Attendance at Teikyo University’s Durham Campus 'Teikyo Festival 2026'

On Saturday 17th October, Consul General Katsutoshi Takeda attended the Teikyo Festival 2026 held at Teikyo University's Durham Campus. Once a year, the campus opens its doors to the public so that they can experience the cultural festival.

The event featured a variety of Japanese cultural experiences, including: demonstrations of Aikido and Iaido; opportunities to try out the tea ceremony and calligraphy; wearing a yukata; games using chopsticks, and a workshop for making bookmarks with kanji characters. The venue also hosted booths showcasing items from the collection of the Durham University Oriental Museum, as well as displays by student-led groups at Durham University focused on Japan. Additionally, an outdoor stall—run by students and serving yakisoba (stir-fried noodles)—proved to be quite popular.

Consul General Takeda engaged in conversation with several notable figures, including David Osborne, Deputy Lieutenant of Durham; Amanda Hopgood, Mayor of Durham; and Durham City Councillor Ellie Hopgood. He also spoke with Japanese faculty members who teach at Durham University and Newcastle University.

During the event, the campus was bustling with attendees. It was a day which perfectly symbolised the cultural exchange taking place between Durham and Japan where all participants could experience various aspects of Japanese culture.