Memphis Japan Festival returns Sept. 30
The Memphis Japan Festival, a celebration of Japanese culture, returns to Memphis Botanic Garden Sept. 30 with a day of activities preceded by a week of lead-up events.
Co-hosted by the Japan-America Society of Tennessee and the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville, the festival re-emerged last year after a five-year absence.
Held rain or shine, it will feature traditional and contemporary Japanese music and dance performances as well as tours of the Botanic Garden’s Japanese Garden. A roving Japanese “candyman,” taiko drummers, a family circus, sumo-suit wrestling, “Hello Kitty” and “Ninja Turtle” bounce houses and Japanese martial arts also are planned.
More than a festival, the event is a statement of the importance of Japan to the local and state economy. The island nation is the top foreign employer in Tennessee, with more than 50,000 Tennesseans working for Japanese-owned firms and another 150,000 working for companies linked to the Japanese firms.
Three Japanese companies — Brother International, Sharp Manufacturing and Mitsubishi Electric Power Products — are based in Memphis.
Yuki Matsuda, an associate professor of Japanese at University of Memphis, said before the return of the festival last year that Southern culture and Japanese culture have a lot in common.
“Southern hospitality is closer to Japanese culture,” Matsuda said.
Admission for the festival will be $5 for adults and $2.50 for children 3-12. Admission is free for Memphis Botanic Garden members and children under the age of 2. Admission includes access to the Japan Festival and the Botanic Garden and the garden’s next outdoor exhibit, Origami in the Garden Parking is free. Hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Prior to the festival date, a series of events will highlight Japan and Japanese culture:
❚ Opening day of the Origami in the Garden exhibit at the Botanic Garden will be Sept. 21.
❚ Family Movie Night at the Botanic Garden will feature “Kubo and the Two Strings” on Sept. 22.
❚ “Persona Non Grata” at the Malco Paradiso shows the life of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who saved the lives of more than 6,000 Jewish refugees during World War II. RSVP by Sept. 27 to templenews@timememphis.org to attend.
❚ Asian Apertifs in the Japanese Garden will be Sept. 27.
❚ Japan Week Invitational Golf Outing is Sept. 28 at Ridgeway Country Club. More information is available by contacting jastninfo@jastn.org.