Ura Matsuri will tour to Old Fire Station, Oxford on Sunday 4th October 2026!
Book tickets HERE!
Old Fire Station
40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ
OX1 2AQ
Line ups
Frank Chickens
Legendary Japanese punk pop performance group with a cult following in the UK. It was founded in London in 1982 as a duo with Kazuko Hohki and Kazumi Taguchi, but has now expanded to more than 20 members who are predominantly Japanese women. They were John Peel‘s favorite, had an independent chart hit with “We Are Ninja”, presented a Channel 4 TV series: “Kazuko’s Karaoke Klub”, won the Foster Comedy God Award in 2010, released five albums and toured worldwide. In 2024, Cherry Red record has released their box set from 80s, “Frank Chickens Ninja Legend 1983-89”. They have been organizing Ura Matsuri annually since 2016.
Frank Chickens Website Photo: Maggie Zhu
May Kway – a bloodthirsty Baubo from Beijing
Combining mystical folklore with 60s Chinese jazz swing, this Asian goddess of mirth is unmissable. Expect striptease, ritualistic sharmanism, alternative Habanera, and maybe even a plot twist. This bold new act is created by Chinese queer cabaret performer May Kway. After their haunting signature number of the vase girl, they explore queer diaspora experiences with mesmerising storytelling.
Runxuan Yang Website photo: Jennifer Forward-Hayter
Hibiki Ichikawa & Akari Mochizuki
Japanese Folk Duo made up of the one and only professional player of Tsugaru Shamisen in Europe, Hibiki, and one and only Enka (Japanese blues) singer in the UK, Akari. They demonstrate the fantastic range of the Tsugaru Shamisen music, including solo performance and singing accompaniments. The best way to enjoy traditional Japanese music! They have performed in more than 21 countries worldwide on behalf of the Japanese Embassy.
Benshi by Tomoko Komura – music accompanied by Kazumi Taguchi
A century old tradition of ‘benshi’ is a live-accompaniment of silent films by a story teller. Tomoko Komura, an actress/theatre maker based in London, has been performing benshi in many cities such as London, Inverness and Jeddah for the last 14 years, based on her own writing. This is her second time performing benshi in Oxford, after the screening at Ultimate Picture Palace in 2021, followed by theatre performance for ‘Play Out Tent Tour’ with Oxford Playhouse in 2024. At Ura Matsuri in Oxford, multi-instrumentalist Kazumi Taguchi will accompany this screening of one of the oldest
Tomoko Komura Website Photo: Maggie Zhu
Yokoleles
Yokoleles are all Yokos all Leles
Three people – two Japanese ladies and one English gentleman – playing Japanese oldie classic songs on Ukuleles. And they are all called Yoko on stage.
Japan-A-Gran (compare)
Our special Ura Matsuri lucky mascot & crinkle eyed host “Japan-A-Gran”, here to bring good cheer and blessings to the show as ever!
Photo: Maggie Zhu