Japan-loving Thais should not miss the Toyotsu Japan Festival 2018, a Japanese lifestyle and food festival, which will be held from June 29 until July 1, 10am-9pm, at Royal Paragon Hall on the 5th floor of Siam Paragon.
Hosted by Toyota Tsusho (Thailand) Company, the three-day event is full of special shows with a lot of celebrities and will feature more than 80 booths, a grand opening and enjoyable activities. Visitors will enjoy shopping and innovations from Japan, such as a replica of the famous Japanese Shopping mall Siam Takashimaya, innovations from Sony, creative stationery products from Kokuyo and the 25 layers of Millefeuille katsu from Japan.
Some of the highlights are an oyster-shucking show by a famous Japanese chef, a fruit-arrangement show using product from Wa Theater Premium Fruits and the Obanyaki (Japanese pancake) cooking show from Minanoto Kitchoan, a Japanese-style confectionery company.
Visitors can learn how to paint wooden Kokeshi dolls using special original painting techniques. This famous souvenir from the Tohoku region in northern Japan is a symbol of happiness, love and friendship, and is also believed to protect people from evil spirits.
Anujtha Jaovisidha, general manager of Toyota Tsusho (Thailand)'s Corporate Planning Department and the director of the event, said: "This year's festival, organised under the 'Nice to Meet You Tohoku' theme, will appeal to everyone who loves Japan. We are transforming an area of 3,000m² of Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon, into the Sendai Tanabata Festival, which is the biggest and the most attended Tanabata festival in Japan. By creating a unique Japanese atmosphere with a lot of photo-taking opportunities, you will feel like you are in Sendai, the popular destination in the Tohoku area of Japan."
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is an annual festival with bamboo poles installed along the roads, and shops and several venues decorated in various styles with colourful papers attract two million tourists to stroll the lively streets in traditional Yukata outfits in August.
Sendai is also known for its authentic cuisine, with over 50 izakaya-style or vintage eateries offering various dishes, such as gyoza and Japan-Western fusion food. Visitors should visit Sendai's first onsen inn and enjoy shopping in the town's biggest shopping district, Clis Road, with several shopping centres.
Kiyoyoshi Oba, president of Toyota Tsusho (Thailand), said last year's Toyotsu Japan Festival received excellent feedback, in terms of revenue and number of visitors, both Thai and Japanese residing in Thailand. During the festival, visitors will find many Japanese lifestyle products and food items, directly flown in from Japan.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ToyotsuJapanFestival.
