Company registration number: 07526986
Japan Matsuri
(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 28 February 2025
Contents
Reference and Administrative Details ................................................................................................................. 1 Trustees' Report .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Independent Examiner's Report .......................................................................................................................... 4 Statement of Financial Activities ........................................................................................................................ 5 Balance Sheet ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Notes to the Financial Statements .................................................................................................................. 7-10
The following page does not form part of the statutory financial statements:
Statement of Financial Activities by Fund ........................................................................................................ 11
Japan Matsuri Reference and Administrative Details
Charity name Japan Matsuri Company registration number 07526986 Registered office 80 CLARENCE GATE GARDENS GLENTWORTH STREET LONDON NW1 6QR Trustees Mr Hiroshi Kobayashi JAPAN ASSOCIATION IN THE UK JAPANESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY IN THE UK THE JAPAN SOCIETY Mr Keisaku Sano Secretary Mr Keisaku Sano
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Japan Matsuri Trustees' Report
The Trustees present their report for the year ended 28 February 2025 to be read in conjunction with the attached Financial Statements.
The Financial Statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).
Structure & governance
The company was incorporated as a Private Company Limited by Guarantee on 11 February 2011.
The objects of the Company are:
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A) To promote Japanese culture to the public through the organisation of an event;
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B) To promote learning and advance education in the subject of Japan; and
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C) To carry on activities which benefit the community related to Japan.
Main activity and public benefit
The main activities are funding, organising and promoting the annual festival event called “JAPAN MATSURI” and a cherry tree planting project. The festival event is open to and attended by members of the public, and cherry trees are planted in the UK to celebrate a new era of UK-Japan friendship and co-operation.
Review of the year
The company had a very successful festival event “JAPAN MATSURI 2024” in London on 6 October 2024 in Trafalgar Square. The company continued to plant cherry trees in parks, gardens, and schools, including Royal Parks.
Financial review
Income amounted to £232,642 (Last year: £166,041). Expenditure amounted to £276,956 (Last year: £203,928). The deficit of £44,314 (Last year: deficit of £37,888) was added to the reserves.
Reserves
It is the Trustees’ policy to secure funds for each year’s festival at an early stage and as much as possible from a large number of companies. In addition, they aim to maintain sufficient reserves to cover unforeseen fluctuations in income and expenditure.
Risk management
The trustees continue to look out for strategic and operational risks and take steps to put in place a stronger financial system and governance structure, and to review and make further improvements as appropriate.
Main Activities
The company aims to organise the annual festival event “JAPAN MATSURI.” During this financial year, “JAPAN MATSURI 2024” was successfully held on 6 October 2024. Subsequent to the balance sheet date, the next festival was held on 21 September 2025.
The company continues its collaboration with the Japan-British Society in Tokyo and the Sakura Cherry Tree Project Committee in the UK to support the planting of cherry blossom (Sakura) trees at various locations across the UK.
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The charity trustees (who are also the directors of Japan Matsuri for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group, and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Signed on behalf of the board of Directors and Trustees
Keisaku Sano Director
Date: 23 December 2025
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Japan Matsuri
We report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 28 February 2025, which are set out on pages 5 to 11.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is our responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
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(2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
----------------------------------J Satoru Yoshida FCCA Vika
Satoru Yoshida FCCA Director Japanese Financial Solutions Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Unit 1, 5 Baldwin Street London EC1V 9NU
Date: 23 December 2025
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Japan Matsuri Statement of Financial Activities
(including Income and Expenditure Account) for the Year Ended 28 February 2025
| Note Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income 2 Total incoming resources Resources expended Charitable activities 3 Governance costs 3 Total resources expended Net movements in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted Japan Matsuri Festival £ 232,642 232,642 234,813 13,409 248,222 (15,580) 36,230 20,650 |
Restricted Cherry Trees Project £ - - 28,312 422 28,734 (28,734) 152,874 124,140 |
Total Funds 2025 £ 232,642 232,642 263,125 13,831 276,956 (44,314) 189,104 144,790 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 166,041 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 166,041 | ||||
| 207,100 (3,171) |
||||
| 203,928 | ||||
| (37,888) 226,992 |
||||
| 189,104 |
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form an integral part of these financial statements.
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Japan Matsuri (Registration number: 07526986) Balance Sheet as at 28 February 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors | 6 | 17,926 | 406 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 126,864 | 188,699 | |||
| 144,790 | 189,104 | ||||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due | |||||
| within one year | 7 | - | - | ||
| Net current assets | 144,790 | 189,104 | |||
| Net assets | 144,790 | 189,104 | |||
| The funds of the charity: | |||||
| Incoming funds | |||||
| Unrestricted income funds | 20,650 | 189,104 | |||
| Restricted income funds | 124,140 | - | |||
| Total charity funds | 144,790 | 189,104 |
For the financial year ended 28 February 2025, the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
Approved by the Board on 23 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Keisaku Sano Director
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form an integral part of these financial statements.
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Japan Matsuri Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 28 February 2025
1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005)', issued in March 2005, applicable accounting standards and the Companies Act 2006.
Fund accounting policy
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Further details of each fund are disclosed in note 10.
Incoming resources
Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis.
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Governance costs
Governance costs include costs of the preparation and examination of the statutory accounts, the costs of trustee meetings and the cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
Support costs
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
2 Voluntary income
| Subscriptions and donations Donations Sponsorship and other incomes |
Unrestricted Japan Matsuri Festival £ 19,800 212,842 232,642 |
Restricted Cherry Trees Project £ - - - |
Total Funds 2025 £ 19,800 212,842 232,642 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 17,100 148,941 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 166,041 |
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Japan Matsuri Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 28 February 2025
......... continued
3 Total resources expended
| Charitable activity Direct Cost Event Expenses Administration Support costs Sundry and other costs Bank charges |
Unrestricted Japan Matsuri Festival £ 234,813 13,308 101 13,409 |
Restricted Cherry Trees Project £ 5,552 23,174 8 23,182 |
Total 2025 £ 240,365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36,482 109 |
|||
| 36,591 |
4 Trustees' remuneration and expenses
No trustees received any remuneration during the year.
5 Taxation
The company is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
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Japan Matsuri Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 28 February 2025
......... continued
6 Debtors
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Other debtors | 17,926 | 406 |
7 Members' liability
The charity is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the members is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £ nil towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.
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Japan Matsuri Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 28 February 2025
......... continued
8 Related parties
Controlling entity
The charity is controlled by the trustees who are all directors of the company.
9 Analysis of funds
| General funds Unrestricted income fund Restricted income fund |
At 1 March 2024 £ 36,230 152,874 189,104 |
Incoming resources £ 232,642 - 232,642 |
Resources expended £ 248,222 28,734 276,956 |
At 28 February 2025 £ 20,650 124,140 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144,790 |
10 Net assets by fund
| Current assets Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Net assets |
Unrestricted Funds £ 20,650 - 20,650 |
Restricted Funds £ 124,140 - 124,140 |
Total Funds 2025 £ 144,790 - 144,790 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 189,104 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189,104 |
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Japan Matsuri Statement of financial activities by fund Year Ended 28 February 2025
| Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Total incoming resources Resources expended Charitable activities Governance costs Total resources expended Net movements in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted Japan Matsuri Festival £ 232,642 232,642 234,813 13,409 248,222 (15,580) 36,229 20,650 |
Restricted Cherry Trees Project £ - - 28,312 422 28,734 (28,734) 152,875 124,140 |
Total Funds 2025 £ 232,642 232,642 263,125 13,831 276,956 (44,314) 189,104 144,790 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 166,041 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 166,041 | ||||
| 207,100 (3,172) |
||||
| 203,928 | ||||
| (37,888) 226,992 |
||||
| 189,104 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements.
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