Read Photo Gallery of 2026 Tucson Japanese Festival now from Blog for Arizona for Politics from a Liberal Viewpoint

Our Southern AZ Japanese Cultural Coalition (SAJCC) hosted its 10th festival on March 21, 2026 at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (TCCC), 1288 W. River Rd. We started up in January 2014 as a small New Year’s mochitsuki (mochi pounding) event at Yume Japanese Gardens (now part of Tucson Botanical Gardens). Then we kept growing larger (after we moved to Odaiko Sonora’s studio then to PCC Downtown), later in 2019 to the TCCC. We took a 3 year hiatus for the covid pandemic (2021, 2022 and 2023) then back to the Chinese center for the 5th time.

NEW this year were an authentic Shinto deity dancer Haruki Saito from Sado Island, Japan, and Kay Fukumoto founder of Maui Taiko from Hawaii.

By the way, one of the reporters this year asked me if I was of Japanese ethnicity. Yes, I am Sansei (3rd generation) from Hawaii, maiden name Sugiyama. Grandparents from the Empire of Japan were indentured servants on two sugar plantations, on Oahu and the Big Island.

Photos below taken by my husband Albrecht Classen, except for the ones credited to SAJCC Council member James Tokishi. About 2000 people attended this year.

Supa Lani Chan (aka Lani Villanueva) from Honolulu was once again the MC on the main stage

Mochi (rice) pounding once again by the Pimienta brothers and friends. They are using mallets (kine) to pound in the mortar (usu).

Haruki Saito from Niigata, Japan usually performs his deity oni dance on Sado Island. He is assisted on the right by Karen Falkenstrom of Odaiko Sonora

Odaiko Sonora on stage, with Founder Karen Falkenstrom in foreground on the left side on the large taiko drum. Photo courtesy of James Tokishi

Paul Amiel (2nd from right) and the Empty Bamboo Shakuhachi Circle performed inside the East dance studio

Wishing Crane Project from Phoenix taught origami folding in the main lobby. Tucson Origami Club members also folded in another room to the east.

In the library, the Sakura Tea Circle demonstrated Japanese green tea ceremonies

Suzuyuki Kai traditional dancer Vi Lageschulte performing on the main stage

New this year was Kay Fukumoto of Maui Taiko singing “Fukushima Ondo” song on stage, with bon dancers. Yours truly in orange cap clapping hands with Mari Kaneta of Suzuyuki Kai in blue kimono. Photo courtesy of James Tokishi

Paul Gattone on the left demonstrating sword play with Tucson Kendo Kai, which takes the stage every year

Lovely ikebana display by Ohara School of Ikebana in the front foyer, created by Arlene Watkins. This is a unique bird of paradise flower arrangement with palm fronds

Join us again next year in March for another springtime festival. Info will be online at our website, www.southernazjapan.org where I have been Editor from January 2013. As an SAJCC founding member, I’ve been publicity chair these 10 years and it’s been amazing to see the interest grow in Tucson for our Japanese culture and heritage.

Happy New Year of the Horse!