THANK YOU FOR COMING TO
JAPAN PARADE &
STREET FAIR 2025!
Calla Kessler / AP Images for Japan Day Inc.
Under sunny skies, over 2,800 individual participants in 110 units marched proudly down Central Park West, while over 30 tents lined West 72nd Street with authentic Japanese street food and activities for all ages!
We are thrilled to announce that according to official NYPD estimates, approximately 60,000 people came to cheer on the Parade and enjoy the Street Fair! This marks the highest attendance in Japan Parade & Street Fair history, with over 10,000 more than the estimate of 2024’s attendance!
A huge thank you to Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, the Grand Marshal of Japan Parade 2025, and Mr. Koji Sato, the 2025 Japan Parade Community Leader, for participating in this year’s events! Shoutout to Mayor Hirohisa Fujii of Toyama City, who traveled all the way from Japan to present on his city’s amazing attractions!
We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, donors, staff, and volunteers, whose generous contributions and tireless efforts made this year’s events possible.
Additionally, we would like to thank the New York City and New York State officials, organizations, and departments, who lent their experience and donated their time to make Japan Parade & Street Fair 2025 possible:
FROM THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Mayor of New York City Eric Adams
New York City Commissioner for International Affairs Edward Mermelstein
New York City Council Member Keith Powers
New York City Council Member Gale Brewer
Mr. Radane Robinson, representing New York State Assemblymember Steven Raga
Mr. Neil Trivedi, representing New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar
The Mayor’s Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management (CECM)
The Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO)
The New York City Police Department (NYPD)
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC PARKS)
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH)
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY)
FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli
Deputy Director of Asian American Affairs for New York State Sibu Nair
New York State Representative Alex Bores
New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal
FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Mayor of Palisades Park Chong Paul Kim
SEE YOU NEXT TIME!
Friday, May 9th
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Don't Miss Out!
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Special Items and Experiences at our Charity Auction!
* * Don't Miss Out! * * Special Items and Experiences at our Charity Auction!
Grand Marshal of Japan Parade 2025
MASAHARU MORIMOTO
Chef Masaharu Morimoto — known to millions as the star of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America and now executive producer and head judge for Roku’s Sushi Master — has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his seamless integration of Western and Japanese ingredients. In 2001, Chef Morimoto opened his first restaurant in Philadelphia, which was later followed by restaurants in New York, Napa, Honolulu, Boca Raton, Mumbai, Mexico City, Tokyo, and Maui. Morimoto Asia Orlando at Disney Springs opened in 2015, followed by Momosan NYC and Morimoto Las Vegas at MGM Grand in 2016. Morimoto Asia Waikiki, Momosan Waikiki, and Morimoto Doha opened in 2018. Next came Momosan Seattle (2019), Momosan Wynwood (2020), Morimoto Taghazout Bay (2021), Sa’Moto (2021), Momosan at Hub Hall in Boston (2021), Morimoto Asia Napa and Momosan Santana Row (2022), Morimoto Bordeaux, Morimoto Jakarta, and Morimoto by Sea aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam (2023), and most recently Mori Mori by Morimoto, which is set to open later this year, bringing Chef Morimoto’s global restaurant count to 24. His first cookbook, Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking (2007), won two IACP awards (in the “Chef’s and Restaurants'' category and the “First Book: The Julia Child Award"), and it was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award. His second cookbook, Mastering The Art of Japanese Cooking (2017), introduces readers to the healthy, flavorful, surprisingly simple dishes favored by Japanese home cooks.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed the Grand Marshal of this year's Japan Parade in New YorkCity” said Chef Morimoto.“This role gives me a unique opportunity to celebrate and share the rich, dynamic culture of Japan with the heart of one of the world's most vibrant cities.”
Newly from this year, Introducing
2025 Japan Parade Community Leader
KOJI SATO
In a newly created position this year, Koji Sato will be the 2025 Japan Parade Community Leader with the goal of being the conduit between the Parade and the Japanese community in New York. Sato is the President of the Japanese American Association of New York, Inc., a position he’s held since 2022, He is on the board of Governors of the Japanese American National Museum on Los Angeles and is the co-chairperson and Board member of the Asian American Advisory Board in Westchester.
“I am very happy and honored to be the 2025 Community Leader for the Japan Parade,” said Koji Sato. “This event will showcase the culture of Japan and how Japanese and Japanese Americans in New York add to this vibrant and diverse community. I look forward to seeing you all at the Japan Parade.”
About Us
Japan Day @ Central Park was founded in 2007. This event was held every May in Central Park until 2019, to celebrate and promote the U.S.-Japan friendship, express gratitude to NYC, and strengthen the solidarity of the Japanese-American community.
Visit our About page to learn more!
