A big thank you to everyone who visited the Japan Foundation’s stand at the Language Show Live on the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st October.

Held once a year, the Language Show is the UK's biggest event for language learners, teachers, linguists and anyone with a passion for languages.  This year’s show, held in Olympia, was attended by over 9,000 people across the three days. The Japan Foundation’s stand gave visitors a chance to experience Japanese language and culture, including writing their name in Japanese and taking a purikura-style photo using Japan Foundation’s Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese website (you can find the purikura game here).

On Saturday, for the first time, Japan Foundation presented a performance of Japanese taiko drumming and a taiko workshop at the Language Show’s “Cultural Arena,” performed by Tamashii Daiko. Tamashii’s exhilarating drumming drew an enormous crowd, and one Japanese member of the audience commented that the performance “...made me remember that I am Japanese.”

On Sunday, we held a Japanese Language Taster session led by award-winning Japanese language education professional Lydia Morey. It was attended by enthusiastic language learners of all ages, who learned basic Japanese greetings and the writing system.

Additionally, we held a Japan Quiz, which over 700 people entered.  Out of those who answered the quiz correctly, we picked five at random to send our Japan Foundation Goody Bag.

We would like to thank Tamashii Daiko, Lydia-sensei and all our Japanese Taster for Schools volunteers who generously donated their time and expertise for the show.  Domo arigato gozaimashita!

Japan Foundation will also be attending the Language Show in 2013, on October 18^th, 19^th and 20^th   at the Olympia 2, London. 

Don’t forget that the Japan Foundation will next be appearing at Hyper Japan 2012 on November 23^rd, 24^th and 26^th – click here for more details. We hope to see you there!