Japan Days 2025

This month, the autumnal Japan Days event returns, taking place on November 15 and 16, 2025, at the Capannelle Hippodrome, with an edition packed with events, charm, and culture. The capital's quintessential Japanese festival once again bridges Italy and Japan, with over 100 exhibitors in the Market Area, showcasing kimonos, traditional crafts, pop culture, and rare objects.

The festival features high-profile workshops, including a Japanese language workshop - curated by the Italy-Japan Foundation - ikebana, origami, shodō calligraphy, sumi-e ink and watercolour painting, bonsai, the kintsugi gold dust ceramic repair technique, the art of hanging kokedama plants, traditional watoji bookbinding, Japanese masks, manga drawing, travel journals, and much more. In the Wellness Area, you can experience shiatsu massages (Namikoshi method); the Tatami Area hosts demonstrations of Japanese martial arts such as kendo, jodo, and Iaido. There will also be cooking shows, performances, and special guests.

For the little ones, there's a dedicated area with Japanese peaches, decoden colored cream workshops, face painting, board games, live drawing sessions, and more. A new fun feature this year is the "go" area, where you can learn the famous strategy game. There will also be themed conversations on Miyazaki, manga editing, traditional Japan, and pop culture. Another new feature this November is the Portfolio Review with Midori Yamane, manga editor at Kodansha and instructor of the Manga course at the International School of Comics in Rome. This appointment -by reservation only - offers aspiring artists the opportunity to receive professional advice on creating and presenting their work. For car enthusiasts, the Japan Days features a Japanese car exhibition curated by the Japan Car Roma Club, and the Food Area offers a unique journey through the exquisite flavors of authentic Japanese matsuri street food. Finally, there's also a Konbini minimarket with a corner inspired by the famous 24-hour Japanese neighborhood shops.

To register for the courses and workshops, as well as to view the entire two-day program, visit the official website: www.japandays.it/

Photo: official Facebook page of the event