Today's idea - Japanese Street Festival

Today Moshi Moshi creates another Japanese Festival, each of which I've really enjoyed so far. Today they're turning Bartholomew Square into "miniature Tokyo" which not only revolves around the eating and drinking of Japanese food and drink (both of which I, like many, am very good at) but also brings a couple of cultured bits along. Throughout the festival will be Japanese performances, free origami, calligraphy classes, and traditional Japanese games and events, with mentions about a theme focusing on 'the plight of the fish'.

"The whole of the square will be transformed into a miniature Tokyo, with street names and stalls selling Japanese goods and food."

It's lasting until bank holiday Monday tomorrow, and if you head there today you can catch some Taiko drumming at 2:30pm, but the entire event should be pretty lively throughout the day as they usually are. I think yesterday's may have shut down early from rain, but today is looking positively sunny (horray!) so everything should go without a hitch.

Running until May 31st.
Facebook event page:

Today's idea - Japanese Street Festival

Today Moshi Moshi brings the city's first ever Asahi Anime Festival, a celebration of all things manga and anime. There'll be a major live Japanese band (although we do not know who), a gothic Lolita fashion show, game show, speed drawing competition, giant chalk manga artwork, manga merchandise from London's Tokyo Toys, group sing-a-long karaoke and of course "Japanese street food and wacky snacks". And drink. You too can acquire a good knowledge of Japanese alcoholic beverages through the store's frequent celebration of Japenese culture.

You can find details of all the above here, and if you'd like to be part of the Japanese Gameshow it's a the place to get information.



The big thing is likely to be Cosplay (costume + play = dressing as characters, most commonly Japenese fictional ones), growing steadily in popularity in the UK.

There's even a fashion parade, and one for kids too:

"Bleach, Naruto, Sailor Moon, Chobits, and Full Metal Alchemist will be just some of the anime personalities to be seen at the Festival. Others will come as their own outlandish creations. Cosplay is where the cult of the avatar meets fashion, and indeed a fashion show will take place during the day on Saturday, including one for children."

Time: Midday - 10.30pm.
Location: Opticon (opp. Moshi Moshi restaurant), Bartholemew Square.
Map: here.

Visit Yum Yum's (possibly my favourite Brighton restaurant)

I should correct this. I've been calling this place Yum Yum's restaurant for ages (and will continue to do so) although it's officially above the Yum Yum's store and officially called E Kagen Sushi & Noodle Bar.

With tomorrow not being a bank holiday there's surprisingly little to do in Brighton (if you know better do let us know), so we're going to recommend a restaurant to visit. However, this is hardly a desperation suggestion - it's my favourite restaurant in Brighton, and it's great to have a break from all the goings-on to finally be able to suggest this!



Yum Yum's to my knowledge, and to most of Qype's, the internet's, and all of my Japanese-hungry friends' knowledge, is fantastic. It serves reasonably priced authentic Japanese food cooked in an unpretentious open kitchen. The food is amazing, with a great selection of Sushi and Sashimi (two Sushi-obsessed friends can most definitely vouch for this) - and it's not just fish products that make it great.

My personal favourites are vegetable Gyozas I could eat all day (and have had valiant attempts to re-create with a Wagamamas Cookbook at home to some success), and a lovely rustic vegetarian Soba Noodle dish, and with an extensive menu it's to die for - although the photos on it don't do it justice. Dine for starter and main around £10 depending on what you pick, it's brilliant for lunch and dinner - although shut between 4pm and 6pm. If you're going for lunch they do a fantastically cheap (hello students) set menu, which my friends leap on.


Photo via here.

Find the restaurant above the Yum Yum oriental shop in the North Laines on Sydney Street (a brilliant source of Japanese cookery type things - the source of Gyoza skins, which made me very very happy), via the door to the right of the shop. It's an overlooked place that whilst not short of business is rarely crowded. It's cosy (but not too small - actually the inside is surprising and not what you expect from looking from outside), fantastic, and somewhere I keep meaning to take my parents to introduce them to Japanese food. It's a good place to investigate it, and won't let you down. I'll no doubt recommend this in a fit of excitement again at some point.

The above pictures are the Yaki Soba which I usually have (photo via here), second is what I had last time - Sansai Soba - and third is the Tempura, Prawn and Vegetable Soba.

I suppose you could say I like it just a little bit. A hidden gem, no doubt. If you go, let us know what you think!

The Map link is here, via Qype.

Don't let the outside put you off, the inside is lovely: