2026 Japanese Culture Day — Program

Japanese Cultural League of Jersey City

6th Annual
Japanese Culture Day Celebration

Friday, November 6, 2026 · 3:30 PM

Jersey City Council Chambers

280 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Free & Open to the Public

Join us for an afternoon of Japanese taiko, dance, and music, concluding with the raising of the Japanese flag alongside the American flag at City Hall.

PROGRAM

Taiko Drumming & Dance

“The Co-Pulse Effect”

Performed by COBU

Yako Miyamoto (Director), Kiko Nakadai,
Yamato Yonezawa & Frankie Isao Legarreta Iimuma

Opening Remarks

Shinako Sudo-Chassagne

Founder, Japanese Cultural League of Jersey City

Dance Performance

“Okame to Hyottoko”

Choreography: Misako Aoki

Performed by Feathers Dance Company

Tsubasa Nishioka & Yurie Ono

Meet Okame and Hyottoko, two familiar characters from Japanese folk performance. Their cheerful expressions and playful antics bring laughter and celebrate good fortune.

Welcome Remarks

Jersey City Municipal Council Members

Music Performance

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”

Composer: Ryuichi Sakamoto

Piano by Yukiko Tanaka

Special Guest Speaker

Makiko Ai

Deputy Consul General / Director, Japan Information Center
Consulate General of Japan in New York

Dance Performance

“Ninin-baori”

Choreography: Tsubasa Nishioka & Yurie Ono

Music: “Modern” by Yoshida Brothers

Performed by Feathers Dance Company

In the Japanese comedy tradition of Ninin-baori, two people share one coat: one supplies the face while the other supplies the arms, often with hilarious results. This dance takes inspiration from their shared movement and teamwork.

Finale

Flag Raising

The Japanese flag will be raised alongside the American flag at Jersey City City Hall.