Hyper Japan 2014

Hyper Japan is the UK’s biggest Japanese culture event, held in London since 2010. It showcases a mixture of old culture and new: from traditional crafts & cuisine to contemporary fashion from the streets of Harajuku (Tokyo’s fashion district). From the 25^th to the 27^th of July in  Earls court, it is a chance to dip into another country without leaving your own.

The queue to enter is a sight to behold, as those already interested in Japan dress up for the occasion in detailed costumes. Some people cosplay as characters from games and anime, others are clad in complex doll-like Lolita dresses or covered in elaborate accessories. These bright displays only increase as you enter.

There are many booths offering different pieces of Japanese culture. One of the most eye-catching is the ‘kawaii’ area.  Kawaii is the Japanese word for cute, and at Hyper Japan it certainly lives up to its meaning. Stalls selling fashions in cheerful pastel colours, with intricate lace adorning every hem, and shoes riddled with bows are everywhere. Stationery is on every stand too, with a seemingly endless variety of pencil toppers, stickers and erasers, all with cheeky faces. Somewhat confusing is the obsession with plushie alpacas and mini vegetables; apparently anything goes here in the name of cute.

There are three performance stages at Hyper Japan; at these you will find demonstrations of Japanese technology, dance, music and many other shows. A popular attraction on stage is the various examples of J-pop (Japanese pop music): which at first sounds high pitched and sugary, but you’ll be humming ‘PonPonPon’ on the journey home. To ensure you don’t miss the main stage shows programmes are essential to help plan your day and available for free on entry, remember to leave enough time to ensure you get the best seats.

For those looking for the more traditional aspects of Japanese life, you can find the elegant bonsai tree garden. Here miniature trees have been expertly grown into complex knots; the result of knowledge passed down over the centuries.  To get a more hands-on grasp of the culture there is the workshop tables. Several traditional skills and pastimes can be tried here for free, such as origami, haiku writing and the opportunity to paint your name in the Japanese alphabet. There is also the opportunity to wear the clothing which usually springs to mind when anyone mentions Japan: kimonos. Although, you will soon realise that there are many different styles of this dress, for example special kimonos for different seasons and occasions. Their patterns are designed to capture the eye, with vibrant colours and images of iconic Japanese symbols; serpentine dragons, cherry blossoms or graceful koi carp.

After all that discovery, food is probably the next thing to seek out. Hyper Japan offers many Eastern delicacies. There is a whole area named Eat-Japan, which houses the Sushi Awards. Here, skilled chefs present some of their finest pieces of the culinary phenomena. Sushi is a mix raw fish and seaweed, something many people fear, yet you can’t help but admire the artistic presentation. The chefs’ precise carvings can leave a fillet of Salmon looking like a rosebud - almost a crime to eat. For £5 you can try a sample from each of the chefs in the booth and then vote for your favourite. Then there is the Sake Experience, a taste of Japan’s infamous fiery rice-based alcohol. Here you can try many different blends of sake, much like a wine tasting event. There is a surprising variety to the drink, depending on the region it’s from, brewing technique and type of grain used.

Japan is also known, of course, for technology.  Japanese game developers, such as Nintendo and Capcom, have stands demoing their upcoming games at Hyper Japan. This area often draws a big crowd; many are eager to test-drive the games. Unfortunately, this means that queues for some bigger titles can be quite long and you could expect to wait for awhile.

To many people, Japan appears to be summed up with anime, robots and geishas. Hyper Japan will make you realise that they are barely even the surface of this rich culture. Attending gives you the chance to discover a world far removed from our own, one bedded in tradition yet also refreshingly modern.