The Japanese Fall Festival is a celebration of authentic Japanese culture highlighting Springfield’s sister city relationship with Isesaki, Japan (formed in 1986). Each year, a delegation of Isesaki citizens travels to Springfield to contribute to the festival through demonstrations and interactions with attendees.
Thank you so much for making our 25th Japanese Fall Festival a safe and successful event! We were so happy to bring this event back this year and celebrate Japanese culture with you.
Save the date for the 2022 Japanese Fall Festival, September 9-11.
2021 Japanese Fall Festival
Springfield Sister Cities Association, in partnership with the Springfield- Greene County Park Board, proudly presents the 25th Japanese Fall Festival on Friday-Sunday, September 10-12, 2021, 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.
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Hours and Admission
Festival hours are 5 p.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, September 10; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, September 11; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, September 12.
Admission for adults is $10 on Saturday, September 11 and $7 on Friday and Sunday, September 10 and 12. Children 12 and younger are $3 on any day. People dressed in cosplay (costume role play) receive a $3 admission price on Sunday, September 12.
Face coverings are strongly encouraged at interaction points.
Members of Springfield Sister Cities Association receive free entry all weekend. An annual membership ranges in price from $5 for a student to $50 for a family; join and view additional membership benefits at peacethroughpeople.org.
Schedule
Friday Performances
| 5:15pm | Kizuna, traditional dancers |
| 5:50pm | Uzumaru, ensemble Yosakoi dancers |
| 6:10pm | Opening Ceremony |
| 6:25pm | St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, ensemble drummers |
| 6:40pm | Yasu Ishida, magic storyteller |
| 6:55pm | Uzumaru, ensemble Yosakoi dancers |
| 7:20pm | St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, ensemble drummers |
Friday Activities
| Dusk | Candlelight Walk |
Saturday Performances
| 11:50am | KiRa-KiRa Springfield, costume role play dancers |
| 12:15pm | Tracy's Kenpo Karate, martial artists |
| 1:05pm | The Shandies, local musicians, performed in Isesaki in 2019 |
| 1:40pm | Yasu Ishida, magic storyteller |
| 2:15pm | Uzumaru, ensemble Yosakoi dancers |
| 2:45pm | St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, ensemble drummers |
| 3:20pm | Kizuna, traditional dancers |
| 3:55pm | Lancaster Station, local musicians, performing in Isesaki in 2022 |
| 6:05pm | Yasu Ishida, magic storyteller |
| 6:40pm | Uzumaru, ensemble Yosakoi dancers |
| 7:10pm | St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, ensemble drummers |
| 9pm | Miku Concert, hologram projected Miku concert presented by Springfield Cosplay |
Saturday Activities
| 2pm | Martial Arts Workshop, $5 suggested donation (registration required, details below) |
| 5:30pm | Bonsai Workshop, $60/individual, $70/couple (registration required, details below) |
| Dusk | Candlelight Walk |
Sunday Performances
| 11:30am | Tracy's Kenpo Karate, martial artists |
| 12:20pm | Springfield Cosplay, costume role players |
| 12:55pm | Uke 66, local musicians, performed in Isesaki in 2017 |
| 1:35pm | Yasu Ishida, magic storyteller |
| 2:10pm | Uzumaru, ensemble Yosakoi dancers |
| 2:40pm | St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, ensemble drummers |
| 3:30pm | KiRa-KiRa Springfield, costume role play dancers |
| 4:05pm | Kizuna, traditional dancers |
| 4:40pm | Springfield Cosplay, costume role players |
Sunday Activities
| 2pm | Martial Arts Workshop, $5 suggested donation (registration required, details below) |
Performers
Uzumaru, a yosakoi dance ensemble from San Jose’s Japantown, headlines the festival. Yosakoi is an energetic style of dance that blends traditional and modern Japanese movements and music.
Yasu Ishida, storyteller and magician originally from Ube, Japan, returns to the festival for an encore performance. Ishida combines traditional Japanese theatre, music, origami, magic and storytelling to bring the enchanting land of Japan to his audiences.
Favorite performers returning to the festival include St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, ensemble drummers; Kizuna, Springfield’s Japan America Friendship Club; and Tracy’s Kenpo Karate Studios of Southwest Missouri, martial arts demonstrators.
Activities
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 tent (souvenirs and snacks tent), and concessions.
The festival offers many cultural opportunities geared toward children including an activity area featuring traditional Japanese games and crafts led by Japanese language students from Kickapoo High School and Japanese art activities led by the Springfield Regional Arts Council.
Workshops
Register with cash or card at the festival’s souvenir tent or online. Registration does not include festival admission.
Bonsai Workshop | Sat., Sept. 11, 5:30-7pm | $60/individual, $70/couple sharing a bonsai
Make it a date night, girls’ night, or fly solo at a Japanese-themed botanical workshop led by Chris Cox, The Bonsai Guy. Includes all materials, a Japanese snack and beverage, and a wishing lantern. Registration is required by 4pm on Saturday, September 11.
REGISTRATION IS FULL
Bonsai Workshop | Sun., Sept. 12, 4-5:30pm | $60/individual, $70/couple sharing a bonsai
Make it a date night, girls’ night, or fly solo at a Japanese-themed botanical workshop led by Chris Cox, The Bonsai Guy. Includes all materials and a Japanese snack and beverage. Registration is required by 2:30pm on Sunday, September 12.
REGISTER
Martial Arts Workshop | Sat., Sept. 11, 2-2:30pm -OR- Sun., Sept. 12, 2-2:30pm | $5/person suggested donation
Learn some martial arts basics from Anthony Verburgt, a ninth-degree black belt and a direct student of Great Grandmaster Al Tracy with more than 45 years of martial arts experience. Ages 8 and older.
REGISTER
Cosplay
Celebrate Springfield Cosplay’s 6th anniversary! Bring your glow sticks and enjoy a hologram projected concert featuring Miku Matsuri on Saturday, September 11 at 9 p.m. Cosplay Day is Sunday, September 12; come to the festival in your cosplay (costume role play) to receive $3 admission and close down the festival with a cosplay showcase at 5 p.m.
Candlelight Walk
Beginning at dusk on Friday and Saturday, September 10 and 11, 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.
Volunteer
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 click here.
Vend
New vendor applications are welcome; proposed booths must be authentic to Japanese culture for consideration. For more information and to apply, please click here.
Supporters
Support for the Japanese Fall Festival is provided by Queen City Real Estate Company, Tony and Linda Shalloup, Tom Finnie and Chase. Sponsorship opportunities are available; learn more at peacethroughpeople.org.
About
The Japanese Fall Festival is a celebration of authentic Japanese culture highlighting Springfield’s 35-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.
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, 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 417-874-2962.