The ancient English spa resort of Bath, will soon shows its love of Japanese art, books, haiku and film with the 2010 Bath Japan Festival.

The festival is held in conjunction with the International Haiku Spring Festival 2010 and organized by Alan Summers (With Words) and Rachel Carvosso of Tokyo Art Beat. Carvosso is also Japan Editor for Bristol’s The Love of It.

Running from May 12 -23, the Bath Japanese Festival will consist of a series of workshops, events, screenings and showcases of authentic Japanese art and creation. It is specifically designed to give people an opportunity to participate in and enjoy Japanese inspired and created cultural forms. There will be workshops in haiku, renga, book making and origami as well as a host of events scattered over various locations throughout Bath

One of the highlights of the event will be the screening of the award winning movie Jitensha. This film, written by Yu Shibuya, follows Mamoru Amagaya, a young Japanese man in search of the meaning of life, as he goes on a journey to put his bicycle and himself back together.

Follow festival updates on Twitter and the Bath Japanese Festival facebook page.