ST. LOUIS – The Japanese Festival is back at the Missouri Botanical Garden, celebrating its 48th year as one of the oldest and largest cultural festivals in the country.
Thousands of people came out over Labor Day weekend to enjoy authentic food, music, dance, and sumo wrestling demonstrations.
Highlights included a performance from Bentenya, an all-girl group from Nagoya, along with Ikebana flower arranging, bonsai trees, and traditional wagashi sweets inside the Bayer Center.
Attendees said they were excited about the cultural atmosphere, traditional outfits, and live demonstrations.
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The Japan American Society Women’s Association (JASWA) also continued its longtime role in the event, selling donated items and giving back through charitable and cultural exchange donations.
Organizers say the festival reflects St. Louis’ spirit of inclusivity, connecting cultures and communities through shared experiences.
The festival runs through Labor Day, with performances scheduled each day. Official attendance numbers have not yet been released.
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