Taste of Japan returns to Arizona for its second year on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, at Heritage Square Park in Downtown Phoenix.
The weekend-long cultural festival kicks off with a VIP sumo wrestling event on Friday, December 13 before the main event brings authentic Japanese cuisine, art, merchandise and entertainment to the heart of Phoenix.
Following the success of similar festivals in Anaheim, California, that have garnered more than 75,000 attendees, Taste of Japan boasts an even larger lineup in Phoenix this year, boasting nearly 75 food and shopping vendors.
This year’s event will feature popular Japanese fare including ramen, sushi and takoyaki as well as the Yokocho Fest, which offers a traditional sake-tasting experience.
“In Arizona, there’s not that much authentic Japanese influence, so by bringing this food from California… [people will] experience and taste real Japanese food,” says Taste of Japan founder and CEO Rocky Yoneyama.
The 2024 festival features two new live events: the Elite Japanese Sumo Champions, featuring famous Japanese sumo wrestlers who have been in films like Sanctuary and John Wick 4, and the Live Tuna Cutting Demonstration, the traditional Japanese ritual of cutting a triple-digit-weight tuna fish. These events are ways to bring Japanese entertainment to American audiences in exciting and educational ways, Yoneyama says.
In addition to the two new live shows, the weekend will include multiple performances and attractions, including Japanese-pop (J-Pop) singers, cosplay contests, DJs, Taiko drum demonstrations, a martial arts stunt team and more.
“We want to show people not only the music and drumming, but also the culture and historical background behind it,” says Japanese Drum Circle founder Ken Koshio. The group is set to perform both days around noon, as well as at tonight’s kick-off event.
“Japanese people are known for their showmanship,” Taste of Japan’s marketing manager Jamie La Torre says. ”And just to bring that to America, it makes them very happy.”
Meanwhile, vendors around the venue will be selling a variety of Japanese art and crafts, kimonos and other clothing imported from Japan, Kawaii stickers and more. The goal of the event is to create a safe space and place of celebration for those who are interested in or identify with Japanese culture.
“There’s a lot more people interested in Japanese culture,” Yoneyama says. “In the past couple years… [there’s been an] influx of people coming from out of state, and I think that this year we’ll see more of that too.”
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tasteofjpn.com.
