London Okinawa Day is a yearly festival celebrating the unique music, food, and culture of Japan’s southernmost prefecture. Okinawa Prefecture encompasses an archipelago of islands in Southern Japan that formed part of the historic Ryukyu Kingdom and as such has its own distinct music and traditions. Okinawa Day 2025 will introduce the audience to music, dances, and food from several islands of the Ryukyu archipelago to highlight its incredibly rich cultural diversity.
Okinawa Day 2026 In The Blue Market
Organised by London Okinawa Sanshinkai, the event will take place on Saturday 20 June 2026 from 11am to 5pm at The Blue Market, London SE16 3UQ. Entry is free and everyone is welcome.
Live Performance
A variety of performances showcasing Okinawan culture will feature throughout the day. From elegant Ryukyu Classical Music and energetic sanshin performances of Okinawan Folk Songs to traditional Eisa dance performances. There will be the chance to try Eisa dance through a workshop taught along with demonstrations of Ryukyu Karate, a martial art originating from Okinawa.
In addition, guest performers from the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Amami, and Tokyo will be visiting the UK to showcase their unique island folk songs and dances.
Arts & Crafts – Bermondsey Puppet & Storytelling Festival
Make Okinawan Dugoug Puppets with artist Miyuki Kasanara. Bermondsey Puppet & Storytelling Festival is offering free puppetry and storytelling workshops across local schools, community venues and public spaces. You can find free activities in and around The Blue Market Place every Saturday May – July, leading to a lively outdoor celebration in Bermondsey Spa Gardens on Sunday 12 July, 12–5pm. Bermondsey Puppet & Storytelling Festival is supported by Blue Bermondsey BID, Connection With Wonder and Southwark Cultural Celebration Fund.
Food and Goods Stalls
Taking advantage of the venue’s historic use as a street market, Japanese cuisine, food, and crafts will be on sale from a variety of stalls including London Okinawa Sanshinkai and other retailers.
How to get there
- Buses: 1, 381, P12
- Underground: Bermondsey Train: South Bermondsey Overground: Canada Water
- Santander dock stations on Southwark Park Road and Clements Road
- Bicycles parking available.
About London Okinawa Sanshinkai
London Okinawa Sanshinkai was formed in 1999 at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) by academics specialising in Ryukyu Classical Music and Yaeyama Folk Songs studies. Since then, the group has been disseminating Okinawan music, dances and culture through a variety of activities and performances not only in the UK but also in other European countries. At the centre of these activities is our annual Okinawa Day event.
A history of Okinawa Dayin the UK
There have been many events in London over the years introducing traditional Okinawan music and dance to the UK. Notably, the Rinken Band’s performance in Hyde Park, Sonda Eisa’s performance at the Thames Festival, and recitals by Kise Shinjin(Master of the Nomura School of Ryukyu Classical Music).
In June 2009,London Okinawa Sanshinkai and Okinawa Kenjinkai (The UK Okinawan Association) organised an event called “Okinawa Matsuri” at Café Oto in North East London. The date was chosen in commemoration of Okinawa Memorial Day which is annually observed around 23 June.
Since 2010, the event has been held under its new name Okinawa Day with the aim of expressing gratitude to songs and music, referencing the concept of a Day of Song (Uta no hi) by the famous Okinawan band,BEGIN. Moving its location to Spitalfields in East London, the event grew on a bigger scale, attracting an audience of 8000 in June every year. Following a 2-year break due to the pandemic, Okinawa Day had a successful second start in September 2022 in a new location in South London. The Blue Market, built with a unique architectural style focusing on sustainability and community, epitomised by its iconic central clock tower, is the perfect location to host Eisa drumming and dancing performances.
A word from Blue Bermondsey BID
This event continues Blue Bermondsey BID’s on-going programme of events and workshops to promote co-creation and wellbeing though creativity, music, physical activity, inspiration learning and awareness of the local environment. Events such as Okinawa day bring diverse communities together to participate and mix and encouraging footfall to local businesses and amenities including The Blue Market, Big Local Works and Blue Anchor Library.
Visitors enjoy different kinds of participatory activities at each event exploring a wide range of interests with art and crafts, music, storytelling, games, and environmental activities, with everyone welcome to join in and participate, especially local families. Our target audience is people of all ages, colours and genders who live in the locality, especially families with school age children. We believe that having held many successful events on the site over the past 14 years, we have built up a solid understanding of the safe management and delivery of events in this location.