Vendors and performances sprawled out over Hermann Park and more than 25,000 guests flooded the grounds for Houston’s 19th annual Japan Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
“The Japan-America Society of Houston instituted the festival in 1993 in the hopes of furthering their mission to develop a stronger relationship between the greater Houston community and Japan,” says the event’s website.
Some of the entertainment featured included a martial arts stage, traditional Japanese festival games and informational booths on things like the Japanese space program.
“This festival provides the people here with a chance to experience Japanese culture through art and musical performances,” said Japanese professor Helen Nakamoto, who performed at the festival with the Japanese Ladies Chorus of Houston.
Omar Escobedo, a Hotel and Restaurant Management senior, said he was impressed by what the food vendors had to offer.
“You can’t find a lot of the food here in local Japanese restaurants,” Escobedo said.
The food stalls offered attendees treats like cold soba noodles, sushi and the popular takoyaki — a ball-shaped dumpling filled with octopus, shrimp and diced vegetables.
Other activities included a cosplay competition and a yukata photo shoot for women in Hermann Park’s own Japanese Garden.