BY: Liliana Rocio Suarez Salcedo, Senior Editor. May 10 th 2025

Beginning on Central Park West at West 81st Street and traveling south to West 67th Street, the Japan Parade featured: the music and taiko groups Soh Daiko, COBU and Taiko Masala Dojo, the choir group HARLEM JAPANESE GOSPEL CHOIR, the traditional dance troupes.

The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY, and Yosakoi Dance Project – 10tecomai / KAZANAMI, martial arts groups International Karate Organization KYOKUSHINKAIKAN and kendo dojo New York Kenshinkai. Marchers from Anime NYC joined the parade in Japan-themed costumes.

There are Japanese language schools and organizations participating in the Parade, and they include: THE JAPANESE SCHOOL OF NEW YORK (The Greenwich Japanese School), Japanese Children’s Society, Inc., Keio Academy of New York, and The New Jersey Japanese School, and many more.

Chef Masaharu Morimoto served as the parade’s Grand Marshall, and Sandra Endo, news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News and feature reporter for Good Day LA, served as Emcee of the parade.

Participating groups showed Japan’s various attractions, such as culture, tradition, sports, music, cosplay, etc. for everyone’s enjoyment.

Following the great success of the last three years, the 4th annual Japan Parade in New York City was held on Saturday, May 10, beginning at 1pm. Starting on Central Park West at West 81st Street and traveling south to West 67th Street, the purpose of the parade is to celebrate, express, and bring awareness to the friendship between NYC and Japan with a thank you from the Japanese community. Chef Masaharu Morimoto is this year’s Grand Marshall and Koji Soto is this year’s Japan Parade Community Leader.

Sandra Endo, news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News, and a feature reporter for Good Day LA, will serve as Emcee of the parade.

The very first Japan Parade and the Japan Street Fair was held in 2022. Actor, author, civil-rights activist, and influencer George Takei was the Grand Marshal for the inaugural parade, while Olympic Gold medalist and author Kristi Yamaguchi was the Grand Marshal for the Japan Parade in 2023, and wheelchair tennis star and four-time paralympic gold medalist Shingo Kunieda was last year’s Grand Marshal.

The Japan Parade is affiliated with Japan Day at Central Park, an annual event that has taken place in Central Park since 2007.

Activists protesting against attacks targeting Asian citizens and anti-Asian rhetoric have also marched in the parade. Concurrently with the Japan Parade, the Japan Street Fair will be held on West 72nd Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.

The Japan Street Fair will feature tents offering fun and educational cultural activities including calligraphy, water balloon yo-yo fishing, origami, photo opportunities, and a giveaway. In collaboration with JAPAN Fes, one of the largest organizers of Japanese food festivals in the world that hosts over 20 Japanese food fair events a year in New York City, the Street Fair will also feature about 20 tents serving authentic Japanese food.

The latest information on Japan’s many tourist destinations will be made available at several other tents, and as with last year, there will also be a tent where visitors may donate to a charitable cause. The Japan Street Fair is your chance to experience a Japanese festival, or matsuri, unlike any other.

It was our 3^rd annual appearance at the Japanese day parade, thousands of people lined up on the streets on 81^st and Central park West, and thousands more at The Japan Street Fair trying many different Japanese foods, desserts and beverages.

Honored guests included: Iron Chef Restauranteur and Author Masaharu Morimoto, who was also the Grand Marshall of the 2025 Parade. Koji Sato, president of the Japanese American Association of New York & 2025 Japan Parade Community leader. Mikio MORI Ambassador, Consul-General of Consulate General of Japan, New York, were the force behind putting on a parade on this magnitude.

Other political guests in attendance included: Mayor Eric Adams, New York State Comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, Council member Gale Brewer, representatives from NY Governor’s office, Assembly members and many more in attendance. Emcee for the 4^th year in a row was classy Sandra Endo, news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News, and a feature reporter for Good Day LA and Mayor of Toyama Hirohisa Fuji , who traveled from japan to be part of the parade.

See much more about 4^th Annual Japan Day Parade in New York city 2025, in our World Liberty TV, Political channels by clicking here.