Annual Japan-Related Events
Alabama Georgia North Carolina South Carolina
Alabama
- Japan-America Society of Alabama New Year’s Party/Open House (January)
- Tuscaloosa Sakura Festival (since 1986)
Month-long event celebrating Japanese culture throughout the city of Tuscaloosa. The highlight is the one-day “Matsuri in the Mall” event. http://sakura.ua.edu/ (March) - Sakura Festival at Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Annual event featuring tea ceremony, tours of the Japanese Gardens and the teahouse, Japanese dance demonstrations, flute and koto concerts, an ikebana exhibit, sword demonstrations, and more. http://www.bbgardens.org/ (March) - Daikin Festival (Decatur)
Every year, Decatur-based industry Daikin America hosts a community party in celebration of the company's Japanese heritage. The annual Daikin Festival is held in May at the Morgan County Fairgrounds and features live entertainment, hot-air balloon rides, Japanese cultural displays and art contest. (May) - Japanese Festival in Huntsville (since 1990) (May)
- Japan-America Society of Alabama Annual Dinner (May)
- Japan-America Society of Alabama Natsu Matsuri (July)
- JETRO/ JASA/ ADO/ Alagasco Business Seminar (October)
- SEUS-Japan Conference
The Japan-U.S. Southeast Association was established in December 1975 to promote trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and member states of the southeast U.S., Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In 2007, the State of Mississippi joined the Association. http://www.seus-japan.org/ (October)
Georgia
- Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia New Year’s Party (January)
- The Japan America Society of Georgia’s New Year’s Kick-Off Party (January)
- The Japan Academic Challenge and Japanese Speech Contest (March)
Held annually. Both events are organized by the JASG, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia (JCCG), the Georgia Association of Teachers of Japanese, and the Consulate General of Japan. Testing the students’ knowledge of Japanese culture, grammar and language, the Japan Academic Challenge is an annual quiz-show style competition where high school students compete. The Challenge is held throughout the Southeast and competition takes place on 4-different levels as students highlight their deep understanding of Japan. The Annual Japanese Speech Contest is also held on the same day as the Challenge for high school and college students. Each student prepares a memorized presentation entirely in Japanese competing for the grand prize of the competition. - Macon Cherry Blossom Festival (March)
10-day annual festival celebrating Macon’s 300,000 Yoshino Cherry Trees. - Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival (March)
The Cherry Blossom Festival originated as a way to encourage cultural understanding and friendship through international music, dance, games, food and crafts. The festival offers multiple stages for continuous entertainment, over 300 booths consisting of arts and crafts vendors, various children's activities and civic and nonprofit organizations. - Azalea International Folk Fair in Valdosta (March)
Annual festival that features a large Asian component. - Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia’s monthly golf game (April-December)
- Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia seminar (May)
- The Japan America Society of Georgia Annual Dinner (May)
Gives the membership an opportunity to gather as a whole and enjoy interesting keynote speakers and fascinating entertainers. The event usually garners nearly 250 attendees - made up of representatives from Japanese companies, Georgia companies doing business in Japan and the general membership. - Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia Educators to Japan Program Orientation (May)
Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia Educators to Japan Program Orientation
The IEJ Program invites educators of Japanese expatriate students to visit Japan to help foster a better understanding of the Japanese culture and its people. In 1975 this invitational program was started in Los Angeles by the Japanese Business Association of Southern California, and has spread to include sixteen cities in 5 countries; the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium. - Asian Cultural Experience in Atlanta (July)
Asian cultural festival featuring more than 1,500 volunteer participants representing 15 Asian countries. - Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC) in Fukuoka
Each year, a group of four elementary school students from Georgia - ages 10 to 11 years old are selected to be Junior Ambassadors. The kids travel to Fukuoka, Japan (Atlanta’s Sister City) for a cultural exchange program and participation in the APCC. The Japan America Society is the official liaison office between the APCC, the city of Fukuoka, and the State of Georgia, and is in charge of all pre-departure preparations for the Junior Ambassadors. - Columbus International Festival (August)
- JapanFest in Atlanta(September)
JapanFest is an annual celebration of Japanese culture. JapanFest will feature taiko drum concerts and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, cultural workshops including tea ceremony, kimono, and calligraphy, children's games, Japanese food and beer garden, bonsai trees, and contemporary and traditional music. JapanFest is organized by The Japan-America Society of Georgia and The Japanese Chamber of Commerce. - Anime Weekend Atlanta (September)
Largest anime convention in Georgia. AWA has a wide variety of events including video room showings of Japanese cartoons, a dealer's room with retailers who sell Japanese animation and manga related merchandise such as toys, videos, audio CD's and artwork, workshops, panel discussions on various topics including the current trends in Japan and how they will affect the United States, a costume contest where attendees dress up as their favorite anime or manga character, and scores of guests who have worked or currently are working in the industry. - SEUS-Japan Conference (October)
The Japan-U.S. Southeast Association was established in December 1975 to promote trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and member states of the southeast U.S., Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In 2007, the State of Mississippi joined the Association. - The Japan America Society of Georgia Bonenkai (December)
The year-end event has become a winter tradition to celebrate the holidays with a diverse representation of the Society’s members and community. The annual event promises an evening of celebration and entertainment with around 250 people in attendance. The crowd includes a mix of representatives from leading Japanese companies, as well as Georgia companies doing business in Japan.
North Carolina
- Nippon Club of the Triangle New Year's Party (January)
- Nippon Club of the Triangle Rice Pounding (January)
- Southeastern Japanese Speech Contest at Duke University(March)
- Nippon Club of the Triangle Kodomo no Hi (May)
- Nippon Club of the Triangle Summer Festival in Raleigh (July)
- Bon-odori in Charlotte (July):The largest Japanese Bon Festival east of the Rocky Mountains. Organized by the Japanese Association in Charlotte.
- SEUS-Japan Conference (October): The Japan-U.S. Southeast Association was established in December 1975 to promote trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and member states of the southeast U.S., Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In 2007, the State of Mississippi joined the Association.
South Carolina
- Japan America Association of South Carolina Annual New Year's Celebration (January)
- Japan America Association of South Carolina Golf Tournament (April)
- Greenville Bon Dance organized by Japan America Association of South Carolina (August)
- SEUS-Japan Conference (October)
The Japan-U.S. Southeast Association was established in December 1975 to promote trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and member states of the southeast U.S., Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In 2007, the State of Mississippi joined the Association. - Japan America Association of South Carolina Golf Tournament (October)
*Page updated July 2012
This directory was compiled by the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta with the support of The Japan-America Society of Alabama, The Japan-America Society of Georgia, The Japan-America Society of Charlotte, The North Carolina Japan Center, The Japan-America Society of Western South Carolina, and The Japan-Virginia Society. Specific listings have been gathered from information provided to the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta and from public information sources. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of listings, but we cannot guarantee that there will be no errors. The Consulate General of Japan takes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information listed in this resource directory, or for the conduct of organizations or businesses listed. Furthermore, links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.