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Japan Fest

Sat, October 11th at 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Celebrate Japanese culture through art, performances, food, and more at Japan Fest, organized by NOMA, the Japan Club in New Orleans, and the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville. 

Sample Japanese cuisine, enjoy traditional dance groups, martial arts demonstrations, and tours throughout the day. Shop a variety of vendors offering unique goods in a festive atmosphere. Costumes are welcome, please see costume guidelines below.

Please note: The expansion of the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is not included in the Japan Fest festivities but will be open to the general public. 

Tickets for Japan Fest are $10 General Admission, $5 for NOMA members, and free for attendees 19 years old and under

Purchase Tickets

Pre-purchasing Japan Fest tickets online is strongly recommended. Tickets are also available for purchase at the admissions desk in the Great Hall, as well as in front of the main gate of the Besthoff Sculpture Garden.


Festival Schedule

All Day Activities

Play Go with Crane’s Nest Go Club (Samuel H. Kress Galleries, first floor)

Buddha Board demonstration (NOMA Museum Shop, first floor)

Samurai Suit Fitting with Japan Society of New Orleans (Second floor elevator lobby)

Schedule of Events

Start Time

Event and Location

10:00 am

  • Kaminari Taiko of Houston drum performance (Portico, front of museum)
  • Open Origami (Art Studio, second floor)

10:30 am

  • Baton Rouge Eishin-Ryu Iaido Swordsmanship Demonstration (Sculpture Garden, Oak Grove stage)
  • Minyo Dance Group Performance (Lapis Center for the Arts, first floor)

11:00 am

  • New Orleans Kendo Club demonstration (Sculpture Garden, Oak Grove)
  • Youth Japanese language workshop (Art Studio, second floor)
  • Intro to Zazen Meditation with New Orleans Zen Temple (second floor hallway)
  • Gallery tour (Kurt A. Gitter, M.D. and Alice Yelen Gitter Gallery, third floor)

11:30 am

  • Japan Fest Welcome and Opening Remarks (Portico stage, front of museum)
  • Candy5 demonstration (Lapis Center for the Arts, first floor)
  • “Intro to Go: The Game Japan Revolutionized for 1300 Years” workshop (Samuel H. Kress Galleries, first floor)
  • Teen Japanese language workshop (Art Studio, second floor)

12:00 pm

  • J-pop Kaigai Idol Showcase (Sculpture Garden, Oak Grove)
  • Open Origami (Art Studio, second floor)
  • Youth-focused Gallery Tour (Kurt A. Gitter, M.D. and Alice Yelen Gitter Gallery, third floor)

12:30 pm

  • Kaminari Taiko of Houston drum performance (Portico, front of museum)

1:00 pm

  • Japanese Weekend School (Portico, front of museum)
  • LA Karate Association Shotokan Karate workshop & demonstration (Sculpture Garden, Oak Grove stage)
  • Miki Fuji band performance (Lapis Center for the Arts, first floor)
  • Gallery tour (Kurt A. Gitter, M.D. and Alice Yelen Gitter Gallery, third floor)

1:30 pm

  • Adult Japanese language workshop (Art Studio, second floor)

2:00 pm

  • New Orleans Rufflebutts Fashion Show (Portico, front of museum)
  • Aikido of New Orleans and NOLA Aikido workshop and demonstration (Sculpture Garden, Oak Grove)
  • “Intro to Go: The Game Japan Revolutionized for 1300 Years” workshop (Samuel H. Kress Galleries, first floor)
  • Youth-focused Gallery Tour (Kurt A. Gitter, M.D. and Alice Yelen Gitter Gallery, third floor)

2:30 pm

  • Cosplay Costume Contest (Portico, front of museum)
  • Zen Temple closing ceremony (Lapis Center for the Arts, first floor)
  • Taiko Drumming workshop (Art Studio, second floor)

3:00 pm

  • Gallery tour (Kurt A. Gitter, M.D. and Alice Yelen Gitter Gallery, third floor)
  • Japan America Society of North West Florida Folk Dance performance (Lapis Center for the Arts, first floor)

3:30 pm

  • Kaminari Taiko of Houston drum performance (Portico, front of museum)

4:00 pm

  • End of Japan Fest, museum closed

 

Participants

  • Please note: some vendors for Japan Fest accept cash only. Cash is recommended for making purchases at the festival.

Food Vendors

Ajun Cajun
Oni 225
Nori Guys 
Violet Sprinkles
EM’s Bakery
Nola Cane Juice & More
Candy5 Traditional Candy Art
Observatory 11
Café NOMA

Merchandise Vendors

Kawaii NOLA
Showtime Sweeti
NOLA Kimekomi
SofinaCo
Minty Mix
TwootieTarte
Shiratori’s Cove
B.sweetLA
Madame Butterfly Nagasaki
Donn Davis
Art by Artemis Solas
NOLA Rufflebuts
Shattered Rose Jewelry
Japanese Weekend School

Performers, Tours, and Workshop Hosts

Aikido of New Orleans and NOLA Aikido
Louisiana Karate Association
Minoyo Dance Group
Japan America Society of NW Florida Folk Dance
Japanese Weekend School of New Orleans
Kaminari Taiko of Houston
Kaigai Idol Showcase
Japanese Fashion Club (NOLA RuffleButts Costume Contest & Fashion Show)
Japanese Language Workshop
New Orleans Taiko Drum Workshop
Gitter Gallery of Japanese Art tours
Candy5 Traditional Candy Art
New Orleans Zen Temple

Tablers

Japan Club of New Orleans
Japan Society of New Orleans
Japanese Consulate of Nashville
APAS (Asian Pacific American Society)
Just Another Con
Cranes Nest GO Club
Aikido of New Orleans and NOLA Aikido
Louisiana Karate Association
Jefferson Parish Library Anime Club

COSTUME GUIDELINES

For the safety and comfort of all guests, as well as the artwork at NOMA:

  • Costume masks that obstruct or cover the wearer’s face are prohibited. Face masks covering the nose and mouth for health reasons are welcomed but not required.
  • Accessories or toy weapons, such as swords, greater than 2 feet in length are not permitted.
  • No sharp objects are allowed.
  • Costume components cannot extend more than 2 feet in length from the body.
  • Please keep all costumes family friendly.

Other restrictions may apply at NOMA’s discretion. A check room will be available for any items not in compliance. For questions regarding costumes, please call 504.658.4100. Please note that admission is required for fashion show participants.


Sponsors

Cornerstone Chemical Company, LLC
Gray Construction
UBE C1 Chemicals America, Inc.
Consulate General of Japan Nashville
Japan Foundation of New York
Japan Society of New Orleans
Japan Club of New Orleans
Denka Performance Elastomers
Zen Noh Grain Corporation
CGB Enterprises
Observatory 11
SMBC Bank

Details

Date:
Sat, October 11th
Time:
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Event Categories:
, , , , ,

Venue

New Orleans Museum of Art
1 Collins Diboll Circle
New Orleans, LA,70119
+ Google Map
Phone
504.658.4100