CELEBRATE ANIME AT JAPAN VILLAGE
Anime Matsuri
Saturday, March 16 from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
The Loft at Japan Village (2nd Floor) – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn
Admission: Free
A FESTIVAL FOR ANIME LOVERS AND COLLECTORS ALIKE!
Pokémon power couple Tenshi & Zilla teams up with Japan Village to present Anime Matsuri! Experience a full day with vendors selling anime merch; delicious food such as onigiri, ramen, and katsu; a cosplay event; a Pokémon Unite meetup group; networking; and much more!
Doors open at The Loft on the second floor of Japan Village. The cosplay contest runs from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
The event is free, but RSVP for exclusive giveaways. To register, please visit Anime Matsuri’s website.
Special Guest: Emily Cramer, voice actor/singer
Based in New York City, Emily Cramer is a voice actor and singer with an established performance background as a Broadway character actor. Her voiceover work can be heard internationally in commercials, animated television shows and movies, dark rides, audio dramas, and video games.
Her most notable animation credits come from across the Pokémon franchise in Sun & Moon, Journeys, Paldean Winds, and Cat's Kitchen, the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise in Arc-V, VRAINS, Sevens, Duel Links, and Rush Duel, as well as other titles such as Genshin Impact, Battle Game In 5 Seconds, EDF World Brothers, Bread Barbershop, Snack World, Back to Back, and Dinocore Evolution, and Bloom on season 8 of The Winx Club. To learn more about Emily, please visit her website.
Anime Matsuri is sponsored by Japan Village, Book•Off, and Tenshi & Zilla.
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
Final JAPAN Fes of 2023
JAPAN Fes
Saturday, October 28 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
East Village – Astor Place (Broadway and Lafayette Street)
Admission: Free
The final JAPAN Fes of the year is tomorrow, October 28. More than 60 Japanese vendors will provide most delicious Japanese street fair experience in New York. JAPAN Fes is also welcoming two special vendors from Japan. One is from Hokkaido and will serve a luxurious kaisen-don (seafood bowl); the other is a traditional kokeshi doll maker from Fukushima. Don’t miss this one-day-only opportunity!
As usual, you’ll be able to purchase fluffy takoyaki, award-winning ramen, savory okonomiyaki, and more amazing Japanese treats!
Select Vendors
The Boiis Co. – Mochi-filled desserts
Catmint Wheel Cake – Imagawayaki (Taiwanese dessert influenced by Japan)
C Bao – Teriyaki chicken buns
Exciting Manga – Vandel Marchen
Japanklyn – Clothing inspired by the cultures of Japan and Brooklyn
J-Spec Wagyu Dining – Wagyu Philly cheesesteak
Kare Girls – Grilled pork onigiri
Karls Balls – Takoyaki
Kuu – Ikayaki (grilled squid)
the last call - Yakitori
Mao’s Bao – Takoyaki bao
Menya Jiro – Kagoshima tonkotsu ramen
Mingei Japan – Vintage kimono
MoCA – Sushi hand roll
moqi – Mochi-infused treats
mumu bath shop – Cherry blossom candle
Nakamura NYC – BBQ chashu bowl
Oconomi – Okonomiyaki
Odango Masa – Dango (mochi balls on a skewer)
Ombrato – Craftworks from Japan
Onigiri Town - Onigiri
Takosan Yakisoba – Yakisoba
Tang Hulu – Ichigo ame (strawberry candy on a stick)
Toribien – Karaage
Twisted Potato – Wasabi-flavored potato on a stick
wuhao newyork Tenugui Art – Japanese tenugui and furoshiki
Yakitori Tatsu – Yakitori meat and vegetable skewers
For the full list of vendors and more details, please visit JAPAN Fes’s website.
CELEBRATE WORLD SAKE DAY AGAIN!
World Sake Day
Friday, October 13 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Union Square – 31 E. 17th Street, 2F (between Broadway and Park Avenue South)
Admission: $35 in advance | $45 at the door
Sake lovers, rejoice! If you didn’t have enough sake on World Sake Day on October 1, you have another chance this Friday! MIKA is holding its third annual World sake Day, collaborating with Upstairs NYC and niji. Explore the world of Japanese craft Sake, discover delicious Japanese foods, support the Asian-own artist market pop-up.
About the Event
MIKA, Upstairs NYC, and niji are turning all 5,000 square feet of a premier, stunning space in front of Union Square into a World Sake Day celebration featuring a walkaround tasting that will give you the full sake cultural experience. Guests can try ten kinds of sake and receive an original sake glass. Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase. There will also be a mouthwatering Japanese menu ranging in price from $10 to $20. Handcrafted accessories, candles, outfits, crafts, and more by small, Asian-owned businesses will be available for purchase.
To purchase tickets, please visit Upstair NYC’s Eventcreate page.
What Is World Sake Day?
World Sake Day is an annual celebration dedicated to traditional Japanese sake. Sake enthusiasts around the world come together every October 1 to honor the rich history and cultural significance of this beloved beverage, as it is the traditional starting date of sake production in Japan.
Past World Sake Day at MIKA Bushwick
About MIKA
MIKA was a lively event space in Bushwick that closed in June. They hosted artist pop-ups and sourced local products, including Bushwick-based beers, local craft sake, and Finger Lakes wines paired with American and Japanese cuisine. They established a GoFundMe to help support their former employees.
About niji
niji is a marketplace that serves as a bridge connecting Japanese artists with people from around the world. It was born from the desire to expand the reach of Japanese artists globally. They organize Japanese handmade Maker's Market events, where you can meet the artists in person, at various locations throughout New York. The next event is Sunday, October 22.
Their newly opened online platform, called ‘niji,’ lets you find amazing artworks from Japanese artists and Japanese-inspired artists.
About Upstairs NYC
Founded in 2022, Upstairs NYC is a non-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to promoting friendly relations between New York and its diverse culture. The organization focuses on fostering learning and community engagement across four pillars: arts and culture, lifestyle, technology, and food. Upstairs NYC regularly hosts panel discussions, experiential events, cultural celebrations, and socials.
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
JAPAN FES TO HOST RAMEN CONTEST
JAPAN Fes x New York Ramen Contest
Saturday, October 7 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
East Village – 4th Avenue from 9th to 11th Streets
Sunday, October 8 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Upper West Side – Broadway between 75th to 77th Streets
Admission: Free
The street fair season is winding down, and this weekend brings the two of the final three JAPAN Fes events, which will feature a ramen contest. Six ramen chefs, including last year’s champion, have created special dishes for this contest and will battle it out for votes from the crowd to see who will be crowned the World Ramen King.
Participating Ramen Chefs
Of the chefs, five are from Japan, and one is from New York.
Menya Tyson – Hakata-style Aburi Niku Tyson Ramen
Menya Ultra – Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen
Naruto Ramen – The lone participant from New York offers reMix Ramen, a fusion of Southern American Creole cuisine with Japan's perfect comfort food
Onisoba Fujiya – Last year’s champion is returning with their Premium Lobster Miso Ramen
Ramen Chicken Yaro – Chicken in Thick Broth and Japanese Dashi
Shibasakitei – Shio-Soba with Japanese Pepper
Ramen will be the star this weekend, but there will be plenty of vendors offering a full range of the best Japanese street food, from okonomiyaki to yakitori to karaage and more.
For full details on each vendor, please visit JAPAN Fes’s website and Facebook page.
Remaining JAPAN Fes Schedule
October 7 in East Village – Ramen Contest
October 8 in Upper West Side – Ramen Contest
October 28 in East Village
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
JAPAN Fes Returns to Midtown West
JAPAN Fes
Saturday, June 10 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Midtown West – 8th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets
Admission: Free
There will be tons of drool-worthy Japanese food at JAPAN Fes on Saturday June 10 at Midtown West! Alongside the remarkable assortment of vendors such as Oconomi, Karl’s Balls, and Menya Jiro, JAPAN Fes welcomes the globally acclaimed Taiwanese bubble tea brand Tiger Sugar. Featured in Thrillist, Food Insider, Eater, and Cosmopolitan, Tiger Sugar will have an exclusive, one-day-only strawberry matcha latte available for JAPAN Fes attendees.
Savor fluffy okonomiyaki, slurp up flavorful ramen, indulge in matcha- and mochi-filled sweets, and satisfy your delicious Japanese cravings all in one place. Make sure to be hungry when you get there!
For full details on each vendor, please visit JAPAN Fes’s website and Facebook page.
Stamp Card
It wouldn’t be a true Japanese festival without a stamp rally! This year, JAPAN Fes introduced its new digital stamp card for attendees.
How It Works
Get the Stamp Card
Download the free JAPAN Fes Digital Card to your phone through their website or visit the JAPAN Fes tent on the day of a street fair to scan the QR code. You can conveniently store the card in your phone’s wallet.
Collect Stamps
Each time you attend an event, stop by the JAPAN Fes tent and receive one stamp.
Receive Rewards
Once you reach 5, 10, 15 and 20 stamps, you'll have the option to get rewards.
5 stamps = Original Merchandise
10 stamps = Original Merchandise
15 stamps = VIP (first pass) to skip the lines for your favorite foods
20 stamps = Become an official JAPAN Fes ambassador
Remaining JAPAN Fes Schedule
June 10 in Midtown West
June 17 in East Village
June 18 in Park Slope, Brooklyn
July 2 in Astoria
July 15 in Chelsea
August 26 in East Village
August 27 in East Village
September 9 in Upper East Side
September 16 in Chelsea – Konamon Contest
September 17 in Chelsea – Konamon Contest
October 7 in East Village – Ramen Contest
October 8 in Upper West Side – Ramen Contest
October 28 in East Village
Celebrate NYC-Japan Friendship at 2nd Annual Japan Parade
Japan Parade
Saturday, May 13 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Central Park West from 81st Street to 67th Street
Admission: Free
The second annual Japan Parade in New York City will be held on Saturday, May 13, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Starting on Central Park West at West 81st Street and traveling south to West 67th Street, the parade will celebrate, express, and bring awareness of the friendship between New York City and Japan with a thank you from the Japanese community. Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will be the Parade’s Grand Marshal. Former NY1 reporter Sandra Endo, current news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News, and a feature reporter for Good Day LA, will serve as Emcee.
Official Japan Parade poster by art contest winner Gary Bitsicas
This year’s Japan Parade will feature a live performance by the cast of The 2.5-Dimensional show from Japan, “Live Spectacle ‘NARUTO.’” NARUTO is one of the most internationally recognized and popular manga series of all time. The franchise has sold more than 250 million copies worldwide to date. Written and illustrated by creator Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first published in Shueisha’s magazine Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, where it was serialized and ran for 15 years.
ⒸMasashi Kishimoto, Scott/SHUEISHA/Live Spectacle “NARUTO” Production Committee 2022
JAPAN Fes at Japan Parade
Concurrently with the Japan Parade, the Japan Street Fair will be held on W. 72nd Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.
The Japan Street Fair will feature tents offering entertaining and educational cultural activities including calligraphy, water balloon yo-yo fishing, origami, photo opportunities, and a giveaway. In collaboration with JAPAN Fes, one of the largest organizers of Japanese food festivals in the world, hosting more than 20 Japanese food fair events a year in New York City, the Street Fair will also feature about 20 tents serving authentic Japanese food. The latest information on Japan’s many tourist destinations will be made available at other tents, and as with last year, there will also be a tent where visitors can donate to charitable causes that support victims of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The Japan Street Fair is your chance to experience a Japanese festival, or matsuri, unlike any other.
“I am truly honored to act as Grand Marshal for this year’s Japan Parade. My Japanese heritage is something I’m proud of and I’m happy to celebrate the goodwill of our relationship with Japan and the engagement and solidarity with the Japanese American community.”
—Kristi Yamaguchi
Participating groups include Anime NYC, COBU (Drum), Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir, International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan, The Japanese Folk Dance of NY, Katsura Sunshine (Rakugo Comedian), Midori & Friends (Music Education Group), Soh Daiko (Drum), TATE Hatoryu NY (Sword Fighting), Yosakoi Dance Project 10tecomai, Young People's Chorus of NYC, and many more.
The Diamond Sponsors of this year’s Japan Parade (as of April 5) include All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Hisamitsu America, Inc., Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited. The Platinum Sponsors include ITOCHU International Inc., Marubeni America Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., Nomura America Foundation, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas Foundation, and Tokio Marine America.
Photo Credit: AP
"The Japan Parade is a huge 'Arigato!' from the Japanese community to New York City," says Honorary Chairman, Ambassador Mikio Mori, the Consul General of Japan in New York. "It will be the second annual celebration of Japanese culture and the many vibrant connections between Japan and this great city. We plan to outdo the inaugural parade in terms of marchers, contents, and food tents all highlighting the uniqueness of Japan, while also solidifying with Asian communities during AAPI Heritage Month. We hope that these festivities bring the Japanese and all of New York City even closer together, adding to our friendship for generations to come.”
“After the huge success of last year’s inaugural Parade, we are very excited to be back in New York City for our second year, demonstrating the diversity and pride of the Japanese community,” said Japan Parade Executive Producer Kumiko Yoshii. “Last year, we had a crowd of over 20,000 with approximately 2,400 participants, marching down Central Park West. We look forward to building on this success and showcasing more groups from New York and Japan. We especially want to thank our sponsors and supporters, without whom this event would not be possible.”
“The Japan Parade’s utmost goal is to be a foundation to forge new connections, and to be an inspiration to strengthen existing relations between Japan and the United States, as well as between the Japanese American community and the people of New York City,” said Japan Day Chairman of the Board of Directors, Daisuke Ugaeri, who represents the notable Japanese and Japanese American companies that make up the Japan Day Inc. Board of Directors. “To that end, I am humbled and empowered by the invaluable support of our sponsors, the trust placed in us by our parade participants, and the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers who all truly believe in the good our event is capable of achieving. It is my greatest hope that all who visit, experience, and immerse themselves in Japan Parade 2023 will not only enjoy themselves to the fullest, but also walk away with a newly cultivated or renewed appreciation of the unique wonder and beauty of Japanese culture.”
Go early to enjoy the street fair and grab a spot along the parade route. Enjoy a full day of Japanese culture at Japan Parade! For more information, please visit Japan Parade’s website.
About Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristi Yamaguchi captured the gold medal in figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. She is also a two-time World Champion and US National Champion. Yamaguchi is a member of the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame, the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic Hall of Fame. She recently received the USOPC Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award for “serving as a powerful force for good in society.”
Following a long and successful career in professional figure skating, which included ten years of touring with Stars On Ice, Yamaguchi took to the dance floor to win the mirror ball trophy with partner Mark Ballas in season six of the popular TV show Dancing With The Stars.
In 1996, she founded Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, whose mission is to give children from low-income families access to high-quality books in the home environment. The organization aims to close the opportunity gap and digital divide with an innovative, family engagement literacy program. For her work with her Always Dream organization, Yamaguchi received the 2019 Heisman Humanitarian Award.
In 2012, Yamaguchi added New York Times Best-Selling author to her list of achievements by introducing her first children’s picture book, Dream Big, Little Pig!, and then following up with It’s a Big World, Little Pig! and Cara’s Kindness. Kristi resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two-time US Olympian and Stanley Cup Champion, Bret Hedican, and their daughters, Keara and Emma.
About Sandra Endo
Sandra Endo is a television news correspondent on KTTV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News. Endo covers breaking news in feature reports for a Good Day LA. Prior to moving back to her hometown of Los Angeles, Endo spent most of her career on the East Coast a political reporter, host, and anchor for NY1. She covered a wide array of campaigns, the transit strike of 2005, and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Later, as a Washington, DC-based reporter for CNN, Endo’s stories appeared on primetime shows such as AC 360 with Anderson Cooper. She reported on the devastating tsunami and earthquake that struck Japan in 2011, as well as the international conflicts in Egypt and the US involvement in Libya.
Endo is a second-generation Japanese American whose grandfather was interned during WWII. She believes it is important to teach her two young children their cultural heritage to keep traditions alive and to learn from the past.
About Japan Day
Japan Day Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the primary organizer of the Japan Day @ Central Park festivals since 2007 and of the Japan Parade and the Japan Street Fair since 2022. Japan Day Inc.’s activities are made possible by the support of the local leading Japanese American companies that compose Japan Day Inc.’s Board of Directors; the Consulate General of Japan in New York; and all the individuals, organizations, and companies that sponsor, donate, or volunteer and be a part of this great celebration.
JAPAN Fes
Saturday, April 1 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Upper West Side near Columbia University, on Broadway between 115th and 116th Streets
Admission: Free
After kicking off their 2023 street fair schedule on March 26, JAPAN Fes continues this Saturday, April 1.
The Japanese food festival loved by 250,000 people, JAPAN Fes will produce 20 events throughout New York City this year, their most ever. In total, JAPAN Fes will feature more than 750 vendors, including vendors from Japan as well as around the US.
This Saturday, along with popular Japanese street food such as crusty takoyaki, savory yakisoba, fluffy okonomiyaki, and juicy karaage, many JAPAN Fes vendors will feature cherry blossom-themed products. Celebrate the season with sakura-favored crepes and cherry blossom cheese toast!
To discover more about spring in Japan, JAPAN Fes will also have cherry blossom items such as beautiful kimono or stylish cherry blossom-designed hats. For more information, please visit JAPAN Fes’s website and Facebook page.
Remaining JAPAN Fes Schedule
April 15 in Chelsea
April 29 in Chelsea – Ramen Contest
April 30 in Astoria – Ramen Contest
May 20 in NoMad
May 21 in Park Slope
June 4 in Midtown West
June 17 in East Village
June 18 in Park Slope
July 2 in Astoria
July 15 in Chelsea
August 26 in East Village
August 27 in East Village
September 9 in Upper East Side
September 16 in Chelsea – Konamon Contest
September 17 in Chelsea – Konamon Contest
October 7 in East Village – Ramen Contest
October 8 in Upper West Side – Ramen Contest
October 28 in East Village