By Gus Saltonstall
The Japan Day Parade and festival returns to the Upper West Side this weekend.
The Japan Day Parade, which celebrates and promotes the cultural exchange and friendship between the United States and Japan, kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The parade will begin at Central Park West and West 81st Street and travel down the avenue to West 67th Street. There will also be a Japan Street Fair on West 72nd Street, between Columbus and Central Park West, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the same day. The street fair will include dozens of Japanese food vendors.
The parade will include traditional Japanese music and dance, martial arts demonstrations, cosplay and Japanese mascots, and taiko drummers. Acky Bright, an internationally acclaimed manga artist [Japanese-style cartoons], will serve as the Grand Marshal of the parade.
The following streets will be closed to cars on Saturday due to the parade and festival, which will remain closed “at the discretion of NYPD.”
Street Closures
- Central Park West between 86th Street and 81st Street
- 85th – 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
- Central Park West between 81st Street and 66th Street
- 69th – 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
- 70th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
- Central Park West between 70th Street and 71st Street
- 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
The Japan Day Festival took place annually in Central Park starting in 2007, before switching locations to 67th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West, and in 2023 to West 72nd Street. The first parade did not take place until 2022, when “Star Trek” actor George Takei served as the Grand Marshall.
You can find out more about the Japan Day Parade — HERE.
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