2023 Japan Week 2023 (A Summer Japanese Cultural Festival: Performances, Workshops & Demonstrations in San Francisco Japantown)NEW

Japan Week 2023 - Japan Week is a summer cultural festival featuring performances, workshops & demonstrations in San Francisco Japantown.

GenRyu Arts and the Merchants of the Japan Center Malls present Japan Week. This summer cultural festival returns in its 11th year celebrating the culture of Japan and Japantown. Throughout the first week of July, there will be events, workshops and performances by master artists, musicians and cultural bearers.

Japan Week Dates

July 5-8, 2023
• Kimono Dressing, Wednesday, July 5, 2-3pm, Japan Center West Mall
• Origami Workshop, Thursday, July 6, 2-3pm, Japan Center West Mall
• Shodo Japanese Calligraphy Demonstration, Friday, July 7, 2-3pm, Japan Center West Mall
• Gidayu shamisen workshop, Saturday, July 8, 2-3pm, Japantown East Mall, Studio Gen, Suite 505
• Ozashiki Shamisen workshop, Saturday, July 8, 6:15-7:15pm, Japantown East Mall, Studio Gen, Suite 505. Note that ticket option is listed as 6-7pm.

Reserve your tickets today as each workshop is limited to 25 participants. Those without a ticket may watch.

Japan Day, July 9, 2023 - 12-5:00 pm
At the end of the week, the cultural festival culminates in Japan Day. Join the celebration of Japanese cultural arts at this free event on three stages at the Peace Plaza stage, Japan Center East Mall (2nd floor), and Studio Gen (East Mall, Suite 505)! Hear the exhilarating sound of taiko drums and see colorful Japanese dancers with live musicians. Watch karate, Okinawan music, and dance. Besides the exciting performances, there will be demonstrations of Origami paper folding, Washi Ningyo paper dolls, Shodo calligraphy. Bring your friends and family. No tickets needed.

Peace Plaza Stage
• Gen Taiko and Odori School
• International Karate League
• Sakura Ren
• The Imperceptible Nature (collaboration Genny Lim, Nozawa MatsuQ, Melody Takata, Benita Ushikubo and International Karate League)
• Northern California Okinawa Kenjin Kai
• Gintenkai National Project

East Mall 2nd Floor Demonstration & Workshop Stage
• 12:00pm - 1:00pm Washi Ningyo Japanese Paper Dolls
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm Origami Japanese Paper Folding
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm Shodo Japanese Calligraphy

East Mall 2nd Floor Suite 505, Studio Gen Stage
• 12:30pm - 1:00pm Gidayu Shamisen Traditional Japanese Joruri Narrative Music
• 2:30pm - 3:00pm Ozashiki Shamisen Traditional Japanese Chamber Music

Thank you to our generous funders and partners
Japan Center Malls, California Arts Council, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Japan Center Garages, Japantown Merchants Association, San Francisco Recreation & Parks, Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, Asian Improv aRts, Asian Improv aRts Midwest, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, Nihonmachi Little Friends, Zellerbach Family Foundation, and National Gintenkai Project.