I hope for the better....

British pubs are, by their very definition, in Britain...

No, by definition they are British. There's nothing in the definition of British that requires it be located in Britain.

Hi, I'm the cosplayer in the photo. (Senbonzakura Miku) - was squatting along side the person because they wanted a "funny" photo :')