2022 - 1st First-Ever Japanese Parade Coming To The Upper West Side & Japan Street Fair NEW

Every year our festival Japan Day @ Central Park celebrates Japanese culture, art, tradition, and food at Central Park. Our event is designed to introduce our culture to New Yorkers and to connect with the local Japanese community. In 2022, Japan Day is organizing the first-ever Japan Parade in New York City on Saturday, May 14.

The year 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the visit of the Japanese mission led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Iwakura Tomomi in 1872, which resulted in the remarkable development of Japan-U.S. relations, including the establishment of the consulate in New York. This year also celebrates the 150th anniversary of the introduction of baseball to Japan from the U.S., which remains very popular to this day.

In New York, ethnic groups from around the world have long held parades to showcase the rich culture and lifestyles of their communities. The Japan Parade will be the first parade in New York to honor the Japanese people and their heritage.

Initially, a parade was planned for 2020 to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the first Japanese delegates’ visit to the U.S. in 1860, as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, but was sadly canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are delighted to bring this two-year project to fruition. The purpose of the Japan Parade is to further promote friendship between the U.S. and Japan, to express gratitude to New York City, and to strengthen the solidarity of the Japanese-American community on this milestone anniversary.

PARADE ROUTE
Date
Saturday, May 14th, 2022 ​

Time
1:00 p.m. start​

Parade Route
Along Central Park West between 81st Street and 68th Street (Heading south towards 68th Street).

JAPAN STREET FAIR​
Time: 1:00 p.m. ~ 4:30 p.m.
Location: 67th Street between Columbus Ave​ and Central Park West

ABOUT JAPAN DAY
History
In this paragraph, we will explain what Japan Day @ Central Park is all about and how it came together. This is a family-friendly annual event designed by the Japanese community of New York. It all started in 2007 to promote a deeper understanding of the Japanese culture and to say “Thank you, New York!”

Throughout the years, this cultural event received official support from the Office of the Mayor. And with the help from the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the Central Park Conservancy, we get to use the beautiful Central Park. Furthermore, the Consulate General of Japan in New York, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Nippon Club, and many other Japanese and American corporations have been supporting us since day one.

The event kicks off with the rousing Japan Run, a 4-mile mini-marathon, and Kids’ Races, hosted by New York Road Runners. The event continues with the Japan Day Festival featuring a wide range of Japanese traditional and family-friendly activities, free samplings of popular Japanese cuisine, and powerful stage performances throughout the day.