JapanCulture•NYC Turns 14!

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community

May 20, 2025 marks the 14th anniversary of JapanCulture-NYC.com!

It’s hard to believe that what began as a small passion project in 2011 has grown into a trusted resource for All Things Japanese in New York City. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of covering a wide range of events—from traditional tea ceremonies and sake tastings to contemporary art exhibitions, film premieres, concerts, and community festivals.

At the heart of it all has been one goal: to connect people through culture.

I’m endlessly grateful to everyone who has read an article, shared a post, attended an event I featured, or reached out with a kind word. Your support and enthusiasm keep this platform going. Whether you're a long-time follower or a recent reader, thank you for being part of this journey.

I'm also deeply appreciative of the artists, performers, chefs, scholars, community leaders, and organizers who have allowed me to share their work. Your stories are what make JapanCulture-NYC meaningful.

As I look ahead, I’m more committed than ever to spotlighting the richness and diversity of Japanese culture in New York. There are still so many stories to tell—and I can’t wait to keep telling them.

Thank you for 14 amazing years!

With gratitude,
Susan Miyagi McCormac
Founder and Editor-in-Chief, JapanCulture-NYC

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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 Parade Returns to Celebrate NYC’s Friendship with Japan

Japan Parade

Saturday, May 10 from1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Parade Route: Central Park West from 81st to 67th Street

Street Fair: 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

Admission: Free

New York City’s celebration of Japanese culture takes over the Upper West Side this Saturday with the fourth annual Japan Parade and Street Fair. This vibrant event showcases the richness and diversity of Japanese culture and serves as a heartfelt "thank you" from the Japanese community to NYC.

Leading the Parade as Grand Marshal is none other than Chef Masaharu Morimoto, the Iron Chef whose culinary empire spans the globe. “I am deeply honored,” says Morimoto. “This role gives me a unique opportunity to celebrate and share the rich, dynamic culture of Japan with the heart of one of the world's most vibrant cities.”

Joining him is this year’s Community Leader, Koji Sato, President of The Japanese American Association of New York. News correspondent Sandra Endo, a former reporter and anchor at NY1, is serving as emcee once again.

Highlights

A major highlight this year is the live appearance by the cast of Attack on Titan: The Musical, the 2.5D stage adaptation of Hajime Isayama’s internationally beloved manga. Paradegoers can catch performers portraying fan favorites such as Levi, Hange Zoë, and Erwin Smith.

Pop culture fans can also look out for Sayaka Yamamoto, former captain of NMB48 turned solo singer-songwriter, and the always-adorable Hello Kitty, joined by My Melody and Kuromi, celebrating milestone anniversaries.

The Parade lineup features more than 110 groups and floats with more than 2,700 participants—the largest in the Parade’s four-year history. Expect lively performances from taiko drummers (Soh Daiko, COBU, Taiko Masala Dojo), yosakoi and folk dancers, gospel singers, and martial artists. Students from Japanese schools in New York and New Jersey will also march, along with Anime NYC cosplayers and a delegation from Toyama City, led by Mayor Hirohisa Fujii.

STREET FAIR

Before the Parade, explore the Japan Street Fair starting at 11:00 a.m. on 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Produced in collaboration with JAPAN Fes, the Street Fair will feature hands-on cultural activities like calligraphy and origami, tourist info booths, giveaways, and nearly 20 food stalls offering authentic Japanese eats.

ABOUT JAPAN DAY

Organized by Japan Day Inc., the nonprofit behind Japan Day @ Central Park, the Japan Parade and Street Fair continue to grow as one of NYC’s most spirited celebrations of Japanese culture.

Don't miss this joyful fusion of tradition, community, and creativity—right in the heart of Manhattan.

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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!

Japanese Heritage Night at Citi Field

Japanese Heritage Night

Friday, August 25 – Pregame activities at 5:00 p.m. (First pitch at 7:10 p.m.)

Citi Field – 41 Seaver Way, Flushing, Queens

Admission: $35.50 to $127.50

Kodai Senga and the New York Mets host Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels in this celebration of Japanese heritage! The Japanese American Association of New York, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan Society, the U.S.-Japan Council, the Consul-General of Japan in New York, and the Japanese American National Museum are collectively organizing what promises to be an Amazin’ night at Citi Field.

Senga, a five-time Japan Series champion with the SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball, signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Mets last December and has been dazzling fans with his “ghost forkball.” Shohei Ohtani, the über-talented two-way star who won the American League MVP in 2021 and led Samurai Japan to the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship, is having another MVP-caliber season and is currently leading the American League with 43 home runs.

But this will be more than just a game. On August 25, with two Japanese All-Stars opposing each other at Citi Field, the Japanese and Japanese American community in New York will come together to celebrate our rich culture and the important contributions we make in this city each day. Before the game begins, sensational all-female taiko drumming group Cobu will give their trademark energetic performance in the Mets Plaza (between the Mets/Willets Point 7 train station and the Jackie Robinson Rotunda) at 5:30 p.m. Inside the park on Citi Field’s massive centerfield scoreboard, the Mets will show a video about our vibrant community and the MLB team’s connection to Japanese baseball players. Afterward, six community leaders representing each of the Japanese Heritage Night organizations will receive Mets Spirit Awards at a ceremony at home plate, followed by musical theater actress Rina Maejima singing the national anthem. Finally, Ambassador Mikio Mori, Consul General of Japan in New York, will throw the honorary first pitch to JAA President Koji Sato. Disclosure: As a Vice President of JAA and a member of USJC, I am part of the committee that is organizing Japanese Heritage Night.

Pregame Activities

• Cobu performs in Mets Plaza

• Dedicated Japanese and Japanese American community video played on the big scoreboard

• Presentation of the Mets Spirit Awards to six community leaders:
  Ambassador Mikio Mori – Consul General of Japan in New York
  Koji Sato – President, The Japanese American Association of New York
  Tomonori Wada – President, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  Terry Suzuki – New York Regional Chair, U.S.-Japan Council
  Gary Moriwaki – Member of the Board of Directors, Japan Society
  Kathryn Bannai – Member of the Board of Trustees, Japanese American National Museum

• The national anthem sung by Rina Maejima

• Honorary first pitch thrown by Ambassador Mikio Mori to Koji Sato

Purchase Discounted Tickets

The Mets have designated seating sections throughout Citi Field specifically for the Japanese and Japanese American community at a discounted rate. Purchase through this online offer and receive a Limited Edition 2023 Japanese Night Mets Hat while supplies last! To redeem your hat, go to the Group Sales Redemption Booth behind Section 130 before the end of the fifth inning, and an attendant will scan your digital ticket. Limit one hat per ticket. Please note: You MUST purchase your ticket through this special link to receive your hat!

Let’s show the Mets, Senga, and Ohtani that our New York community loves baseball. Once again, to purchase tickets at the special discounted rate, please click here.

To purchase group tickets of 15 or more, please contact Young Choi at 718-559-3027 or YChoi@nymets.com.

The Mets are also having a special giveaway on August 25. The first 15,000 fans who enter the stadium will receive a Kodai Senga Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Fork Ball. This giveaway is open to all fans at Citi Field and not exclusive to the Japanese and Japanese American community.

Ghost Fork T-shirt by Athlete Logos

Announcing the japanculture•NYC membership program!

Since 2011 JapanCulture-NYC.com has been your English-language resource for All Things Japanese in New York City. We have a fresh look, and now we’d like to announce our new membership program! For only $5 a month, you’ll have access to exclusive content and cool benefits.

Don’t worry; everyone will still be able to read articles on the website for free. But your membership to JapanCulture•NYC will help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and support our community. Click here to begin your membership today!

benefits of membership

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

We’ll send in-depth articles about Japanese cultural tidbits and how to find All Things Japanese in New York City that you won’t find on the website.

DISCOUNTS

Members will get access to exclusive promo codes to receive discounts on concerts, film screenings, performances, dinner events, books, and more!

Our first discount is to the Globus Film Series Rites of Passage: The Films of Shinji Somai that begins at Japan Society on Friday, April 28. To receive the code for $2 off any General Audience ticket, become a member of JapanCulture•NYC today! (This code for Rites of Passage cannot be used for additional discounts on Student/Senior/Japan Society member tickets.)

DOWNLOADABLE PDFS

Members will receive occasional lists of Japanese holidays and observances, cultural tidbits, food and drink, and where to find all of the above in NYC.

The most valuable benefit from a membership to JapanCulture•NYC is the connections that we’ll create with each other and the community we’ll continue building together. Learn about your favorite aspects of Japanese culture, eat your favorite Japanese food, and meet the creatives, businesspeople, and community leaders who make New York so special.

sponsorship program

We’ve also launched a Sponsorship Program! We’ll spotlight you on our website and our social media to gain more exposure for your business, event, purpose in the Japanese and Japanese American community in New York. Your support will enable us to continue providing informative and entertaining content about All Things Japanese in New York City. For more information, please click here.

Thanks to Stay Sassy Media for our amazing redesign and to Wasabi Kikaku for their many years of support!