Join JapanCultureNYC for Part 2 of my live conversation with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton reporting from Osaka, Japan, where she’s been exploring the site of Expo 2025!

Expo 2025 Talk: A Conversation with Cross-Cultural Consultant Yvonne Burton – Part 2

Wednesday, May 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET | 5:00 p.m. PT | In Japan: Thursday, May 29 at 9:00 a.m.

Zoom

Admission: Free (Registration Required)

On May 13 JapanCultureNYC and cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International held a special live Zoom conversation from Japan, where she’s been exploring Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. We had so much fun, we’re doing it again!

Yvonne has been on the ground, visiting pavilions, observing the process, and soaking up the energy at this year’s World Expo. Prior to the event, Yvonne joined JapanCultureNYC for two Instagram Live tours—one at night, the other during the day—and gave us insightful tours.

On Zoom, Yvonne will share highlights, show photos, and answer your questions about what she’s learned so far. Curious about what Japan is showcasing to the world? Wondering how Osaka prepared for millions of visitors? Don’t miss this insightful and interactive session!

What to See

📺 Watch the first Zoom session on @JapanCulture-NYC’s YouTube channel
📌 Watch the recordings of our Instagram Lives on @JapanCultureNYC’s feed
📝 Read Yvonne’s blog posts from each visit at burtonconsulting.biz/blog
🔗 Connect with her on LinkedIn: Yvonne Burton

📧 Have questions for Yvonne? Email susan@japanculture-nyc.com or DM @JapanCultureNYC

Register in advance

🔗 Click here to register on Zoom

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 5/9/25 Susan McCormac 5/9/25

Dive into Expo 2025 with Yvonne Burton

Join JapanCulture•NYC for a special Zoom conversation with Yvonne Burton, founder of Burton Consulting International, reporting live from Osaka, where she’s been exploring Expo 2025!

Live from Osaka: A Conversation with Cross-Cultural Consultant Yvonne Burton on Expo 2025

Tuesday, May 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET | Wednesday, May 14 at 9:00 a.m. in Japan

Live on Zoom

Admission: Free (Registration Required)

Join JapanCulture•NYC for a special live Zoom conversation with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International, streaming in from Osaka, Japan, where she’s been exploring Expo 2025!

Yvonne has been on the ground, visiting pavilions, observing preparations, and soaking up the energy at this year’s World Expo. She previously joined JapanCultureNYC for two Instagram Live tours—one at night, the other during the day—to give us a tour.

Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International on the Ring at Expo 2025 in Osaka

📌 Watch the recordings of our Instagram Lives on @JapanCultureNYC’s feed
📝 Read Yvonne’s blog posts from each visit at burtonconsulting.biz/blog
🔗 Connect with her on LinkedIn: Yvonne Burton

📧 Have questions for Yvonne? Email susan@japanculture-nyc.com or DM @JapanCultureNYC

Register in advance:
🔗 Click here to register on Zoom

Susan McCormac 5/7/25 Susan McCormac 5/7/25

Japan Parade Returns to Celebrate NYC’s Friendship with Japan

Join thousands on the Upper West Side for the 4th annual Japan Parade and Street Fair on Saturday, May 10! Celebrate Japanese culture with taiko drumming, traditional dance, cosplay, Hello Kitty, and an appearance by Grand Marshal Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. With more than 110 groups marching and JAPAN Fes hosting a Japanese food and culture fair, this free event is one of NYC’s most vibrant celebrations of Japan.

Japan Parade

Saturday, May 10 from1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Parade Route: Central Park West from 81st to 67th Street

Street Fair: 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

Admission: Free

New York City’s celebration of Japanese culture takes over the Upper West Side this Saturday with the fourth annual Japan Parade and Street Fair. This vibrant event showcases the richness and diversity of Japanese culture and serves as a heartfelt "thank you" from the Japanese community to NYC.

Leading the Parade as Grand Marshal is none other than Chef Masaharu Morimoto, the Iron Chef whose culinary empire spans the globe. “I am deeply honored,” says Morimoto. “This role gives me a unique opportunity to celebrate and share the rich, dynamic culture of Japan with the heart of one of the world's most vibrant cities.”

Joining him is this year’s Community Leader, Koji Sato, President of The Japanese American Association of New York. News correspondent Sandra Endo, a former reporter and anchor at NY1, is serving as emcee once again.

Highlights

A major highlight this year is the live appearance by the cast of Attack on Titan: The Musical, the 2.5D stage adaptation of Hajime Isayama’s internationally beloved manga. Paradegoers can catch performers portraying fan favorites such as Levi, Hange Zoë, and Erwin Smith.

Pop culture fans can also look out for Sayaka Yamamoto, former captain of NMB48 turned solo singer-songwriter, and the always-adorable Hello Kitty, joined by My Melody and Kuromi, celebrating milestone anniversaries.

The Parade lineup features more than 110 groups and floats with more than 2,700 participants—the largest in the Parade’s four-year history. Expect lively performances from taiko drummers (Soh Daiko, COBU, Taiko Masala Dojo), yosakoi and folk dancers, gospel singers, and martial artists. Students from Japanese schools in New York and New Jersey will also march, along with Anime NYC cosplayers and a delegation from Toyama City, led by Mayor Hirohisa Fujii.

STREET FAIR

Before the Parade, explore the Japan Street Fair starting at 11:00 a.m. on 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Produced in collaboration with JAPAN Fes, the Street Fair will feature hands-on cultural activities like calligraphy and origami, tourist info booths, giveaways, and nearly 20 food stalls offering authentic Japanese eats.

ABOUT JAPAN DAY

Organized by Japan Day Inc., the nonprofit behind Japan Day @ Central Park, the Japan Parade and Street Fair continue to grow as one of NYC’s most spirited celebrations of Japanese culture.

Don't miss this joyful fusion of tradition, community, and creativity—right in the heart of Manhattan.

Susan McCormac 1/16/25 Susan McCormac 1/16/25

Plan a Journey to Japan

Plan Your Journey to Japan: Meet Experts at the New York Adventure Show

2025 New York Travel & Adventure Show

Saturday, January 25 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 26 from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Javits Center – 429 11th Avenue

Admission: $19.29 for one day | $28.08 for both days

The New York Travel & Adventure Show returns to Javits Center with more than 550 travel experts to help you plan your next vacation to anywhere in the world. If Japan is one of your desired destinations in 2025, you’ll want to take advantage of the Japanese-related travel organizations that will be at your disposal. Discover cities other than Tokyo and Kyoto to explore and learn the best insider tips to make your adventure to Japan the best it can be.

Whether it’s your first time or your 20th time, head to the Japan booths at the Travel & Adventure Show! To purchase tickets, please visit the Travel & Adventure Show’s website.

Participating Japan-Related Travel Organizations

Booth 214 – Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau
Booth 216 – HIS / Experts of Travel to Japan
Booth 301 – Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Booth 303 – Iwate, Japan
Booth 323 – Japan National Tourism Organization

Chindon-ya Performance

Saturday, January 25 from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, January 26 from 11:30 a.m. until Noon

Presented by Tokyo Tourism

BENTENYA, a Japanese professional female Chindon-ya, will perform at the Global Beats Stage on each day. A Chindon-ya is a type of street advertisement through which colorfully clothed bands march in parades and perform at matsuri. The bands play instruments such as taiko drums, bells, accordions, saxophones, and trumpets while toting sandwich boards advertising store openings and the like. Hailing from Aichi Prefecture, BENTENYA formed in 2008 and turned pro three years later, claiming first prize in the National Chindon Tournament in 2015 and 2016. They have performed their special brand of music internationally, including the Japan Expo in Paris in 2016 as well as the 2024 Japan Festival Houston.

Susan McCormac 9/12/23 Susan McCormac 9/12/23

MEET THE BREWERS

Soul of Sake "Meet the Brewers" x Accidental Bar

Sunday, September 17 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Accidental Bar – 98 Loisaida Avenue (Avenue C between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Admission: $68.96 (includes fees)

Join Miss Sake USA Jessica Joly-Crane and Accidental Bar owner Austin Power in celebrating some of their favorite sake brewers, breweries, and prefectures.

Joly-Crane brings her Soul of Sake series to Accidental Bar with brands represented by Sake Discoveries. Guests will have the opportunity to taste more than eleven different kinds of sake from different breweries all over Japan.

Chat with and learn from your favorite sake producers! Light bites will be served. Organizers are partnering with Tippsy Sake to provide a discount code to guests who want to purchase bottles of sake. To purchase tickets, please visit Sake Discoveries’s Eventbrite page.

Featured Producers

Nanbu Bijin "Southern Beauty" – Iwate
President: Kosuke Kuji

Niwa No Uguisu "Nightingale's Garden" – Fukuoka
President: Tetsuo Yamaguchi

Saga Sake Series – Saga
Koimari "Tropical"
Representative: Satoru Maeda

Mitsutake "Crisp"
President: Kunihiro Mitsutake

Amabuki – Saga
Representative: Wataru Hosokawa

Tengumai "Dancing Goblin" – Ishikawa
Representative: Ryosuke Kawamichi

About Sake Discoveries

Sake Discoveries is a New York-based PR company with more than twenty years of experience in the sake industry. Featuring one of the few female Sake Samurais, Chizuko Niikawa-Helton, and Jessica Joly-Crane, Sake Discoveries represents artisanal sake breweries from all over Japan. Having created a strong team of experts in promotion and influencer outreach, the organization spreads awareness about their clients through events, branding, and education. For more information, please visit their website.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Talk #2