UCLan to host its first Japanese catwalk show to celebrate Japan day

Students at UCLan will be turning Japanese later this month as the university hosts its very first public fashion show to celebrate Japan Day on January 31st.

Now in its sixth year at UCLan, the Bunkasai Japanese festival looks to celebrate Japanese culture with both students and staff. This year for the first time the event will host its own Japanese fashion show, Bunkasai Runway, which will showcase J- Fashion and new Japanese cultural trends. Students and staff will model both new and traditional fashions for the event in UCLan’s Harrington Building, Victoria Street.

In addition Takeshi Ito, the newly appointed Minister for Public Diplomacy and Media at the Japanese Embassy in London will be opening the event as a special guest and talking about Japanese Foreign Policy to students and staff.

Students from Priestley College, Warrington will also be performing Japanese songs at the festival with assistance from former UCLan languages graduate Taegan Jones Skinner, who now teaches students at the College.

Visitors to the Bunkasi event will also have the chance to savour authentic Japanese cuisine during a special lunch event. 

UCLan students will also be mounting special displays celebrating such themes as Japanese poetry, Japanese chess and Japanese computer gaming. Many of the displays will be based on their learning and travelling experiences of studying for a year in Japan.

Entry to the Japan Day Bunkasi is free to both students and the general public.

Takako Amano, Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies at UCLan, said:. “The Japan Day Bunkasi event continues to grow each year in popularity and this year we will have the biggest range of activities yet for visitors to enjoy.

“Our very first Runway catwalk fashion show, for example, will give visitors a chance to see a variety of styles ranging from the latest in J-fashion, Japanese Pop culture to more traditional styles.”