Kick off Memorial Day weekend in a memorable way on Friday, May 23 as Kodai Senga and the New York Mets host reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field.

Once again, The Japanese American Association of New York, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), The Nippon Club, Japan Society, U.S.-Japan Council, and the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) will host Japanese and Japanese American Community Night, celebrating the strong bond between the U.S. and Japan through our shared love of baseball.

Pregame Activities

Taiko Drumming
Soh Daiko in Tom Seaver Plaza from 5:45 p.m. until 6:15 p.m.
Amazin' Awards Presentation to Community Leaders
Gary S. Moriwaki – Japan Society Board Member
Masaaki Maeda – Vice President & Assistant Secretary, JCCI
Koji Sato – President, The Japanese American Association of America, Inc.
Darin Arita – Co-Chair, New York & Vicinity Region, U.S.-Japan Council
Kathryn Bannai – Member of the Board of Trustees, JANM
First Pitch Thrown by a Dignitary in the Japanese and Japanese American Community
Pitcher: Tetsuo Kawate – Former JCCI President, President & CEO, Mitsubishi Corporations (Americas)
Catcher: Dr. Joshua Walker – President & CEO, Japan Society

The Mets are offering discount tickets to the Japanese and Japanese American community for the entire three-game series. Click this link https://www.gofevo.com/group/JJANight2025 to purchase tickets. With each purchase, $10 will be donated to the Japanese community organization of your choice, which you will select upon checkout.

Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!

Susan McCormac 8/29/24 Susan McCormac 8/29/24

TOMODACHI NIGHT AT CITI FIELD

Tomodachi Night – Boston Red Sox vs New York Mets

Tuesday, September 3
Pregame Events: 6:40 p.m. — Game: 7:10 p.m.

Citi Field — Flushing, Queens

Admission: $28 to $91.25

Enjoy a special Tomodachi Night as the New York Mets host Masataka Yoshida and the Boston Red Sox in an Interleague matchup. Extend your Labor Day Weekend with baseball!

Special pregame events include

Ceremonial First Pitch by Koji Sato, President of JAANY
Amazin’ Awards to be presented to leaders of Japanese American community organizations
Unforgettable opportunity for 500 members of our community to stand on the warning track at Citi Field to watch the national anthem.* Be sure to wear red and white!

Please purchase tickets through this link: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/tomodachi

A portion of ticket sales will be donated to The Japanese American Association of New York, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Nippon Club, Japan Society, U.S.-Japan Council, and the Japanese American National Museum.

*Please note that you MUST purchase tickets using the special online link that the Mets have created specifically for this game in order to be invited onto the field for the pregame festivities. Approximately one week before the game, you will receive an email with instructions about where and at what time to assemble. This privilege is first come, first served and limited to 500 fans, so please arrive early!

Warning Track Salute Timeline*

Meet up time: 6:00 p.m.
Meet up location: Left Field Ramp (right inside Left Field Gate)
Begin lining up at the ramp: 6:15 p.m.
Line closed: around 6:30 p.m. depending on the size
Arrive at the Warning Track: between approximately 6:45 to 7:00 p.m.
Exit by the staircase to Section 135 after the anthem

*weather permitting

Amazin’ Awards

JAA — Julie Azuma
JCCI — Maasaki Maeda
USJC — Susan McCormac (I’m honored to represent the New York region of the U.S.-Japan Council!)
JANM — Kathryn Bannai

Dodgers vs Mets on Japanese & Japanese American Community Night at Citi Field

Japanese and Japanese American Community Night