Sushi-making, tea ceremonies, taiko drumming; perhaps not activities you would usually associate with the cathedral city of Lincoln.
But this week, walking up Steep Hill with a sweat on will not be Lincoln’s primary entertainment form, as the sixth Lincoln Japan Festival comes to the city.
The event is currently underway and will run until Saturday to conclude a week of manga drawing, flower arranging and calligraphy.
Although the event provides some unique entertainment for families during this half-term break – organiser David Brook told LSJ News that it could impact on the culture within the community.
He said: “There’s been a lot in the press about racism and prejudice and the idea of a small-minded Britain that wants to cut itself off as an island.
“It is obviously a bit of a hot topic and that’s another reason why I think it’s important, to say to people that there is a bigger world out there and we should be thinking about the rest of the world and not necessarily just ourselves.”
David added: “The world is kind of getting smaller and smaller these days.
“It’s a lot easier to travel around and see the world but there’s so much choice and it’s also quite expensive.
“So it’s good to have it on your doorstep to experience it.”
The festival kicked off on Saturday with a taiko drumming performance in the City Square and a karate demonstration.
Today, an exhibition of Japanese prints is still on display at the St Peter at Gowts Primary School whilst manga drawing sessions are taking place throughout the day at Lincoln Central Library.
Thursday will also see the screening of Japanese film in the form of the low-budget comedy-horror hit One Cut of the Dead.
But when asked what first inspired the company who runs the festival, Blueprint Media, to bring it to Lincoln, David said: “There is no obvious reason other than the fact that Darren, who runs Blueprint, is in love with Japanese culture and I’ve always been a big fan of Japanese film.”
For more information on the event you can visit its website: www.japanfestival.co.uk