The Tucson Japanese Festival returns this spring for its 10th year, bringing food, performances and cultural traditions to the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center on March 21.

The festival offers a comprehensive look at Japanese traditions, art and culinary heritage. It began in 2014 as a modest community gathering focused on the art of mochi pounding, also known as mochitsuki, but has since evolved into a premier regional attraction.

The festival was founded by members of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition, including Carolyn Classen; Minoru Yanagihashi, a retired professor in the University of Arizona’s East Asian Studies Department; and Evelyn Yanagihashi, to bring together Japanese cultural enthusiasts across Southern Arizona.

It moved from its original home at Pima Community College to its current location to accommodate growing interest in Japanese culture.

Following a three-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival returned in recent years with record attendance, drawing more than 2,500 visitors last year.

“The event has evolved over all these years into a large festival, bigger than we could imagine,” Classen said.

As a descendant of someone affected by the World War II internment, Classen said the festival serves a different purpose within the Japanese American community.

“There is the Day of Remembrance on February 19 for people to talk about the internment,” Classen said. “But we don’t want to emphasize the sad past. We’re trying to promote Japanese culture to the general public because everyone’s invited.”

This inclusive philosophy is reflected in the day’s events, which aim to bridge generations and welcome a diverse demographic, from elderly attendees to young anime lovers. The festival also includes foods from other cultures, including Chinese and Korean cuisine, along with Japanese classics like takoyaki, a fried ball of dough filled with diced octopus topped with savory sauces and flakes of seaweed and bonito.

“The festival is meant to mimic the street life of Japan,” Evelyn Yanagihashi said. “The street food is meant to be eaten while walking. You don’t sit down and eat like at a restaurant, there is far too much to see!”

While the festival is a celebration, it also provides opportunities for the next generation of cultural ambassadors. Since 2019, SAJCC has partnered with the University of Arizona’s East Asian Studies Program to fund the “Arizona in Kyoto” study abroad initiative.

“The word of the program is spreading,” Classen said. “Last year, I think it was only 13 students that actually went. This year, they already have 19 applicants.”

Money raised during the festival supports student participants in the initiative.

“We help support two scholarships for the Kyoto program,” Evelyn Yanagihashi said. “They’re able to set up students over to Japan to spend a couple months there, to learn about the culture and so forth.”

The scholarship provides two $500 grants each year to help offset the cost of international travel. Recipients represent a broad range of academic interests beyond linguistics.

“We’ve had a whole bunch of diverse students, some are language speakers already, but some are just interested in photography, anime or maybe teaching in Japan someday,” Classen said.

After the trip, each recipient delivers a 10-minute presentation to members of the coalition and East Asian Studies faculty, ensuring that the insights they gained in Kyoto enrich the Tucson community.

As 2026 marks the Year of the Horse in the Japanese zodiac, this year’s programming will emphasize themes of energy and progress.

Activities include live performances by Odaiko Sonora, a taiko drumming group, and martial arts demonstrations. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 5 and younger.

Isabel Vidrio is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at vidrioi@arizona.edu.

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