After-party | Raffle | Culture | Language | Food & drink | Fashion & cosplay | Games | Films | Music, dance & performance | Art | Martial arts
Below are details of the events that are confirmed to be taking place at the 2022 festival so far.
For the times of the events at Doki Doki 2022 Saturday 27th, see the festival programme.
For the times of the events at Doki Doki 2022 Sunday 28th, see the festival programme.
Details of the events that took place at the previous festivals are available: 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2013 | 2011
After-party
In the evening following the main festival on Saturday 27th, there will be a cosplay after-party with DJs playing J-pop/rock/dance, anime and video game themes.
Taking part in the evening event will be, DJ Neo Kei, DJ Happosai and DJ Chris Neon.
It will be held at The Sandbar (next door Sugden Sports Centre), from 2100 until 0100. Entry will be free-of-charge and open to people aged 18 and above only.
Raffle
The raffle will be taking place on Saturday on Stage 1.
A raffle, with all proceeds going to Doki Doki's supported charity. Please be aware the raffle will be drawn out on Saturday 27th afternoon at 1600 and you must be present at the ticket drawing to win any prizes.
Plus many more prizes to be announced!
Culture
Talks, panels, stalls and workshops on various aspects of Japanese culture.
Panel: Traditional Japanese Culture
Hosted by our Master of Ceremonies, Jason. A panel session with the following guests answering questions of anyone interested in Japan's rich historical culture:
This panel session will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday on Stage 1.
Panel: Japanese Pop Culture
Hosted by our Master of Ceremonies, Jason. A panel session with the following guests answering questions on Japanese modern pop culture:
This panel session will be taking place on Sunday on Stage 1.
Talk: Aid for Japan
This talk session will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday on Stage 1.
Rimika Solloway will give a talk about Aid for Japan, the charity her mother Akemi Tanaka founded to provide long-term support for orphans of the 2011 Tohoku disaster in Japan, which the Doki Doki Festival is pleased to support.
Talk: An Introduction to Arts and Culture of Japan
This talk session will be taking place on Saturday in Talks Room 1.
Join Jennifer Lynch for this talk. From woodblock prints to manga, this talk will be a whistlestop tour through Japanese history to examine a selection of visual and performing arts.
Jennifer is a Postgraduate Researcher at Liverpool John Moores University, where her research examines portrayals and representations of gender and sexuality in Japanese graphic arts.
Talk: Strengthening Your Inner World With Japanese Mental Health Techniques
This talk session will be taking place on Saturday in Talks Room 1.
Join Jamie Ryder for this talk on Japanese mantal health techniques. We all have an inner world where we like to go. Sometimes it’s for peace and quiet. Other times it’s to reflect on the direction of our lives. Our inner world is key to protecting our mental health and it can be fortified with different techniques and tricks.
Japanese culture has a wealth of concepts that can be applied to mental health. Join Jamie Ryder as he explores some of these concepts in relation to his own mental health experiences and learn to use them to strengthen your own inner world. From the art of forest bathing to the concept of oubaitori, these concepts are truly timeless.
Talk: Japanese Festivals
This talk session will be taking place on Saturday in Talks Room 1.
Join Angela Davies as she will be doing a talk on Japanese Festivals. There are many festivals in Japan, not just the national ones but also many that are specific to areas in and around the Country.
Angela's talk will include some of the traditional ones like New Year and the O-bon festivals but also some that are well known in Japan but not known widely in the West.
Talk: The Changing, and not so Changing Face of Business in Japan
This talk session will be taking place on Sunday in Talks Room 1.
Join Samuel Rosen as he dicusses how people have preconceived ideas about the world of business in Japan; advanced robotics, long hours and long commutes with men in dark blue suits crammed into trains… but what is life really like on the inside as a hirashain? Is business in Japan really as complicated as people sometimes make out? What is it like as a foreigner working inside a Japanese company? How has office life changed from the 20th to the 21st centuries? What effect has the pandemic had on the workplace, and how are things changing now that the world is beginning to open up again?
Samuel has spent over fifteen years embedded in Japanese companies and Japanese government offices, working under Japanese bosses alongside Japanese colleagues, and leading Japanese teams. He would like to use this opportunity to shed some light on this often misunderstood or overlooked aspect of modern Japanese society, touching on some of the trends I have seen and where things might be headed in the coming months and years.
Demonstration: Sencha Tea Ceremony
This talk session will be taking place on Saturday in Talks Room 2.
Demonstrations by Kumiko Murooka. Kumiko will demonstrate the correct process of sencha tea ceremonies in one of the small talks rooms, she will be showing different types of green teas and sweets associated with the ceremony.
Japan Society North West
The Japan Society North West (JSNW) was founded in May 2004. It is the successor to the UK Japan Society of the North West, which was founded in 1996 to provide a focus for local companies with business interests in Japan. Through meetings and other activities they provide opportunities for all those living in the northwest of England, and in north Wales, to understand and appreciate the people, culture and language of Japan.
The JSNW team will be supervising the Origami stall for charity.Art
Japanese Rail Society
The Japanese Railway Society (JRS) was founded in 1991 in London to promote the knowledge of the railways of Japan in the UK & other non-Japanese-speaking parts of the world. Since 1991, there have been several exhibitions, a TV-show (on Naruhodo The World, Fuji TV), many meetings in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, with many guided tours and meetings in Japan.
Baka Senpai
"Baka Senpai is the UK’s first Itasha group. Itasha combines our love of anime, games, and vtubers with our love of cars. Over the past 2 years we have been slowly growing the itasha community here in the UK and attending anime events and car meets/events, and now have members from all over the country. We aim to continue growing the community further and continue to show that it doesn't matter what car you have, any car can become an itasha!"
JETAA
JETAAUK promote professional, cultural, educational, and social events and news to strengthen Anglo-Japan relations on a personal level. The JET Alumni Association is a voluntary organisation that provides a network for the alumni of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme.
Language
Activities involving the Japanese language.
Japanese language competition
This event will be taking place on Sunday in Talks Room 2.
We are holding a competition for people learning to speak the Japanese language. It will be split into three levels: beginner, intermediate and advance. The Manchester Japanese Study Group will host the event. This event will be held in Talks Room 2 upstairs from Sugden Sports Centre main hall starting 1300 and finishing at 1400. This area has a new disabled lift for access, please ask the sports hall staff to assist you.
For an application form, please contact us. Or sign up at the main desk on the day
Food & drink
Sushi Craft
Menu;
- Fish Sushi Set
- Vegetable Sushi set
- Teriyaki Chicken Don
- Chicken Yakisoba Noodle
- Vegetable Yakisoba Noodle
- Chicken Katsu Curry and Rice
- Vegetable Katsu Curry and Rice
- Chicken Curry Wrap
- Strawberry Daifuku
SugarSalt
Specialists in Japanese bread products from Chester. SugarSalt will also be providing a number of hot drinks at the festival this year.
Maki's Curry Buns
Curry Buns are very popular in Japan with people of all ages from children to the elderly. Maki wants to share curry buns with people in Rowarth, High Peak where she has settled and now wishes to share them with the visitors of Doki Doki.
Chu-Lo
A delicious Japanese inspired premium soft drink lovingly crafted for those with a thirst for everything out of the ordinary.
Doki Doki Festival welcomes back Chul-Lo, a company who makes refreshing soft drink with all the delightful, authentic taste and fruity sour fizz of Japanese Chuhai in three delicious flavours. Chu-Lo is an alcohol-free beverage so you can revel in the taste of Chu Lo and keep your head on the game. It’s the perfect refreshing companion for thirsty gamers of all stripes and an exotic cocktail mixer for adventurous party goers. Stephanie Buttery is the founder and owner of Chu-Lo Drinks. Having honed her leadership and management skills during her ten years with the British Navy, Stephanie set up a business to bring the taste of Japan to her native UK.
Meian Maid Cafe
Meian Maid Cafe will only be running on Saturday at the event.
Meian Maid Cafe is a pop up cafe inspired by those in Japan's Akihabara district. The cafe has a twist, which means their waitresses wear uniforms that have a sweet or a spooky theme, but overall are inspired by the concept of 'kawaii' or looking cute. The Maid Cafe culture endeavours to make customers feel at home, by serving delicious tea and cakes, performing dance routines from Japanese pop music, and playing games to ensure everyone is well-fed and relaxed!
Meian Maid Cafe is not for profit, all their proceeds go to Doki Doki’s supported charity. You can catch them at various Japanese culture events, anime conventions and at standalone events throughout the UK. Check their events page for details of when the next events will take place!
Fashion & cosplay
All attendees are encouraged to attend wearing traditional or contemporary Japanese fashion or cosplay.
Please read the cosplay rules on the Doki Doki FAQ, especially the props rules, which apply to all attendees.
There are male and female changing rooms with coin-operated lockers available on-site.
CLAM: Lolita and J-Fashion community for people who live in the North West of England.
CLAM will only be around on Saturday at the event.
CLAM will be running various activities on their table on Saturday. Turn up at the CLAM table for discussion about JFashion and the community and a bring and buy JFashion clothing and accessories table.
Panel: Cosplay Q&A
A panel session hosted by Gutsy_Cosplayer & HuskyNinja with the following guests answering questions on cosplay:
This panel session will be taking place on Saturday on Stage 2.
Panel: Cosplay in Character Q&A
A panel session hosted by HuskyNinja with the following guests answering questions on cosplay culture:
This panel session will be taking place on Sunday on Stage 2.
Talk: Cosplay Confidence
Gutsy_Cosplayer will host a quick talk in how to help you start up in cosplay and become confident in front of crowds.
This talk session will be taking place on Sunday on Stage 2.
Talk: Cosplay Talk TBA
TBA.
This talk session will be taking place on Sunday on Stage 2.
Panel: J-fashion
A panel session hosted by Jo/Tonblackberry with the following guests answering questions on J-Fashion and will discuss lolita, gyaru and decora amongst other styles:
This panel session will be taking place on Saturday on Stage 2.
Talk: A Guide to Lolita Communities
Fashion guests Tonblackberry and RococoNightmare will be discussing about Lolita communities and how you can start up and take part.
This talk session will be taking place on Saturday on Stage 2.
Robert Mann MA Photography
Robert Mann MA Photography is our festival photographer on Saturday. Meet him in Hall A&B where he will be set up to take your cosplay or fashion photographs.
Daria Fomkina Photography
Daria Fomkina Photography is our festival photographer on Sunday. Meet her in Hall A&B where she will be set up to take your cosplay or fashion photographs.
Cosplay competition
A Cosplay Championship and Cosplay Masquerade with prizes will be judged by a panel of cosplay guests on Stage 1..
Full details of both cosplay competitions are available on the Doki Doki FAQ.
The Cosplay Championship is open to age 16+ only and the costume must be 80% made by the entrant. The Championship will only be running on the Saturday of the festival.
The Cosplay Masquerade is open to everyone regardless of age or made/bought costume and will be running on both days of the festival.
Fashion show
This fashion show will be taking place on both days on Stage 2.
Sponsored by (Kenji)
If you’ve got a real passion for fashion and fancy showing off your latest J-style creation or your favourite kawaii outfit on the new DokiDoki runway stage, why not sign up and take part – it’s free to anyone with an event entry ticket.
The Fashion Show is not a competition, every entry will be put in a raffle to win prizes. For more information please check out the link below.
Demonstration: Kimono Dressing
Demonstrations by Aid For Japan. At the Aid For Japan stall in Hall A&B the team will teach and show how to dress in a kimono correctly throughout the day.
Demonstration: Kimono Demonstration
Demonstrations by Kumiko Murooka. Kumiko will demonstrate a number of different types of Kimono from male, female and childs kimono and the differences in dressing.
This demonstration will be taking place on Sunday on Stage 1.
Kimono Fashion Show
Jill Clay who runs Festival of Japan will demonstrate and display various styles of kimono and yukata.
This kimono fashion show will be taking place on both days on Stage 1 and Stage 2.
Games
Video games
The Nights of Gaming
The Nights of Gaming will be providing a selection of modern and retro Japanese video games to play in our Retro Game area. The Nights of Gaming will be bringing along the following retro systems; Mega Drive, SNES, Famicom, Saturn, Dreamcast and N64. The Nights of Gaming will be located in Halls A&B. They run an event every month in Fab Cafe Manchester, see their website for details.
Entasy League
"Grab your switches and bring your partner pokemon, because the Entasy league is here! A traveling fan-made pokemon league, the Entasy league are a minor league from Galar, who consist of gym leaders who can't wait for you to challenge them to a battle, and will even give you a real gym badge if you win! From fabulous fairy types to fearsome fire types ,the Entasy league can't wait to bring that thrill of a real life gym challenge to the real world! Make sure you bring your sword and shield games, and be sure your team has no legendaries in it, because where's the fun without a fair fight?"
Yu-Gi-Oh!
This tournament will be taking place on Saturday upstairs near Talks Room 1 & 2.
A Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game tournament with a prize for the overall winner. Sign-up will be on the day. Yu-Gi-Oh! Deck list needed, 40 minute rounds, best of 3, Normal banlist followed. This event will be held at 1200. This area has a new disabled lift for access, please ask the sports hall staff to assist you. Prizes are sponsored by FanBoy3.
Go
Demonstrations of the ancient board game of Go by the British Go Association. Located in Halls A&B.
Other Traditional Japanese Board Games
Discover the world of traditional Japanese card and board games! JPLAY - Timeless Games will be providing a selection of traditional Japanese board games such as Shogi, Hanafuda, Riichi Mahjong and Uta-garuta. The board gaming area is now located in Halls A&B.
Films
Anime film screenings throughout the day.
Talk: The Fantastical Films Of Hayao Miyazaki
Join Jambareeqi on a journey through the imaginative films of anime director Hayao Miyazaki, which will explore the recurring themes and ideas of the Japanese visionary's cinematic work.
This talk session will be taking place on Sunday in Talks Room 1.
Redline
Showing Saturday at 1530 to 1715 in Talks Room 1.
Directed by Takeshi Koike 2009; cert. 15; anime; subtitled; trailer
The most dangerous and exciting car race in the universe is held only once every five years, and that's tonight. Set in the distant future, where a man known as JP takes on great risks for the chance of winning the titular underground race. Driver Sonoshee, with whom he is secretly in love, is also on the starting line. She will stop at nothing to get on to that podium. In this race, not only is anything possible, but also anything is allowed.
Belle “The Dragon and the Freckled Princess”
Showing Sunday at 1520 to 1725 in Talks Room 1.
Written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda 2021; cert. pg; anime; subtitled; trailer
This film screening is sponsored by All the Anime. Suzu is a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, she enters “U,” a virtual world of 5 billion members on the internet. There, she is not Suzu anymore but Belle, a world-famous singer. She soon meets with a mysterious creature. Together, they embark on a journey of adventures, challenges and love, in their quest of becoming who they truly are.
Music, dance & performance
Tengu Taiko
Tengu Taiko will be performing Saturday only on Stage 3.
Performances of taiko, traditional Japanese drumming, by Tengu Taiko.
Feel the power of the Japanese drums with the Tengu Taiko Drummers who play both traditional and contemporary pieces. Their performances are energetic, exciting, and are as much a visual show as they are to listen to. Their performance also includes the Shishimai lion dance. A traditional Japanese dance in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume to festival music, which is rarely seen in the UK. Tengu Taiko Drummers have also recently appeared on the big screen in 'Doctor strange and the Multiverse of Madness'.
Kaminari UK Taiko
Kaminari UK will be performing Sunday only on Stage 3.
Performances of taiko, traditional Japanese drumming, by Kaminari UK.
Kaminari UK are celebrating their 13th year in 2022. Based in York, they have played at events and fundraisers across the north of England from charity fund raisers to the Great Yorkshire Fringe.
Event: Traditional Japanese Musical Jam Project
This event will take place on Sunday only on Stage 3.
Aziz Ibrahim will head up a traditional Japanese musical jam with a number of traditional Japanese musicians. This is something new and original and you heard it at Doki Doki 2022 first.
Aziz Ibrahim is a British musician from Manchester best known for his work as guitarist with Simply Red, The Stone Roses and their former vocalist Ian Brown, also a member of the H Band with Marillion's lead singer Steve Hogarth. Ibrahim founded the Longsight Manchester based label Indus Records Ltd.
The following guests will be playing or singing their favourite traditional Japanese compositions along side a modern composition to create a unique and spectacular on the day event:
Panel: Japanese Music
Hosted by our Master of Ceremonies, Jason. A panel session with the following guests answering questions of anyone interested in traditional Japanese Music and instruments:
This panel session will be taking place on Saturday on Stage 1.
DJ Neo Kei
DJ Neo Kei will be playing a variety of styles of Japanese popular music throughout the day and at our evening event in The Sandbar in association with the MUAS.
DJ Chris Neon
DJ Chris Neon will be playing a selection of rave music from Japan, including remixes of J-Pop, anime theme songs, and video game music at our evening event in The Sandbar in association with the MUAS.
SOAS Min'yo
SOAS Min'yo will be performing Saturday only on Stage 3.
Formed in 2012, SOAS Min'yo are a Japanese folk group of singers, shamisen players, shakuhachi players, percussionists and dancers.
Akari Mochizuki
Akari will be performing both days on Stage 3.
Akari Mochizuki is the only enka (Japanese blues) singer in UK.
Akari started singing enka at the age of three. Akari studied drama in Cambridge and modern music in London and started working as a professional singer in 2009. She has performed for numerous occasions, including events at the British Museum, WOMAD, Hyper Japan and Japan Matsuri. She has appeared in BBC Radio 3 programme 'The Verb' and sung Enka songs for the local listeners.
LJ English
LJ English will be performing on Saturday and Sunday on Stage 3.
L J English is a British singer who performs Japanese enkaandshowakayoukyoku. He began learning Japanese in 2019 and discovered Japanese showakayoukyoku as a result. He has continued to explore these songs ever since and began singing them in festivals in 2021. This will be his 1st appearance at our festival and will be joined by Kaminari Taiko on Saturday and Sumie Kent playing Koto on one of his Sunday sets.
Yosakoi London: Temuzu
Yosakoi London will be performing Saturday only on Stage 3.
Yosakoi London: Temuzu are a yosakoi dance group who meet regularly in central London. If you are interested, you can just go along to any of their meetings. Whether you want to dance or just say hi, they are always happy to see new faces.
Yosakoi is a Japanese dance style which combines elements of traditional Japanese dance and music with a large variety of modern influences, and is performed at a number of festivals throughout Japan.
Koto
Sumie will be performing both days on Stage 3.
Performances on the koto, a traditional stringed instrument, by Sumie Kent. Sumie started to play Koto aged 8, under Ikuta-Ryu Michio Miyagi School, trained by Ryoko Asamizu and Tadashi Tajima, she played in Hokkaido, Osaka, Yokohama and Okayama in Japan. After moving to the UK she has played at many concerts and events, notably; Pulse Project at Huddersfield University, Women of the World, Introducing music from East to West in London and a Wagamama advert.
Shamisen
Liam will be performing both days on Stage 1 and 3.
Liam Morgan will be playing the shamisen, a 400 year old instrument. Don't let its age fool you – it has a fast, heavy and distinct sound!
Jenny Hayes Idol
Jenny Hayes Idol will be performing Sunday only on Stage 3.
Jenny Hayes is a UK based rock idol whose main goal is to promote her love of Jrock, alternative idols and visual kei. She has performed on the UK convention scene for many years with powerful vocals to bring fire to the stage with her singing covers and original music. By unleashing her tiger spirit, her goal is for everyone to rock out and never be afraid to express their true self!
Nightingale Cosplay
Nightingale Cosplay will be performing both days on Stage 3.
Cosplay Guest Nightingale Cosplay who is one of our cosplay guests and judges this year will be doing a dance routine on both days. Nightingale is an aspiring cosplayer and dancer from Birmingham.
Maid Fuka
Maid Fuka will be performing both days on Stage 3.
Also back this year is the wonderful Maid Fuka who is a Karaoke Idol! Inspired by her love of singing and Performing in the Maid cafes she's been apart of, She sing songs from anime, games as that is her passion and also help her improve her singing along the way. So get ready to clap and sing along with her has she love to see you smile and have fun when she performs. On Saturday she will be running various events at her stand all for charity.
Meian Maids
Meian Maids will be performing a routine on Saturday only on Stage 3.
Doki Doki 2022 is happy to announce a dance routine from the Meian Maids who will also be running the Maid Café this year in Halls A&B on Saturday only.
Ember Idols
Ember Idol will be performing Saturday only on Stage 3.
"We are Ember idols, a manchester based love live idol group! We’re so excited to perform and we hope you’ll come and support us on saturday!"
Odoriimin'
Odoriimin will be performing Sunday only on Stage 3.
Your favourite original idols are back for another Doki Doki Festival! Odoriimin' is a dancing idol group based in Manchester with three members: Izzy, Jem and Jasmine. Their name is a play on the word for 'dance' in Japanese (odori) and the katakana script for 'dreaming' (doriimin). They cover a whole range of JPOP hits from groups like Perfume, VOCALOID, dempagumi.inc, aqours (Love Live!) and many more. This Doki Doki Festival, they will be debuting a brand new subunit: Odoriimin' Shinin'! Members Izzy and Jasmine have been working hard to create two exciting new performances to showcase on Sunday at the festival, where they will not only be dancing but singing too! Stay tuned on their Instagram for sneak peaks at their setlist for August. We hope you will watch them and feel energised by their performances.
Art
Various activities involving different forms of Japanese art.
Demonstration: Japanese Calligraphy
Demonstrations by Aid For Japan. At the Aid For Japan stall in Hall A&B the team will teach and show how to do Japanese Calligraphy throughout the day. All donations go to charity.
Origami
Lessons in origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding will be run by the Japan Society North West team on Saturday only, with proceeds going to Doki Doki's supported charity.
The Japan Society North West team will be available in Hall A&B to demonstrate origami on both Saturday and Sunday.
Artist demonstrations
At Doki Doki 2022 we have artist guests who will be running art demonstrations at their table and in the small room above reception. Please visit them for advice and help in all your art projects.
These art demonstrations will take place on Saturday and Sunday in Talks Room 2 above sports hall main reception.
Saturday
Sunday
Artist talk: Designing Manga/Comic Page Layouts
This talk session will be taking place on Sunday in Talks Room 1.
Artist guest Sonia Leong is a comic book artist specialising in Anime/Manga. She will be doing an in depth look at designing comic page layouts. This will be an exciting and intense study for those interested in breaking out in comic books and manga.
Artist panel
Hosted by our Master of Ceremonies, Jason. A panel session featuring some of the artists attending the festival, where they will answer questions put to them by the festival organisers and the audience.
This panel session will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday on Stage 1.
Art competition
This competition session will be taking place on both days with prizes on both days.
Draw a piece of art inspired by anime, manga, video games, Japanese culture, etc. The only rule is that the entry must be drawn on the day on official competition entry paper. The event will run from 1200 to 1500 in Hall A&B seating area and is judged by this years artist guests.
Martial arts
Demonstrations of various forms of Japanese martial arts.
Circle Martial Arts
Circle Martial Arts will be demonstrating on both days on Stage 3.
Demonstrations on both days of samurai and shinobi (ninja) martial arts by Circle Martial Arts.
Black Tiger Martial Arts
Black Tiger Martial Arts will be demonstrating on both days on Stage 3.
Demonstrations of the Ashihara Karate one of many "full contact" systems in karate emphasizing realistic combat, physical toughness, and practicality in it's training curriculum by Black Tiger Karate Dojo.