BY: Liliana Rocio Suarez Salcedo, Senior Editor . May 13 2023
The 2nd annual Japan Parade, celebrating and bringing awareness to the friendship between NYC and Japan with a thank you from the Japanese community.
Dr Adal with Kristi Yamaguchi Greatest Asian-American Figure Skater
Olympic gold medalist, founder of Always Dream and author Kristi Yamaguchi will be the Parade’s Grand Marshal and the Parade will feature gorgeous floats and performances.
Beginning on Central Park West at West 81st Street and traveling south to West 67th Street, the Japan Parade will feature live appearances by the cast of “Live Spectacle NARUTO”, Anime NYC (Anime Convention), COBU (Drum), Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir, International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan, The Japanese Folk Dance of NY, Katsura Sunshine (Rakugo Comedian), Soh Daiko (Drum), TATE Hatoryu NY (Sword Fighting), Yosakoi Dance Project 10tecomai, Young People’s Chorus of NYC, and many more.
Dr Adal with Japanese entertainers
Kristi Yamaguchi served as the parade’s Grand Marshall, and Sandra Endo, Fox 11 Good Day LA anchor, served as Emcee of the parade. Participating groups showed Japan’s various attractions, such as culture, tradition, sports, music, cosplay for everyone’s enjoyment.
Honorees and guests
Japan Day @ Central Park was founded in 2007 to promote a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. It is a family-friendly cultural event received official support from the Office of the Mayor throughout the years.
Kristi Yamaguchi 2023 Grand Marshall
We get to use the beautiful Central Park with the help of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the Central Park Conservancy.
Dr Adal with Political leaders in attendance
Also, 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.
Dr Adal with Staff Member of Japanese Day Parade
The event kicks off with the 4-mile mini-marathon Japan Run and Kids’ Races hosted by New York Road Runners. The event continues with the Japan Day Festival featuring a wide range of Japanese traditional activities, free samplings of popular Japanese cuisine, and powerful stage performances throughout the day.
Mayor Eric Adam’s presenting Proclamation
JAPAN PARADE,In New York, ethnic groups from around the world have long held parades to showcase the rich culture and lifestyles of their communities.
On May 14, 2022, we had our first-ever Japan Parade. Initially, a parade was planned for 2020 to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the first Japanese delegates’ visits 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.
Dr Adal with Sandra Endo Emcee of event
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.
Mayor Eric Adams marching in parade
JAPAN PARADE 2023 GRAND MARSHAL: KRISTI YAMAGUCHI: Kristi Yamaguchi captured the gold medal in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France in figure skating. She is also a 2-timeWorld champion and U.S. National Champion.
Kristi Yamaguchi Grand Marshal making remarks
Kristi is a member of the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame, World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the US Olympic Hall of Fame. She recently received the USOPC’s Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award for “serving as a powerful force for good in society” as well as the 2019 Heisman Humanitarian Award for the work of her Always Dream organization.
Mark Levine MBP presenting Proclamation to Daisuke Ugaeri Japan Day Chairman
Following a long and successful career in professional figure skating including 10 years of touring with Stars On Ice, Kristi took to the dance floor to win the mirror ball trophy with partner Mark Ballas in season 6 of the popular TV show “Dancing with The Stars.”
Miko Mori Consul General of Japan NY Welcoming guests
In 1996, she founded Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream whose mission is to give children from low income families access to high quality books in the home environment.
Aiming to close the opportunity gap and digital divide with an innovative, family engagement literacy program.
Thousands in attendance at Japanese Street Fair
In 2012, Kristi added New York Times Best-Selling author to her list of achievements by introducing her first children’s picture book, “Dream Big, Little Pig!”, and then following up with “It’s A Big World, Little Pig!”and a third title “Cara’s Kindness”.
Kristi resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, 2-time US Olympian and Stanley Cup Champion, Bret Hedican, and their daughters Keara and Emma.
Vendor Showcasing Japanese Food at his booth
The Japan Street Fair featured tents offering fun and educational cultural activities including calligraphy, water balloon yo-yo fishing, origami, photo opportunities, and a giveaway.
War Veteran marching in parade
In collaboration with JAPANFes, 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 also featured about 20 tents serving authentic Japanese food.
The largest information on Japan’s many tourist destinations were made available at several other tents, and as the last year, there were tent’s where visitors donated to a charity cause.
The Japan Street Fair is your chance to experience a Japanese festival, or matsuri, unlike any other.
Young Peoples Chorus of NYC
Many Political leaders in attendance, who presented proclamations to Japan Parade New York Organizers, which included, Governor Hochul ‘s office, Mayor Eric Adams, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assembly member Ron Kim and many more political leaders and advocates in attendance.
See More about 2nd Annual Japan Parade and Japan Street Fair in New York City-2023, in our World Liberty TV, Political Channels and Blogs by clicking here.