Japan Touch Toulouse
Manga, Japanese culture, tradition in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne
2026
About Japan Touch Toulouse
MIWA Festival is Toulouse's premier Japanese cultural event. It takes place outdoors at the Jardin Compans-Caffarelli on boulevard Lascrosses. Originally launched as Japan Touch Toulouse and later known as Tokyo Market Toulouse, it was rebranded as MIWA Festival for its 9th edition in 2026. The program features calligraphy, tea ceremonies, bonsai, martial arts, taiko, yosakoi, workshops, and a creators' village, all with free admission.
Japan Touch Toulouse — edition 2026
Toulouse's Japanese festival returns to the Compans-Caffarelli garden on Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th, 2026, for its 9th edition, now under the name MIWA Festival (formerly Japan Touch Toulouse, then Tokyo Market Toulouse). Free admission: calligraphy, tea ceremonies, taiko, yosakoi, Okinawa karate, sumo, workshops, and a creators' village.
2026 Edition
The 9th edition takes place on Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th, 2026, at the Compans-Caffarelli garden, boulevard Lascrosses in Toulouse. The event is now called MIWA Festival: it is the same gathering as Japan Touch Toulouse, which became Tokyo Market Toulouse for the 2025 edition.
The site is divided into three areas: the Main Stage, the Kodomo Village for children, and the Japanese Garden, where tea ceremonies and guided tours are held. Access is free and open to all; some limited-capacity workshops require booking and may involve a small participation fee.
In mid-August 2026, the organizer released the list of speakers and activities for the two days, though the full schedule has not yet been finalized: only two time slots have been set to the exact hour.
Highlights Japan Touch Toulouse 2026
- Mitsuru Nagata, Shodo calligrapher born in Kyoto, guest of this 9th edition
- Yamata-no-Orochi, a creation by Emiko Ōta's artists: taiko, dance, and Japanese mythology
- Patrick Rault, 9th dan in Shorin-Ryu Kyudokan, for Okinawa karate
- Sumo demonstrations and initiations with France Sumo and Paris Sumo
- Yosakoi by the Koidoukai troupe, with an initiation open to the public each day
- Tea ceremony by Dominique Kawano in the Japanese Garden, Saturday from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Free admission both days
Programme Japan Touch Toulouse 2026
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
- 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM — Official Opening · Main Stage
- Welcome address and Japanese ambient music
- Japanese calligraphy workshop — Isabelle Jeudy
- Martial arts demonstration — Kyudokan and partner club
- Yokai and illustration workshop — Antho Illustration
- Shishimai performance, masked dancer, wadaiko, and flutes — Moment Lab
- 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM — Tea Ceremony — Dominique Kawano · Japanese Garden
- Watercolor workshop — Jessica Christau (iKA)
- Martial arts demonstration — Seigakukan Kendo
- Yosakoi performance — Koidoukai (Bordeaux)
- Crochet workshop — Carine Thao (Cocooning 3C)
- Yosakoi initiation open to the public — Koidoukai
- Taiko, session 1 — @artlevant
- Open cosplay, stage parade open to the public
Sunday, September 6th, 2026
- Festival opening
- Calligraphy workshop no. 2 — Isabelle Jeudy
- Martial arts demonstration — partner club
- Taiko, session 2 — @artlevant
- Yosakoi, session 2 — Koidoukai
- Tea ceremony no. 2 — Dominique Kawano · Japanese Garden
- Yokai workshop no. 2 — Antho Illustration
- Martial arts demonstration no. 2
- Yosakoi initiation no. 2 — Koidoukai
- Origami workshop (speaker to be announced)
- Shishimai, session 2 — Moment Lab
- Festive closing: collective dance
Outside of the two specific time slots above, the organizer has announced these activities without fixed performance times.
Announced Guests and Companies
- Mitsuru Nagata — Shodo calligraphy and Sumi-e ink painting. Born in Kyoto, he has practiced Shodo since age six, holds a master's degree in Japanese calligraphy, and lives in Barcelona.
- Emiko Ōta — Japanese musician based in France: shamisen, Japanese percussion, songs, and popular matsuri music, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
- Patrick Rault — Traditional Okinawa karate. 9th dan in Shorin-Ryu Kyudokan, official representative of the Kyudokan in France, and civil and cultural ambassador for Okinawa Prefecture.
- Zeppin — Minyo, Japanese folk songs, featuring flute, shamisen, and taiko, accompanied by music and dance.
- France Sumo — Demonstrations, initiations, and meetings with French sumo schools and associations, including Paris Sumo, the first French club founded in 2009.
- NekoNin — Wandering masked characters inspired by Japanese folklore and legendary creatures, accompanied by taiko percussion.
- Koidoukai (鯉道会) — Yosakoi troupe founded in 2010, the first team established in Europe, "Yosakoi Ambassador" in Kochi in 2016, and founding member of the French Yosakoi Federation.
- Uki Gumo Taiko — Large taiko drums on the Main Stage.
- Oshikatsu 推し活 (Idol Fest) — Singing, dancing, and meet-ups centered on Japanese idol culture, in collaboration with the group Honey Tone. Meeting space, oshikatsu initiation, and merchandise customization.
- Yamata-no-Orochi — A creation by Emiko Ōta's artists centered on the eight-headed serpent-dragon from Japanese mythology: music, taiko percussion, dance, and staging.
Workshops and Activities from the Catalog
- Guided tour of the Japanese garden
- Bonsai art (盆栽) and wire bonsai
- Kokedama (苔玉)
- Shiatsu (指圧)
- Mah-jong (麻雀)
- Kyudo (弓道)
- Tojiki (陶磁器)
- Chado (茶道)
- Tanzaku (短冊)
- Goshin Tai Jutsu
- Zen (禅)
- Nihongo (日本語)
- Origami (折り紙)
- Aikido (合気道)
- Karatedo (空手道)
Ongoing
- Exhibitor, creator, and artisan stands
- Food stalls
- Kodomo Village for children
Prices Japan Touch Toulouse 2026
Practical information — Japan Touch Toulouse
Location
Jardin Compans-Caffarelli, boulevard Lascrosses, 31000 Toulouse. The festival occupies the central area of the park, near the Japanese garden; on-site signage directs visitors to workshop areas, demonstrations, and exhibitor stalls.
Access
Metro: Line B, Compans-Caffarelli station.
Bus: Lines 14, 15, 70, and Linéo 1, Compans-Caffarelli stop.
Bicycle: VélôToulouse station nearby.
Car: 10 minutes from the city center, 8 minutes from the train station, 15 minutes from the airport.
On-site
The park's wide paths are stroller-friendly. Food stalls are available on-site. Traditional attire and cosplay are welcome.
Admission
Free entry. Some workshops have limited capacity, require prior booking, and may involve a small participation fee.
Contact
Official website: miwa-festival.fr — [email protected] — 06 67 93 12 04.
MIWA Festival: The Japanese Festival of Toulouse
The festival is held annually in the open air at the Jardin Compans-Caffarelli, a 10-hectare park designated as a "Jardin remarquable de France" in 1993, which features a stunning Japanese garden complete with ponds, a red bridge, and a tea pavilion.
The event is inspired by traditional Japanese matsuri festivals. It brings together artisans, artists, and experts for a variety of workshops, demonstrations, and performances, including calligraphy, tea ceremonies, bonsai, kokedama, origami, shiatsu, mah-jong, kyudo, aikido, karate, sumo, taiko, and yosakoi. A creators' village and food stalls are also available on-site.
The festival is divided into three main areas: the Main Stage, the Kodomo Village for children, and the Japanese Garden. Visitors are welcome to attend in traditional attire or cosplay.
Where does it take place — Japan Touch Toulouse
Japan Touch Toulouse in brief
History of Japan Touch Toulouse
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Toulouse
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