YoKimono Japanese market coming to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

On May 11, Riverside East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Thornton Street, will host YoKimono Japanese Market. 

The market was set up in 2019 by Dalston-based business woman Sonoe Sugawara in an attempt to gain footfall during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Sonoe owns the Furuki YoKimono Vintage store selling Japanese traditional dresses in Shacklewell Lane, Dalston and revealed she took inspiration for the market’s name from this. 

Some of the vintage kimonos sourced by Sonoe (Image: YoKimono Japanese market) She explained: “‘Yoki’ means good and ‘mono’ is things. So, ‘YoKimono’ when we make it one word it can be meaning good things. 

“My vintage kimono shop is Furuki YoKimono. ‘Furuki’ means old, so my shop name is ‘old good things’. 

“When I decided to run the event, our markets feature not only old things but also brand new handcrafted artisan pieces.”

Items on sale will include Japanese street foods including takoyaki, a savoury batter-fried ball, and sweets such as fruit filled mochi, with fresh matcha to help wash it all down. 

Takoyaki and Onigiri are just some of the street food snacks that will be sold at the market (Image: YoKimono Japanese market) There will be market holders selling authentic pottery, as well as hand-crafted jewellery and much more. 

For Sonoe, representing authentic Japanese culture “is the key” and makes the market “unique” by shining a spotlight on the talents of London-based artisans.

She said: “I always wanted to do a Japanese festival because I have lived in north east London for over 20 years and I know so many very talented Japanese artists and small business owners.

“They are all in my circle of friends or family friends so I thought we could do something together. 

Visitors can try their hand at the workshops on offer (Image: YoKimono Japanese market) “We have been living in the UK for a long time and especially in this area, east London so we wanted to contribute from our side to introduce our culture.”

Entry to the market will be free, with live music performances of folk songs and shamisen, a three string musical instrument. 

Anime films will be screened from the park, with the opportunity to purchase tickets to take part in three different workshops. 

Stall holders at the market will be selling a large variety of handmade items (Image: YoKimono Japanese market) These include making Wagashi sweets in the shape of the Sakura blossom and Koi fish, Bonsai planting and Furoshiki wrapping. 

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Sonoe said: “Every time we bring our food or something from our country to our circle of friends or local people, people are quite amazed or happy about it. That’s the inspiration. 

“I want my child and young Japanese children to be proud of our culture.

“We are quite already well-known by people in central London, but I think in east London not many people have the chance to encounter Japanese culture so I think it’s a very good opportunity to introduce our culture.”