2023 - 3rd Annual Chicago Japanese Matsuri Festival (Origami, Games, Arts, Fashion, Calligraphy, Photo Booths, etc.) (3 Days! Friday - Sunday)NEW

Join us at the 3rd Chicago Japanese Matsuri at NEWCITY Plaza hosted by Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya and Japanese Culture Center.

Enjoy the kickoff of our annual Japanese summer festival in the heart of Chicago where you can experience authentic Japanese festival foods, cultural performances of Taiko (drumming), large scale Shodo (calligraphy), Traditional Martial Arts, Sumi-e (ink painting), Cosplay Contests and so much more! Interactive Japanese cultural booths will be throughout the festival featuring origami, games, arts, fashion, handwritten calligraphy requests, photo booths, and beyond!

Festival Dates
Friday 09/20 03:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Saturday 09/21 11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Sunday 09/22 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Friday 9-20-2023
3 - 4 pm | Alexander Staples | Anime Music DJ
4:15 - 5 pm | Taiko (Tsukasa Taiko)
5 - 8 pm |Van Paugam | 70s and 80s vinyl (City Pop)

Saturday 9.21
11 AM | Iaido Swordsmanship (Mugai Ryu Iaido)
11:30 AM | Karate (JKA Chicago)
12 PM | Aikido (Aikido Association of America) & Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association Tea Ceremony Performance (Inside)
12:30 PM | Cosplay Contest (Anime Chicago)
1 PM | Koto (Tokiko Kimura & Rie Katayama)
2 PM | Taiko (Tsukasa Taiko) & Hekiun Oda Calligraphy Performance (Inside)
3 PM | Sumi-e (Patricia Larkin Green) & Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association Tea Ceremony Performance (Inside)
4 PM | BATSU! Chicago (Comedy Show)
5 - 8 PM | Euphor Collective (Contemporary Japanese Music DJs)

Sunday 9.22
11 AM | Iaido Swordsmanship (Mugai Ryu Iaido)
12 PM | Shurikenjutsu (Chicago Keikokai Meifu Shinkage Ryu) & Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association Tea Ceremony Performance (Inside)
12:30 PM | Aikido (Aikido Association of America)
1 PM | Koto (Tokiko Kimura & Rie Katayama)
2 PM | Kizuki Ramen Eating Contest
3 PM | Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association Tea Ceremony Performance (Inside)
3:30 PM | Large Scale Shodo / Calligraphy (Seiran Chiba Sensei)
4 PM | Taiko (Tsukasa Taiko)

Location
NEWCITY is conveniently located next to the Red Line North/Clybourn stop with an attached parking garage.

All of the festival foods will be prepared by chef Kevin Yu and his team from Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya which means true Japanese culinary authenticity and deliciousness! The festival foods will include Takoyaki, Chicken Karaage, Potato Croquette, Okonomiyaki and many classic authentic Japanese festival foods. It will be a wonderful culinary treat for you and your family to remember for a long time!

The festival arts and performances are lead by the Japanese Culture Center and will include performances of Taiko drumming (maybe shamisen as well TBA), Shurikenjutsu, Indigo Dyeing and Mokume Shibori, Karate, Sumi-e, Aikido, Iaido, Large Scale Shodo Calligraphy, Ikebana flower arrangement, and much more!



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Matsui Location
NewCity Plaza, 1457 N Halsted St Ste B305, Chicago, IL 60642