To the sound of drums and trumpets – and vuvuzelas and taikos – the United Colours of Design’s contribution celebrated the link between South African and Japanese design in the Festival Headquarters North. Textiles, objects, patterns, and symbols spoke on the one hand of a certain consciousness of originality in African design, and on the other of a subtle sensitivity in Japanese aesthetic. A short journey from the Buddhist temples of Kyoto to the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo and then to Cape Town – a true melting pot of cultures.