Celebrate autumn and learn about Japanese culture at Aki Matsuri festivals in California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico and Tennessee.

A koto player plucks sounds from the air using a laser interface and musical techniques developed over the course of 1,300 years; a dancer melds the elegant movements of ancient warriors with ballet; and a calligrapher employs centuries-old practices to reveal a new language hidden within our electronic communications. Borrowed Light, a presentation at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City, features three performances by classically-trained female artists of Japanese heritage (Miya Masoaka, Shoko Tamai, and Miyu Tamamura) who work at the cutting edge of innovation and experimentation. 

Our second annual roundup of Japanese summer festivals features 20 festivals in 16 cities across the United States. From late June through September 2018, these events celebrate Japanese food, music, dance, visual arts, fashion, cinema, martial arts, manga, anime, ceramics and a range of other traditions and practices. All of these festivals offer exuberance, spectacle and a wealth of opportunities to learn about Japanese culture.