Springfield Sister Cities Association, in partnership with the Springfield- Greene County Park Board, proudly presents the 26th Japanese Fall Festival on Friday-Sunday, September 9-11, 2022, in the beautiful Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden located within the extraordinary Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, Mo.
Samurai Sword Soul headlines the festival, performing beautifully choreographed Japanese sword fighting set to traditional and rock music. Their routines include an engaging mix of comedy and humanistic-themed dramas, requiring athleticism and grace.
Several acts are back by popular demand, including: Uzumaru, a Yosakoi dance ensemble from San Jose’s Japantown; Yasu Ishida, a storyteller and magician originally from Ube, Japan; and Seiran Chiba, a large-scale calligrapher from the Fukushima prefecture in Japan.
Other favorite performers returning to the festival include St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, ensemble drummers; Kizuna, Springfield’s Japan America friendship club; Tracy’s Kenpo Karate Studios of Southwest Missouri, martial arts demonstrators; Springfield Cosplay, costume role play demonstrators; and KiRa KiRa Springfield, cosplay dance team.
In addition to numerous vendor and artisan booths featuring wares authentic to Japanese culture, guests will enjoy the Nihon bunka taiken tent (Japanese culture experience tent), the omiyage and dagashi tents (souvenirs and snacks tents), and concessions.
The festival offers cultural opportunities geared toward children including an activity area featuring traditional Japanese games and crafts led by Japanese language students from Kickapoo High School. These opportunities end by dusk each evening.
Beginning at dusk on Friday and Saturday, September 9 and 10, hundreds of torches light the garden pathways and soft Japanese music fills the air to create a romantic strolling atmosphere. Purchase a wishing lantern and set your dreams afloat on one of the koi ponds.
Festival hours are 5 p.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, September 9; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, September 10; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, September 11.
Admission for adults is $12 on Saturday, September 10 and $8 on Friday and Sunday, September 9 and 11. Children 12 and younger are $3 on any day.
Cosplay Day in partnership with Springfield Cosplay is Sunday, September 11; come to the festival in your cosplay (costume role play) to receive $3 admission.
Members of Springfield Sister Cities Association receive free entry all weekend. An annual membership ranges in price from $10 for a student to $60 for a family; join and view additional membership benefits at peacethroughpeople.org.
Hundreds of volunteers are needed to work the Japanese Fall Festival; volunteers receive free entry to the festival on the day of their shift. For more information and to sign up, please visit peacethroughpeople.org.
New vendor applications are welcome; proposed booths must be authentic to Japanese culture for consideration. For more information, please visit peacethroughpeople.org.
Support for the Japanese Fall Festival is provided by Renewal by Anderson, Chase, and Tony and Linda Shalloup. Sponsorship opportunities are available and start at $600; learn more at peacethroughpeople.org.
The Japanese Fall Festival is a celebration of authentic Japanese culture highlighting
Springfield’s 36-year-old sister city relationship with Isesaki, Japan. In typical years, Springfield and Isesaki exchange performers to entertain and share culture at each other’s festivals. These exchanges were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 and are resuming this year.
Springfield Sister Cities Association donates half of the Japanese Fall Festival’s admission proceeds to the maintenance and development of the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden which is sponsored by Simmons Bank. The remaining proceeds benefit cultural programs which further Springfield Sister Cities Association’s mission of “Peace through People.”
For more information regarding the Japanese Fall Festival or Springfield Sister Cities Association, please visit peacethroughpeople.org or call 417-864-1191.
