2024 Theme: Yōkai & Japanese Folklore Festival (Performances, Taiko, Bazaar, Children Activities, Workshops, Martial Arts..)NEW

Yokai, those enigmatic beings of Japanese folklore, have long danced at the edges of human understanding, offering whispered explanations for the inexplicable. Picture them lurking in the shadowy corners of desolate mountain pathways, their presence invoked to rationalize the eerie whispers and inexplicable sensations that haunt travelers. Yet, their influence stretches far beyond mere ghost stories; these spectral denizens inhabit the very fabric of Japan’s rural landscapes, weaving themselves into the tapestry of its folklore. From quaint countryside hamlets to bustling towns, yokai lurk just behind the veil of what is real, their myriad forms inspiring generations of imaginative tales and cautionary whispers.

Festival Date
October 5, 2024

Event Time
10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Special Yokai-themed Activities
This year's festival features special Yōkai-themed content, including a Fox-Woman dance by Nihon-buyō Master Asuka Iijima, Yōkai candy art by Miyuki, a lecture series exploring Yōkai throughout art and culture, Yōkai origami and mask workshops, a Yōkai hunt, and the festival will end with a fantastical Yōkai parade!

Cultural Workshops
Learn origami, taiko drumming, calligraphy, martial arts, Japanese language, and kintsugi (the art of repairing broken pottery) from the experts.

Fascinating Lectures
Dive into fascinating topics like the history of Yokai, Godzilla, candy art, and more.

Cosplay Contest & Parade
Participate in a yokai-themed cosplay contest and parade.

Exciting Performances
Enjoy traditional Japanese dancing and singing, comedy storytelling (Rakugo), martial arts demonstrations, and taiko drumming!

Japanese Food
Savor delicious offerings from food vendors and the oriental supermarket.

Kids Activities
Fun activities and traditional Japanese games for children, craft shop, origami kits, shopping booths, and more.

Exhibits & Displays
Ikebana, bonsai, samurai armor, kimonos, and Japanese dolls.

Tickets

Adults: $25
Students: $20 with proper ID
Children 6 to 13: $15
Children 5 and under: Free!
Special Presale Ticket Discount
Buy your tickets online prior to 9/26/24 and get $10 off each ticket.

Use the code YOKAI2024 at checkout.

Important Festival Notes
Festival events will be spread out across several buildings on the JCCC campus:
• Food vendors will be located in the Commons building (COM), next to and inside the JCCC Food Court
Japan-related booths are now in the Capitol Federal conference room in the Regnier Center (RC) and workshops, lectures, and demonstrations are in the classrooms in the Midwest Trust Center (MTC).
• Festival maps will be available on campus on the day of the festival.
• Information tables are spread throughout the festival�"see maps once you get to campus.
• Wristband pickup will be available at Box Office locations in
  • Midwest Trust Center (MTC)
  • Student Center (SC)
  • Regnier Center (RC)
  • Outside the CoLab in the Office and Classroom Building (OCB)

If you purchase tickets the day of the festival, you’ll have two locations to purchase:
1)  The Box Office in the MTC lobby
2) The Box Office Satellite in the Student Center

The Kansas City Japan Festival partners with the Johnson County Community College Box Office to provide advance online ticket purchasing. Tickets will also be available the day of the festival at both the Midwest Trust Center Box Office and the Box Office Satellite location in the Student Center (new additional location!). Save $10 off each ticket purchase in advance by using the discount code YOKAI2024. The discount code for advance tickets will expire at 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 26th. All ticket purchases are non-refundable.

T-Shirts for the festival will also be available for sale on the second floor of the Midwest Trust Center. T-Shirts are available on a first-come, first serve basis and there is a limited quantity.