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Experience Japan like never before at this year’s JapanFest Atlanta and celebrate 50+ years of friendship between Georgia and Japan! Held on September 21-22, 2024, from 10am to 6pm (Saturday) and 10am to 5pm (Sunday) at the Gas South Convention Center, JapanFest Weekend 2024 offers a fun time for everyone, as visitors can enjoy a wide array of performances, presentations, exhibits, and authentic cuisine that will entertain, educate, and delight. The State of Georgia opened its first international office in Tokyo in 1973 to promote trade and tourism, followed by the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta being established a year later in 1974. Now, Georgia and Japan share a sister state-prefecture relationship and 10 sister city connections. Georgia is also regarded as the center of Japanese business activities in the Southeastern United States as over 600 Japanese-affiliated companies have invested over $10.4 billion. These companies together employ nearly 40,000 workers state-wide, and with more than 50 Georgia companies doing business in Japan, joining us at JapanFest will help strengthen the special bond we share with Japan. To celebrate this year’s 50th anniversary, JapanFest 2024 features an extraordinary lineup of headlining performers. Coming from Japan, Miyabiya Japan showcases their mesmerizing blend of traditional and modernized Kabuki theatre, a performing art proclaimed as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition, Broadway performer and Rakugo master storyteller hailed as the "King of Kimono Comedy," Katsura Sunshine, showcases his own original comedic material, as well as captivating rendition of classic Japanese tales. With the ever-popular Matsuriza Taiko Japanese Drum Troupe, Samurai Sword Soul, sumo, karate, kendo, kyudo martial arts demonstrations, among many other captivating performing artists, you are sure to enjoy a full-day of entertainment. JapanFest also features the best of Japanese cuisine in Atlanta! Local Japanese restaurants will offer a tantalizing menu of, bento boxes, rice bowls, ramen noodles, sushi, yakisoba, shaved ice and more at the Japanese Food Court and Beer Garden. Cultural exhibits and workshops include, calligraphy, Bonsai, Ikebana flower arranging, Kimono fitting, origami, tea ceremony, and more. Kids will have a fantastic time experiencing Japanese culture firsthand. At the festival’s Children’s Area, where they can make their own Japanese crafts and toys. They can even take part in carrying a traditional Japanese portable shrine at the o-mikoshi parade. Head down to Ginza Dori, named after Tokyo's famous shopping district where you can experience Japanese festival-style games, accessories, snacks, and toys. Visitors can also purchase an amazing array of Japanese goods, including kimono, Japanese tea, dolls, hand-made crafts, anime/manga goods, and much more at more than 100 vendor booths. Many of the over 600 Japanese-affiliated companies based in Georgia will display their products at the Japanese Businesses in Georgia exhibit. Interactive exhibits also include the latest in Japanese technology, including automobiles, tractors, electronics, video games, and virtual reality. For more information, call 404-522-6938 or visit www.japanfest.org.
Download JapanFest Photos HERE | Purchase Individual Tickets (Coming Soon) Exhibitor/Vendor & Performer Application (Special Discount for JASG Corporate & Patron Individual Members)
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Know Before You Go & Tips for Enjoying JapanFest!
- JapanFest has expanded in 2024 with larger space, improved layout and traffic flow, more entrance and exit points, and venue access
- Pre-purchase your JapanFest ticket to save money and avoid longer lines to enter the festival
- Get your food when you arrive to avoid longer lines at food vendor booths and food trucks
- Pick what performances you want to see and plan accordingly - arrive 15 minutes before the performance to ensure you have a good seat
- Take the JapanFest survey to win give-away items and help improve the festival in future years
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ORGANIZERS
Co-organized by JapanFest, Inc., The Japan-America Society of Georgia, The Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia), and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta.
MISSION
The
mission of JapanFest is to improve understanding and appreciation of
linkages between Japanese and Americans residing in the Southeastern
United States through an annual salute to Japanese culture and
friendship entitled JapanFest. This celebration will promote
multicultural education, encourage social harmony, and ensure the
cultural integrity of JapanFest by providing an appropriate mix of
authentic contemporary and traditional programs on Japanese art and
culture. Activities include a wide variety of performing arts,
demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and exhibitions. These grassroots
efforts are coordinated by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia
and The Japan-America Society of Georgia, and implemented by a host of
community volunteers. JapanFest is committed to organizing a
self-sustaining event, supported in part by non-Japanese Chamber of
Commerce and non-Japan-America Society of Georgia members, and provides
meaningful support to educational endeavors in Georgia. HISTORY
What
is now referred to as "JapanFest" began in 1981 as Japan Week, a
biannual series of Japan-related cultural events organized by the
Consulate-General of Japan that took place around the city of Atlanta.
In 1986, the name was changed to JapanFest, and the Japanese Chamber of
Commerce of Georgia, the Japan America Society of Georgia, and the
Consulate General of Japan organized their own events under the title of
JapanFest. In 1993, the first Picnic and Sports Day was held at Mercer
University. In 1995, Picnic and Sports Day became Japan Day at the
Atlanta Botanical Gardens. In 1996, JapanFest moved to Stone Mountain
Park and became an annual event. In 1997, JapanFest, Inc. was
incorporated as a non-profit corporation. In 2012, JapanFest had over
17,000 attendees, making JapanFest the largest Japanese festival south
of Washington, DC and east of Houston, TX. AWARDSJapanFest was selected as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2003, 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2019, and was a recipient of the Certificate of Commendation from the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2004 and 2011 for its contributions to the friendship and goodwill between Japan and the United States. |
The Japan-America Society of Georgia, Inc.
is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote
mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the state of Georgia
Phone: 404-842-1400 Email: Admin@JASGeorgia.org