Drummers at the Melbourne Japanese Summer Festival (Image: Around You)

A festival of all things Japanese is descending on a very hot Federation Square today with the annual Melbourne Japanese Summer Festival.

Beginning with the Wadaiko Rindo Japanese Drum Ensemble, the four hour cultural programme will feature traditional dancers, hip-hop performances and Geroge and Noriko, performing a fusion of blues guitar and the traditional Japanese shamisen.

Yes, there will be sushi (Image: Weekend Notes)

Origami classes will also be on offer, along with traditional Japanese textiles, gifts, books, magazines and candy sculpture (yes, candy sculpture!). Japanese food items to whet your appetite include stalls from Burwood Teppenaki House, I Sushi Cafe Bar, Marumeru and Harajuku Crepes.

(Image: Meld Magazine)

Melbourne has been abuzz this weekend with the St Jerome’s Laneway Festival in Footscray yesterday, the annual St Kilda Festival starting yesterday and the Melbourne Latin Summer Festival continuing at Birrarung Marr today. Add to this the continuing Chinese New Year celebrations, and it has been one very busy weekend!

For more information about the Melbourne Summer Japanese Festival, go to the official website.