The Japan Day Parade in NYC Adds Star Trek Icon as Grand Marshal

The first-ever Japan Parade in New York City will be held on Saturday, May 14, beginning at 1 pm. The Parade is to celebrate, express, and bring awareness to the friendship between NYC and Japan with a thank you from the Japanese community. Actor, author, civil rights activist, and Influencer George Takei will be the Parade’s inaugural Grand Marshall.

Beginning on Central Park West at West 81st Street and traveling south to West 68th Street, the Japan Parade will feature live performances by the cast of “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon” The Super Live, Young People’s Chorus of New York City, Cobu, Soh Daiko, Japanese Folk Dance of NY, 10tecomai, Tate Haroryu, International Karate Organization Kyokushin-kaikan, and Anime NYC. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

The year 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the visit of the Japanese mission led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Iwakura Tomomi in 1872. The Iwakura Mission’s visit led to the remarkable development of Japan-US relations, including establishing the Consulate of Japan in New York in the same year. The purpose of the Japan Parade is to promote the country’s culture and the Japan-US friendship in a new way on this milestone anniversary to hand over the baton to the next generation.

Head to their official website for more information on Japan Day and the parade.