NYC’s Japan Parade to Celebrate 5th Year

Japan Parade & Street Fair

Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 1:00 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

The fifth annual Japan Parade & Street Fair will be held on Saturday, May 9, beginning at 1:00 p.m. New York City’s showcase of Japanese culture begins on Central Park West at W. 81st Street and travels south to W. 67th Street. This vibrant event celebrates the friendship between New York City and Japan with a heartfelt “thank you” from the Japanese community.

Iconic manga artist and illustrator Acky Bright will be this year’s Grand Marshal.

Grand Marshal_Acky Bright

About Acky Bright

Known for his intricate line work and “kawakakkoii” (cute and cool) aesthetic, Acky Bright is an internationally acclaimed Japanese manga artist whose work has appeared in collaborations with McDonald’s, Meta, Marvel, DC Comics, BMW, Lexus, and more. His solo exhibition Acky Bright: Studio Infinity, held at Japan Society in New York (2024–25), as well as his frequent guest appearances at Anime NYC and New York Comic Con, have helped him build a strong connection with fans in New York.

This year, Acky also designed Japan Parade’s first official mascot, inspired by the cultures of both New York and Japan. The design incorporates a variety of themes, including New York City's colors of orange and navy, the red and white of Japan, the iconic NYC apple, and the traditional Japanese happi coat. Following a public naming contest, the mascot was officially named “Happi.”

“New York City has become like a second hometown to me,” says Acky Bright. “I am truly honored to design the official mascot and serve as Grand Marshal.”

Happi, Japan Parade’s Official Mascot ⒸAcky Bright

Parade Particulars

This year’s Japan Parade & Street Fair is led by Ambassador Satoshi Katahira, Consul General of Japan in New York and the Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors, Japan Day Inc., and Satoshi Oishi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of Japan Day Inc. Kumiko Yoshii is the Executive Producer of the Japan Parade & Street Fair.

A highlight of the parade will be a live performance from Jujutsu Kaisen The Stage – Hidden Inventory/Premature Death, the wildly popular 2.5D stage play direct from Japan and based on Akutami Gege’s internationally bestselling manga series. The production recreates the manga’s intense battle scenes through dynamic performances by the cast.

Over the last four years, the parade has had many memorable participants and performances by Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live, Live Spectacle “NARUTO,” DEMON SLAYER - KIMETSU NO YAIBA - the stage, and ATTACK on TITAN: The Musical as special guests from Japan.

Former NY1 reporter Sandra Endo, who is a news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News, and a feature reporter for Good Day LA, will again serve as emcee of the parade, which she has done each year.

In total, there will be 105 groups and floats marching in the parade, with more than 2,800 individual participants.

Along the parade route, participating groups include the music and taiko groups New York Taiko Aikokai, Soh Daiko, COBU, and Taiko Masala Dojo; the choir group The Young People's Chorus of New York City; the traditional dance troupes Sachiyo Ito and Company and Awa Odori New York Ren; and martial arts groups Japan Karate Association of New York and NYC Area Judo Community.

Also marching in the parade are Japanese programs at the local universities and Japanese language schools and organizations. They include New York University, Hunter College, THE JAPANESE SCHOOL OF NEW YORK (The Greenwich Japanese School), Japanese Children’s Society, Inc., Keio Academy of New York, The New Jersey Japanese School, and Brooklyn Nihongo Gakuen.

Nagasaki Prefecture will have a float featuring traditional dancers and musicians as well as a tourism tent at the street fair, and Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB) will also have a tourism tent. Both Nagasaki and Okinawa were included the "52 Places to Go" in 2026 by TheNew York Times.

Japan Parade Karate.JPG

Scenes from the 4th annual Japan Parade on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in New York. (Calla Kessler/AP Content Services for Japan Day, Inc.)

Japan Parade JFDINY.JPG

Scenes from the 4th annual Japan Parade on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in New York. (Calla Kessler/AP Content Services for Japan Day, Inc.)

Japan Parade mikoshi.jpg

Japan Parade Awa Odori.jpg

Japan Parade Soh Daiko.jpg

Japan Parade Koi no Bori.jpg

Japan Parade dance.jpg

Japan Parade flag.JPG

The Japan Street Fair

Concurrently with the Japan Parade, the Japan Street Fair will be held on W. 72nd Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with food and giveaway items available while supplies last.

The Japan Street Fair will feature tents offering exciting and educational cultural activities including calligraphy, yukata try-on, and traditional games from Japan. In collaboration with Festive Planet, one of the largest organizers of Asian food festivals in the U.S. and the producer of large-scale fair events at conventions such as Anime NYC, the Street Fair will also feature more than 30 tents serving authentic Japanese cuisine. The latest information on Japan’s many tourist destinations will be made available at several other tents, and as with last year, there will also be a tent where visitors may donate to a charitable cause. This year, charitable donations will benefit the World Monuments Fund Japan Flagship Project and City Harvest. The World Monuments Fund supports the preservation of Japanese cultural heritage, including artisan training and restoration efforts following major earthquakes. City Harvest rescues surplus food and distributes it free of charge to food pantries and soup kitchens across New York City.

The Japan Street Fair is your chance to experience a Japanese festival, or matsuri, unlike any other. At the Street Fair, there will be various giveaways, including free sample distributions, and official mascot merchandise will be on sale.

History of Japan Parade

The very first Japan Parade & Street Fair was held in 2022. Actor, author, civil-rights activist, and influencer George Takei was the Grand Marshal for the inaugural parade, while Olympic Gold medalist and author Kristi Yamaguchi was the Grand Marshal for the Japan Parade in 2023, and wheelchair tennis star and four-time Paralympic Gold medalist Shingo Kunieda was Grand Marshal in 2024. Last year Iron Chef, restauranteur and author Masaharu Morimoto served as the 2025 Grand Marshal.

Since its founding, the parade has also served as a platform for solidarity against anti-Asian hate and violence.

This Year’s Sponsors

Diamond

• ANA (All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.)

• Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc.

• Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc.

• Hisamitsu America, Inc.

• ITOCHU International Inc.

• Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

Platinum

• KDDI America, Inc.

• Marubeni America Corporation

• Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)

• Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.

• Nippon Life Insurance Company

• Nomura America Foundation

• Sojitz Corporation of America

• Sumitomo Corporation of Americas

Gold

• ITO EN (North America) INC.

• J.C.C. Fund / Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, Inc. / The Nippon Club, Inc.

• "K" LINE LOGISTICS (U.S.A.) INC.

• Mayer Brown LLP

• MSIG USA

• The Prince Kitano New York

• Tokio Marine America

The Japan Parade & Street Fair is affiliated with Japan Day @ Central Park, an annual event that took place in Central Park from 2007 until 2019.

About Japan Day

Japan Day Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the primary organizer of the Japan Day @ Central Park festivals from 2007 to 2019, and of Japan Parade & Japan Street Fair since 2022. Japan Day Inc.’s activities are made possible by the support of 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 to be a part of this great celebration. For more information, please visit their website.

---

Enjoying JapanCulture•NYC? This site is supported by our community, and a $5/month membership helps offset the costs of keeping it running so we can continue spotlighting the people and events that make our community shine. Please click here to join.

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.

---

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!

A Panel on Women in STEM by JMSA & the Consulate

Empowering Women in STEM: U.S. and Japan Perspectives

Tuesday, March 25 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Nippon Club – 145 W. 57th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues), 2nd floor Rose Room

Admission: Free

In honor of International Women’s Month, please join the Consulate General of Japan in New York and the Japanese Medical Society of America (JMSA) for a panel discussion on women’s empowerment in STEM fields on March 25 at the Nippon Club. Prominent women in STEM-related professions will provide timely insight and guidance in navigating the challenges they have faced in Japan and the U.S. The distinguished panelists are Dr. Angeliki Diane Rigos of MIT and Dr. Saori Watanabe of Eisai Co., Ltd. JMSA President Dr. Maki Kano-Lueckerath will moderate. The emcee will be Haruka Kokaze, a workplace mental health research associate and lead Japan strategy analyst at Columbia University's Mental Health + Work Design Lab and One Mind, a heartfulness fellow at Stanford School of Medicine, a multidisciplinary addiction training scholar at NYU Langone Health, and a JAA Junior Board Member.

A networking reception will follow the discussion. Please register here: https://forms.gle/uqpogFV2kvS8zrFWA. 

About the Speakers

Dr. Angeliki Diane Rigos
Dr. Rigos teaches leadership in the Physics Department at MIT and is the founder and president of Epistimi, a nonprofit organization that promotes the advancement and leadership of women in STEM fields. She conducted a workshop titled “U.S.-Japan Collaborative Leadership Program for Women in STEM” in Tokyo last summer.

Dr. Saori Watanabe
Born in Niigata City, Dr. Watanabe joined Eisai Co. D. (Medicine) after completing studies at the Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences at Tohoku University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She oversees the creation of preclinical disease-related models in the company’s focus areas of neurology and oncology.

Dr. Maki Kano-Lueckerath
Dr. Kano-Lueckerath is an Associate Professor in General Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai and practices internal medicine and pediatrics. She is the President of the Japanese Medical Society of America (JMSA), an organization that provides mentors and scholarships for Japanese and Japanese American students in health-related professions. She is the founder of NY Sukusuku-kai, an NPO that strives to improve the health and welfare of the local Nikkei families and their children through outreach and education.

---

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

Enter the “May is Japan Month” Social Media Contest

JAPAN Fes is presenting a social media contest celebrating Japanese regional cuisine. Now through May 31, Japanophiles are encouraged to visit participating Japanese restaurants, order from their JAPAN MONTH Menu, take a photo, and share it on social media using the hashtag #mayisjapanmonth. A total of three contest winners each will receive a pair of round-trip air tickets to Japan in JAL miles, courtesy of Japan Airlines (JAL)! A selection committee consisting of representatives from JAL, the Consulate-General of Japan, and JETRO will select the winners. One winner will be selected for each of the three designated travel destinations: Sapporo, Itami, and Fukuoka.

How to Enter

Step 1: Imagine Your Destination

Japan is divided into eight regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa. However, for this contest, the organizers re-divided the country into three areas.

Area 1: Hokkaido | Tohoku | Kanto       Destination: Sapporo

Area 2: Kinki | Chubu |Chugoku             Destination: Itami

Area 3: Shikoku | Kyushu |Okinawa      Destination: Fukuoka

The 20 participating restaurants are offering cuisine representing each of these areas.

Step 2: Select a Cuisine and a Restaurant

Choose the cuisine according to the destination you want to visit or the destination according to the cuisine you want to eat. For example, if you want to go to Sapporo, visit that restaurants that are offering cuisine from Area 1: Hokkaido | Tohoku | Kanto.

Step 3: Visit and Order

Visit one or more of the 20 participating restaurants and order your meal. Your order must include the specific dish on the restaurant’s JAPAN MONTH menu.

Participating Restaurants and JAPAN MONTH Dishes

Area 1: Hokkaido | Tohoku | Kanto

Hokkaido

BentOn

BentOn – 156 E. 45th Street
Sanpei-Style Fish and Vegetable Soup
A popular soup from Hokkaido, this sanpeijiru features salmon and a variety of root vegetables cooked in a fish-and-kombu broth and miso paste. You’ll enjoy this healthy and substantial soup!

J-spec

J-spec Wagyu Dining – 239 E. 5th Street
A5 Wagyu Steak Flight from Hokkaido
J-spec’s popular Wagyu Steak Flight features three different types of steak, such as beef striploin, filet mignon, and ribeye.

Naruto Ramen

Naruto Ramen – 2634 Broadway
Salmon Butter Onigiri
In Hokkaido, rice balls are grilled with butter. These rice balls are mixed with salmon flakes, bonito flakes, and soy sauce. The scent of butter and fragrantly burnt soy sauce is irresistible!

Tohoku (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima)

J’s Kitchen

J’s Kitchen New York – 261 1st Avenue
Beef Tongue SENRI
Chef Sumimura makes beef tongue from Sendai even more delicious by using special techniques that maximize the meat’s original flavor.

Sushi Tsushima

Sushi Tsushima – 210 E. 44th Street
Clams Ramen
Shijimi Ramen is representative of Aomori Prefecture. Instead of Shijimi clams, which are hard to find in New York City, this Only-in-NYC Clams Ramen substitutes local clams. Dinner service only.

Kanto (Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, and Kanagawa)

Nakamura

Nakamura NYC – 172 Delancey Street
Tokyo Tsukemen
A double portion of chewy noodles topped with chashu pork, menma, and spinach comes an umami-rich pork-and-fish-based sauce spiked with yuzu for dipping.

Hasaki

Hasaki – 210 E. 9th Street
Battera (Pressed Mackerel Sushi)
Ibaraki Prefecture's specialty, battera is an authentic Japanese pressed-style sushi.

Area 2: Kinki | Chubu |Chugoku

Chubu (Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, and Aichi)

Sobaya

Sobaya – 229 E. 9th Street
Ten Zaru
Sobaya’s soba is proudly handmade from scratch every day by chefs who have mastered the craft of soba-making.

Wasan Brooklyn

Wasan Brooklyn – 440 Bergen Street, Brooklyn
Chicken Misokatsu Bun
This misokatsu dish uses hatcho miso an umami-rich paste from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Wasan is putting their chicken misokatsu in a steamed bun, which is popular in New York.

Ootoya

Ootoya – 8 W. 18th Street
Kamo Jibuni Nabe
A traditional Japanese dish that originated in Ishikawa Prefecture, this kamo jibuni nabe includes slices of duck, leek, and mushrooms cooked in Ootoya’s original soy sauce-based broth.

Kinki (Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, and Wakayama)

Cha-An

Cha-An – 230 E. 9th Street, 2nd Floor
Cha-An Original Matcha Tiramisu
A classic Cha-an original menu item that incorporates Japanese ingredients into Western-style confectionery, this tiramisu contains Japanese sake, red bean paste, and creamy mascarpone with matcha. The sponge is moistened with sake and is not too sweet. The secret of its popularity over the years is the perfect balance between the sponge, cream, and the amount of azuki (red bean) paste.

Saito

Saito – 72 Kenmare Street
Doteni Wagyu Beef Stew
Respresentative of Osaka downtown soul food, this stew contains wagyu, offal, vegetables, miso, and soy sauce.

Chugoku (Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi)

Sakagura

Sakagura – 211 E. 43rd Street, B1
Fried Oyster with Shishito Pepper
The oyster is one of Hiroshima Prefecture's specialties. Sakagura serves this dish with wasabi-soy sea salt, vegetable sauce, and tartare sauce. Established in 1996, Sakagura has been a pioneer in introducing New Yorkers to the world of sake, so pair your fried oyster with one of more than 260 kinds of carefully selected sakes.

Sushi Ann

Sushi Ann – 38 E. 51st Street
Spring Madai from Hiroshima with Mizuna Green Salad
Seasonal sea bream from Hiroshima, Japanese mustard greens, red onion, and kaiware sprouts with Irizake and olive oil dressing and ichiban dashi gelée make up Sushi Ann’s dish. Dinner service only.

Area 3: Shikoku | Kyushu | Okinawa

Shikoku (Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi)

Mt. Fuji

Mt. Fuji Japanese Steakhouse – 296 Old Route 17, Hillburn, NY
Y’s Mojito
Mt. Fuji’s original Y’s Mojito is based on yuzu sake from Kochi Prefecture and mixed with Pavan, St. Germain, fresh mint, fresh lime, and a splash of champagne.

Restaurant Nippon

Restaurant Nippon – 155 E. 52nd Street
Nabeyaki Sanuki Udon
Sanuki udon is a specialty of Kochi Prefecture. This nabeyaki is served with shrimp tempura, egg, shiitake mushroom, and fish cake.

Kyushu (Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima)

Donburiya

Donburiya – 253 W. 55th Street
Nagasaki Sara-Udon Kata Yakisoba
A regional dish of Nagasaki Prefecture, this champon is a mixture of seafood and vegetables with sauce over fried noodles.

Momokawa

Momokawa – 1466 1st Avenue
Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Sukiyaki
Momokawa serves A5 Miyazaki wagyu beef ribeye from one of the best ranchers in Miyazaki Prefecture. Prepared in traditional sukiyaki sauce, warishita, in an iron pan, the meat melts in your mouth with exquisite flavor, texture, and tenderness.

Inase

Inase Restaurant – 1586 1st Avenue
Miyazaki Chicken Namban
Inase’s Miyazaki chicken namban is made with deep-fried chicken marinated in sweet vinegar sauce and tartar sauce.

Ajisen Ramen

Ajisen Ramen – 14 Mott Street
Kumamoto Tonkotsu Ramen
This original tonkotsu ramen is topped with pork chashu, beansprouts, and scallions.

Step 4: Take a Photo and Post to Social Media

The theme of the contest is We Love Japanese Food.

Post a picture of yourself enjoying the meal or a picture of a delicious-looking dish on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using the hashtag #mayisjapanmonth. Express your love for Japanese food with your caption. Judges are looking for photos and captions that convey a love for Japanese food and culture.

The photo must show a specific dish from the JAPAN MONTH menu, but it does not have to be the only dish. It is also possible to order other dishes to make the photo more colorful; however, the number and amount of food ordered will not affect the selection process. Please make sure that your account setting is open, not private, so the contest organizers can see your post. Videos will not be considered.

Step 5: Scan the QR Code

After posting your photo, scan the QR code located in the restaurant and enter the required information. You must do both—post to social media and submit the entry form—for your participation in the contest to be valid.

To view full contest rules, please visit JAPAN Fes’s website.

Annual Memorial Raises More than $11 Thousand for 3.11 Relief

AK Akemi Kakihara

For the third consecutive year, Fellowship for Japan presented a memorial honoring the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Disaster at First Church of Christ, Scientist in the Upper West Side on Sunday, March 9.

AK Akemi Kakihara, the Executive Director of TOGETHER FOR 3.11, was just as motivated this year as she was in 2012, when she and dozens of friends organized the event to commemorate the first anniversary of the disaster.

“The people in New York are too far away from the affected areas, so they’re not able to go there very easily,” says AK, a UNIVERSAL MUSIC Japan recording artist. “But the things that we can do from New York is that together, even only once a year, we can send our prayers to the victims and also send our thoughts to the people in the affected areas to let them know we haven’t forgotten them.”

Gary Moriwaki

One person who is able to travel to Tohoku frequently is guest speaker Gary Moriwaki, Honorary President of the Japanese American Association of New York (JAA) and member of the U.S.-Japan Council. Moriwaki was in Japan when the disaster struck three years ago, and he has made several trips to the Tohoku area since, as recently as two weeks ago.

Moriwaki spoke to JapanCulture•NYC before the memorial, saying that three years after 3.11, the Japanese American community in New York is “still engaged” in what’s going on in Tohoku, even as the impact of the disaster has drifted off the radar of those living elsewhere in Japan.

JAA has been instrumental in the relief effort, raising more than $1.4 million. The members are actively involved in the projects that receive donations.

“We’ve always been focused on sustainable activities, and the money that we’ve raised is peanuts compared to what’s needed over there. So we want that money to have a long-lasting effect,” says Moriwaki, pointing out that JAA is focusing on jobs and helping businesses in Tohoku recover. By collaborating with the Kizuna Foundation, a local NGO, Moriwaki says he is seeing tangible results from the money JAA has raised.

“We went to Ofunato. It’s one of the bright spots,” says Moriwaki. “It’s a small town in Iwate. We were there two years ago, and there was a pier that had sunk about a meter, so it couldn’t be used. We contributed some seed money to build the pier back up. We went back two weeks ago, and it’s operational.”

As the months and years go by, we hope to hear more stories such as the one from Ofunato. But it is clear that there is more work to be done, which is why the Fellowship of Japan, an umbrella group for several grassroots organizations that formed in the aftermath of 3.11, continues to put on the memorial.

The solemn ceremony featured live speeches from members of New York’s Japanese community. In addition to Moriwaki, Ambassador Sumio Kusaka, Consul General of Japan in New York; Sayoko Fujita, Chairman of the New York Fukushima Kenjinkai; and Motoatsu Sakurai, President of Japan Society; delivered speeches.

There were videotaped messages from people in the affected areas, including Hayato Takizawa, a Tohoku Electric Power employee who created a guidebook, Walking Through Post-Earthquake Tohoku, to help bring back tourism; Yohei Arakawa, a city council member of Natori City in Miyagi who lost his mother and younger brother to the disaster; and the children of Minato Preschool in Soma, Fukushima, who sang a song to thank New Yorkers for our continued support.

Accordionist Shoko Nagai played a stirring arrangement of “Peace and Love,” while Iwate-born koto player Yumi Kurosawa performed her own composition. The audience of 500 stood together to sing “Furusato,” one of Japan’s most beloved songs.

Singing “Furusato”

AK and her fellow organizers encouraged audience members to write their thoughts on post cards, which will be sent to the people of Tohoku.

“That’s something that we can definitely continue to do no matter how far away we are,” says AK. “It’s very important to keep sending them the messages. It’s something we can do to stay connected.”

Following the ceremony Sony Music international recording star and Fuji TV personality Alex York expressed his interest in creating connections. “I haven’t been to Tohoku yet, but this has inspired me to visit,” he says, adding that he would like to perform in the affected areas in the near future.

York was happy to see an update from the children at Minato Preschool. AK first visited the school in the months following the disaster, and it was the children’s drawings that moved AK to create the Fukushima “Smile” wrapping paper and iPhone cases that were on sale at the memorial, along with other charity items from Love Japan Project and locally made products from Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures.

Money from these sales and in the donation boxes totaled more than $11 thousand, which will go toward relief efforts through the Consulate General of Japan in New York and Japan Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. As a community, we did this TOGETHER FOR 3.11.

Before the ceremony

Ruri Kippenbrock of Wuhao NY

Video message from Hayato Takizawa

Sayoko Fujita

Shoko Nagai

Yohei Arakawa City Council Natori City Miyagi

Motoatsu Sakurai of Japan Society

Products from Makenaizo

iPhone cases

Donation box

Tomoko Abe (left) and Riki Ito

Ambassador Sumio Kusaka

500 people attended the ceremony

Yumi Kurosawa

Shoko Nagai

Video Message Minato Preschool

Products from Tohoku

Love Japan Project

Fukushima buttons and products for sale

Church ceiling stained glass “Love”