2019 - 24th Annual Japanese Fall Festival - Celebrate Springfield’s Sister City, Isesaki, Live Music, Dancing & Japanese FoodsNEW

What to Expect: Celebrate Springfield’s sister city, Isesaki, Japan, with live music, dancing and Japanese foods. Can’t Miss: Live performances, calligraphy and authentic art are a few of many reasons to check out the Japanese Fall Festival.

For More Information: Adults: $10 Friday and Sunday, $15 Saturday. Children 12 years old and younger: $3. For more information go to peacethroughpeople.org.

Date
September 6 - 8, 2019

Japanese Fall Festival
The Japanese Fall Festival is a celebration of authentic Japanese culture highlighting Springfield’s sister city relationship with Isesaki, Japan (formed in 1986). Each year, a delegation of Isesaki citizens travels to Springfield to contribute to the festival through demonstrations and interactions with attendees.

We proudly present the 23rd annual Japanese Fall Festival on Friday-Sunday, September 7-9, 2018 in the beautiful Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Gardens located within the extraordinary Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, Mo.

Location
Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden located within the extraordinary Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park

Festival Hours & Admission
Fri., Sept. 6 from 5pm-10pm
Admission: $7/adult; $3/kids 12 and younger

Sat., Sept. 7 from 11am-10pm
Admission: $10/adult; $3/kids 12 and younger

Sun., Sept. 8 from 11am-6pm
Admission: $7/adult; $3/kids 12 and younger; $3/person dressed in cosplay (costume role play)

Members of Springfield Sister Cities Association receive free entry all weekend. An annual membership ranges in price from $5 for a student to $50 for a family; view additional benefits and join at peacethroughpeople.org.

Pets are welcome! Standard park rules apply.

About The Festival
The Japanese Fall Festival is a celebration of authentic Japanese culture highlighting Springfield’s 32-year-old sister city relationship with Isesaki, Japan. Each year, a delegation of Isesaki (伊勢崎市) citizens travels to Springfield to contribute to the festival through demonstrations and interactions with attendees.

In response, Springfield sends a local group to perform at Isesaki’s city festival each year. These groups make an appearance at the Japanese Fall Festival: Uke 66 recently performed in Isesaki and The Shandies perform in Isesaki this August.

Performers
Zoomadanke of Tokyo, Japan, headlines the festival with their lively kendama performances. The internationally-acclaimed duo blends their mastery of kendama, a traditional Japanese cup and ball toy, with dance and music to create a pioneering style of performance.

Yasu Ishida, storyteller and magician from Ube, Japan, also headlines the festival. Ishida combines traditional Japanese theatre, music, origami, magic, and storytelling to bring the enchanting land of Japan to his audiences.

Favorite Japanese performers and groups returning to the festival include St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, ensemble drummers; Seiran Chiba, large-scale calligrapher; Mr. Hiroshi Tada, top spinner; and Tracy’s Kenpo Karate Studios of Southwest Missouri, martial arts demonstrators.

Activities
Kizuna, Springfield’s Japan America Friendship Club, also returns to the festival to perform traditional Japanese exercises and facilitate Japanese activities like yukata taiken (cotton kimono dress up) and a chadokoro (tea café).

The festival offers many cultural opportunities geared toward children including an activity area featuring traditional Japanese games and crafts led by Japanese language students from Kickapoo High School and gyotaku (fish printing) led by the Springfield Regional Arts Council.

In addition to numerous vendor and artisan booths featuring wares authentic to Japanese culture, guests will enjoy the Nihon bunka taiken tent (Japanese culture experience tent), the omiyage and dagashi tent (souvenirs and snacks tent), and concessions.

Candlelight Walk
Beginning at dusk on Fri. and Sat., Sept. 6 and 7, hundreds of torches light the garden pathways and soft Japanese music fills the air to create a romantic strolling atmosphere.

Cosplay Showcase
Springfield Cosplay closes the festival at 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 8 with a cosplay showcase (costume role play contest). Participants typically portray characters from Japanese pop culture. All are invited to participate. Register prior to the festival by e-mailing [email protected] or register during the festival at the Springfield Cosplay booth.

Information
For more information regarding the Japanese Fall Festival or Springfield Sister Cities, please visit peacethroughpeople.org.