A big thank you to the 2,000 visitors who came to the Japan Foundation’s stand at Hyper Japan on the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th July 2015.

HYPER JAPAN is the UK's biggest celebration of Japanese culture, Japanese cuisine, and Japanese cool. The Japan Foundation London’s stand gave visitors a chance to find out more about Japanese arts and culture, and studying Japanese language. In celebration of the Tanabata “Star Festival” on July 7^th, we also displayed bamboo on which visitors could make wishes by writing their wish on paper and hanging them on the branches.

One of the highlights of our stand was our Japan Quiz, which over 1,000 people entered. 

The answers to the quiz were as follows:

1. What colour is the Japanese flag?

a) Red and yellow     b) Red and white       c) Pink and white

ANSWER b) The Japanese flag is a red circle on a white background

2. What is the Japanese art of artistic paper folding called?

a) Origami             b) Kendo              c) Karaoke

ANSWER a) Origami literally means “folding paper”

3. The kanji (Japanese character) 花(hana) means “flower” and the kanji 火 (hi) means “fire.” What do you think their combination, 花火, (hanabi) means?

a) Daisy   b) Explosion   c) Firework

ANSWER c) “Hanabi” means “firework” in Japanese.

Out of those who answered the quiz correctly, only twenty people could win the Japan Foundation goody bag. Well done to our lucky winners!

We also hope that everyone who wished on our Tanabata bamboo finds their wishes come true! Photos of some of the wishes can be viewed on our Facebook page here.

Join the Japan Foundation when we hit the road next time at the following events:

• August 22^nd – Cardiff Anime Con


• September 5^th – Alcon 2015


• September 19^th – Japan Matsuri 2015


• October 3^rd – Bristol Anime Con


• October 16^th – 18^th – Language Show Live