This year, JapanFest Weekend will take place on September 21-22, from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday. The theme for 2019 is "Get Ready to Travel to Japan - Olympics 2020" and we intend to offer an array of performances, workshops, and other opportunities for festival-goers to become familiar with the nation hosting the 2020 Olympics. Sports have historically been an integral element of Japanese culture, with traditional sports such as sumo and martial arts combining with Western imports like baseball to occupy an important space in Japanese daily life. The 2020 Olympics will provide Japan not only an opportunity to showcase the best of its and other countries' athletics but will also serve as a way to display its unique culture and arts on an international stage.

JapanFest will include our Food Court, filled with affordable Japanese delicacies, as well as out Ginza Dori "main street" filled with even more vendors with Japanese novelties for sale; Anime Village for all our loyal anime fans; The Way of the Warrior with sword and martial arts exhibits; the Japanese Arts Studio where you can participate in Ikebana Flower Arranging, Bonsai, Calligraphy, Kimono, and Tea Ceremony; an Olympics 2020 Capsule to learn all about next year's festivities and travel to Japan, and much more! JapanFest, now in its 33rd year, typicallyt draws crowds exceeding 20,000. Organized by JapanFest, Inc., JapanFest is designed to promote understanding between Japanese and Americans in the Southeast. Come travel to the Tokyo Olympics without leaving Georgia on September 21-22, from 10 am to 6 pm (Saturday) and 10 am to 5 pm (Sunday) at the Infinite Energy Center. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Children age 6 or younger are free. Buy tickets online and avoid the lines at the venue. For further information or to volunteer, please visit www.japanfest.org