As promised, here’s Tina Chou’s photo recap of Japan Day @ Central Park! Check out the kids doing their version of the Japan Run. I think the distance for each kid’s race was 50 feet for each year old they were. Plenty of bonding time over some traditional Japanese board games. And tons of drinks and food being cooked and given away free as a thank you to New York City. Artists performing included Orange Pekoe, Ai Kawashima (pictured), Yaz Band, Taro Masuda, and Soichi Muraji. Wish you were there now? More »

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Japan Day @ Central Park! I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 6 years and have never seen so many people, Asian or non, at the 96 St subway station. Tens of thousands of people came out to take enjoy the fantastic weather, with a sudden spring shower interruption, in New York City’s Central Park with a festival of Japanese sights, sounds and tastes. More »

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Japan Day @ Central Park returns this year to New York City, Sunday, May 31. Among the entertainers will be Kollaboration 2009 winner Kenichi Ebina, Jpop singer-song writer Ai Kawashima, and Japan Gold Disc Award winners Orange Pekoe. The festivities will be held at the East Meadow of Central Park (Fifth Avenue and 97th Street). There’s lots of food and music — and it’s all free! Take my advice and go early else there won’t be any chow mein, gyoza, gyudon Over Rice, miso soup, and sanuki udon noodle left. (Yes, I have learned the hard way.) More »

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Jpop starlets Ai Kawashima and Minami Kizuki will both be performing next weekend in New York City to celebrate Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Minami Kizuki will perform at 4:15pm and Ai Kawashima will perform at 5:15 on both Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3. Minami Kizuki is a 19-year old new star on the Pony Canyon record label with a powerful voice. Her latest single (pictured) is a double release — “Dareka No Tame Ni / Wasurena Gusa” (誰カノタメニ / ワスレナグサ). Ai Kawashima will be making a live appearance at Kinokuniya Bookstore Friday afternoon before the Cherry Blossom Festival. More »

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