Fold a Sumo Wrestler and Design a Kimono at Japan House This Half-Term

Japan House London on Kensington High Street has five free family workshops over half-term, and they're drop-in sessions, so there's nothing to book. Each one runs from 2:30pm to 4:30pm.

On Sunday 25 October, Thursday 29 October and Saturday 31 October, children can fold their own origami rikishi, as sumo wrestlers are called, and then play Tonton Sumo by tapping the ring to make their paper wrestlers move and compete. In real sumo, Japan House explains, the rikishi try to push each other out of the ring or make the opponent touch the ground. The 25 and 29 October sessions are in the Hall and the 31 October one is in the Library.

On Wednesday 28 and Friday 30 October, the Library hosts uchikake design. Uchikake are outer kimono worn on formal occasions in Japan, for example by brides on their wedding day. They're usually heavily decorated with images and patterns, often inspired by nature, and families take their cue from the plants and flowers of Japan to design their own.

Japan House is at 101-111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA, and is open from 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and from 12pm to 6pm on Sundays.

The clocks go back early on the morning of the first sumo session, which leaves an extra hour for folding practice.