Japanese London

Series

Series Name

Colour Pictorial

Issue

Issue No.

692

Date Released

28 Mar 1968

Date recorded

22 Feb 1968

Length of issue (in feet)

696

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Japanese London

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

Pathe synopsis: A kimono worn in London today is no Carnaby Street caper. It’s part of a determined gesture by Japanese in Britain to retain their national dress, cultures and customs. Like Origami - paper folding. In the west it could be a party trick; to the Japanese it is a delicate, deft link with the past. The Japanese care for tradition is exemplified in their cooking. Like an hors d’oeuvres display with a bird made from sweet potato and flowers cut delicately from vegetables, with kimono-clad hand-maidens bowing-in a meal of sukiyaki, and the pristine movements of the Japanese fan dance for good measure. Tokyo? No, this is London’s first traditional Japanese restaurant, the Hiroko, where the Oriental atmosphere is authentic and the chopsticks almost mandatory. But Japan’s influence is widespread. It’s even affecting our trees. Bonzai is Japanese for dwarf and Bonzai trees are carefully developed miniatures. Members of London’s Japan’s Society are experts in this centuries old art. By pruning the roots, re-potting, and weighting the branches they can shape and gnarl a growing tree. Just one of the many secrets coming our way to prove the east really isn’t so inscrutable after all.

Written sources

Pathe Colour Pictorial Lobby Cards   Used for synopsis

Credits:

Commentator

Wilfrid Thomas

Length of story (in feet)

636

Story extras:

Film clip

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This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name

British Pathe Ltd

Email

info@britishpathe.com

Web

https://www.britishpathe.com/

Phone

0207 665 8340

Address

3.29 Canterbury Court
1-3 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6DE

Notes

Pathe now also handles the Reuters Historical Collection, which includes the British Paramount, Empire British, Gaumont Graphic and Gaumont British newsreels.

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