Japan400 Plymouth
A celebration of 400 years of Anglo-Japanese relations, 26 September – 1 October 2014
Food. Culture. History. Learning. Business.
Inspired by the historic voyage of The Clove and delivered by the history department at the University, Japan400 Plymouth was a series of events celebrating a spirit of discovery and partnership that endures to this day. This international initiative brought to Plymouth:
- a taste of how the bounty of the South West lends itself to Japanese cuisine in a celebration Japanese food and flavours
- the culture of the land of the rising sun at events showcasing Japanese film, music, theatre and art, including performances by local and international groups and artists
- an exploration of Anglo-Japanese relations through the centuries in a celebration of maritime history
- workshops for all ages to encounter Japanese art, culture and cuisine
- the spirit of curiosity that led John Saris to sail to Japan in a portfolio of opportunities for schools in the South West
- ‘Doing Business with Japan’, an event to support inward investment and export opportunities.
View the full schedule of events
Japan400 Plymouth was made possible through the generous support of our partners and sponsors.
Endorsement – British Embassy Tokyo
...put it in your diary. I think it'll be a wonderful occasion – it'll be fun, it'll be useful, and it'll be very, very interesting.
Thank you to all our sponsors, partners and private individuals for their generous support and for making Japan400 Plymouth possible, including:
- Plymouth Ocean City Festival
- Kawasaki Precision Machinery
- Japan Society
- Heart of the South West
- Regional Growth Fund
- Play It Again Theatre Company
- Experience Sutton Harbour
- Embassy of Japan in the UK
- School of Humanities and Performing Arts
- European Regional Development Fund
- The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
- Plymouth City Council
- Plymouth Seafood Festival
- Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
- Wagamama
- Peninsula Arts
- British Embassy Tokyo
- Marine Institute
- First Great Western
- JTJ Workplace Solutions
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Takara Shuzo
- i.Scout Cornwall
- i.Scout Devon
- Plymouth International Book Festival
- The Treasury
- MARIC
- School of Art and Media
- Innovation for the Creative and Cultural Industries
- Sake Samurai
- Orchard Hotel
- Urakasumi
- Kagemusha Taiko
- Plymouth Ronin-Kai Kendo Club
- Ai Suzuki
- Andrew Whiteford
- Atlantic Language Training
- Berrywood B&B, Miho Sato and Family
- British Shintaido
- Celia Steven
- Chris Cook
- Devon Twinning Circle
- Gary Baird
- Goto Sushi
- Hachisu Okiya
- Hibiki Ichikawa and Akari Mochizuki
- Hiromi Bunday
- Janie Buckley
- Keep It Secret
- Kōji Fukumoto
- Kumon – Plymouth Crownhill
- Maido Japanese Noodle Restaurant – Torquay
- Makiko Caul
- Makiko Yamamoto
- Mina Kurihara
- Nick Luscombe
- Peter Gorton
- Plymouth University International Development Committee
- Plymouth University Japan Students’ Club
- Pure Mediate
- Rough Cut Racing
- Setsuo Kato
- Shimako Tsuno
- Shojiro Frank
- Silicon Sensing Systems
- Square Sails
- Taiko Journey
- Tavistock College
- UKTI
- Visit Britain
- Wado Ryu Kenkyukai Karatedo
- Yoshinori Ishii of Umu London
- Yuki Frank
- Yuki Yoshioka
- Yukki Miyamoto
- Yukki Yaura and Leom Woodal
Food with Japan400 Plymouth
Japan400 Plymouth teamed up with the Plymouth Seafood Festival in 2014 to stage a Japanese-style matsuri fair.
It gave a taste of how the bounty of the South West lends itself to Japanese cuisine by joining us to celebrate Japanese food and flavours.
Arts and Culture with Japan400 Plymouth
Japan400 Plymouth showcased the distinct and varied culture of Japan with its unique blend of rich, ancient traditions and cutting-edge technology and creativity.
History with Japan400 Plymouth
"The seven and twentieth of September we arrived, thankes be to God, at Plimmouth, where for the space of five or sixe weekes wee endured more tempestuous weather, and our lives more endangered, then upon the whole Voyage besides" – John Saris, 1614.
Japan400 Plymouth celebrated Anglo-Japanese relations and the maritime history that brought the two nations together.
Learn more about opportunities to study history at the University of Plymouth
Education with Japan400 Plymouth
Japan400 Plymouth included workshops and events to share knowledge and experience the sights, sounds, textures, and flavours of Japan.
Doing Business with Japan
As part of the wider Japan400 Plymouth celebration, this event was primarily aimed at supporting and developing inward investment and export opportunities between The South West UK and Japan.
Architecture with Plymouth – 'InJapan' blog
The aim is to generate a vivid archive of the sights, sounds and places we take in, allowing everyone back home to follow our travels as we go! We’re all hugely excited to have the opportunity to undertake this trip so please have a read!
The group’s progress and experiences throughout their study tour of Japan were documented day-by-day via this blog.
Take a look at the blog