JapanFest (September 18-19, 2010)

JapanFest Weekend will take place on September 18-19, 2010, from 10 am to 6 pm (Saturday) and 10am to 5pm (Sunday) at the Convention Center at Gwinnett Center (located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097). Please check this website often for updates!

JapanFest, now in its 24th year, is the largest Japanese festival east of Houston and south of Washington, DC, and typically draws crowds exceeding 20,000. Organized by The Japan-America Society of Georgia, The Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, and the Consulate General of Japan, JapanFest is designed to promote understanding between Japanese and Americans in the Southeast.

Tickets are $8, children age 6 or younger free. Teachers can bring their students to JapanFest for free by applying online. Larger organizations can save money by purchasing advanced ticket packages online.

The theme of the 2009 festival was Cool Japan. "Cool Japan" is a term that describes the growing international interest in Japanese culture, especially in the realms of fashion, anime, music, cuisine, and technology. JapanFest 2009 explored these aspects of modern Japanese pop culture through a modern kimono fashion show, anime screenings, fun Japanese foods such as shaved ice and plenty of sushi, the latest products manufactured right here in Georgia by Japanese companies, an appearance by NASCAR racer Akinori Ogata, and more!

God of Shamisen, the world's first rock band to combine elements of metal, funk, and progressive rock with the Tsugaru-Shamisen, a fretless lute from Northern Japan, headlined JapanFest 2009 in a performance sponsored by the Japan National Tourist Organization. Effectively merging the cultures of east and west, this mostly-instrumental outfit is unleashing a unique sound and a worldwide perspective to battle conventional music.

JapanFest 2009 featured some of the latest in Japanese technology: the therapeutic robot baby seal "Paro." Paro was developed in order to interact with human beings and to make them feel emotional attachment to it. He has a diurnal rhythm of morning, daytime, and night, which means he is active during the daytime, but gets sleepy at night. He has five kinds of sensors: tactile, light, audition, temperature, and posture sensors, with which he can perceive people and its environment. Paro can learn to behave in a way that the user prefers, and to respond to his new name. He is an autonomous robot, so he can express its feelings, such as surprise and happiness, voluntarily by crying, blinking his eyes and moving his head and legs. Paro feels happy when you stroke and hold it softly and feels angry when you hit it.

In addition, JapanFest 2009 featured music performances by Chambers County Taiko, Hiro Sasayama (folk), Lisa Furukawa (folk/pop), Madoca & Company (jazz), Matsuriza (taiko), and Georgia Ryukyu Kyoyukai, North Georgia Suzuki Strings, Okinawa Kenjinkai Taiko Group, and Suzuki Violin Studio of Mary Alice Rhodes. Dance performances included traditional Japanese dance by Clemson University Japanese Cultural Association, Hiko no kai, International Mai No Kai, Nishizaki Suiga no Kai, Pegasus Education Center, Sho No Ryu, members of which traveled all the way from Japan for a special performance, and Winters Chapel Kindergarten and Daycare Center and Okinawan dance by Hateruma Nanae Miyagi-ryu Dance School and Ryu Kyu Bana. There will also be modern dance performed by Breakdance Club at Georgia State University, Golden Ribbon Gymnastics, Nebula Dance Theater, and Para²Mahou.

For fans of martial arts, JapanFest 2009 featured demonstrations of virtually every Japanese martial art in existence. Demonstrators included Aikido Association of Atlanta, Aikido Center of Atlanta, Aikido School of Athens, Atlanta Katori, Georgia Japanese Language School Kendo Club, Georgia Kyudo Renmei, Inc., Georgia Sumo Association, Miki Judo Club, Trammell Fitness and Martial Arts, U.S. Taido, World Oyama Karate Organization, and World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization.

JapanFest also featured a variety of exciting workshops, were visitors learned about the intricacies of kimono, arrange flowers Japanese-style, learn to play the shamisen, find out the best Japan travel information available, learn some phrases in the Japanese language, appreciate sake, and dance para para. Kids had a fantastic time experiencing Japanese culture firsthand. In our Children's Area, they painted their own Japanese lantern or fan, and the Suburban Atlanta Kite Enthusiasts were on hand to teach them how to make a Japanese kite.

Many of the Japanese companies based in Georgia displayed their products in the Made in Georgia exhibition. 2009 participants included Elesys North America, Inc., Hoshizaki America, Inc., JETRO Atlanta, Kubota, Mycoal Products Corporation of USA, Murata Electronics, Nippon Life Benefits, Seigakuin Atlanta International School, Symbiosis International, Inc., TSG U.S.A., Inc., TOTO USA, US Remac, Inc., Yamaha Motor Manufacturing of America, and Yanmar America Corporation.

JapanFest featured the best of Japanese cuisine in Atlanta! Shake It Bubble Tea, Shoya Izakaya, Suno, Sushi Niko Niko, Sushi Yoko, Taka Sushi Café, Tomato, and Waraku offered a tantalizing menu of bento lunch boxes, sushi, kakigori (shaved ice), curry rice, rice bowls, udon and somen noodles, oden, yakisoba noodles, and more!

We're looking forward to seeing you at JapanFest 2010!

For more information visit www.JapanFest.org.