NYC’s Japan Parade to Celebrate 5th Year
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.
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.
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.
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