Though there’s a ton of fabulous events happening in NYC this weekend, you’ll certainly want to add this one to your calendar–NYC’s beloved Japan Day is making its annual return, bringing Japanese sword fighting, traditional folk dance, martial arts, and more to Central Park.
Japan Day at Central Park was founded back in 2007 as a way to introduce Japanese culture to NYC and strengthen the solidarity of the Japanese-American community. The event, which was created by Mr. Motoatsu Sakurai, the Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York at the time, brings booths to Central Park where visitors can sample authentic Japanese cuisine and engage in fun and educational activities–like shodō (Japanese calligraphy) and origami–each May.
After a two year hiatus–Japan Day was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and was adapted to a digital format in 2021–the event was reborn in 2022 as the Japan Parade and the Japan Street Fair. The inaugural parade, which became NYC’s first to honor Japanese culture and lifestyle, attracted a crowd of over 20,000 attendees and has been returning to NYC each May ever since.
This year, the 4th annual Japan Parade and Street Fair in New York City will be held this Saturday, May 10th (coinciding with AAPI Month). Iron Chef, restauranteur, and author Masaharu Morimoto will be this year’s parade Grand Marshal, and the parade will feature a live appearance from the cast of the 2.5D musical ATTACK on TITAN: The Musical.
In total, about 110 groups and floats will march in the parade, with over 2,700 individual participants; the most ever for the Japan Parade.
Concurrently with the Parade, the Japan Street Fair will take over West 72nd Street with exciting tents offering fun and educational cultural activities including calligraphy, Yukata, origami, photo opportunities, and giveaways. Japan Fes., one of New York’s largest Japanese food events, will also be at the fair with over 20 tents serving delicious Japanese food.
Ambassador Mikio Mori, Consul General of Japan in New York, stated:
The Japan Parade…represents the interwoven cultural and economic ties between Japan and New York, reflecting – and deepening – the strong alliance between Japan and the U.S. And right now, with the world in considerable need of unity, goodwill, and hope, Japan-U.S. relations are more vital than ever, demonstrating what can be accomplished by working together towards common goals.
Japan Day Street Fair
🗓 Saturday, May 10th
⏰ Starts at 1 pm
📍 West 72nd Street, between Central Park W & Columbus Ave
Japan Day Parade
🗓 Saturday, May 10th
⏰ Starts at 1 pm
📍 Begins on Central Park West at West 81st Street and travels to West 67th Street
Find out more about NYC’s epic Japan Day on their website.