Experience Japanese culture at the 29th annual Japanese Fall Festival in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Starting Friday night and throughout the weekend you can experience Japanese culture through performances and activities right in Springfield.

Through Sister Cities International and Springfield Sister Cities, Springfield has two cities it shares close ties to—Tlaquepaque, Mexico, and Isesaki, Japan.

Delegates from Isesaki and Japanese cultural groups from around the U.S. will gather at the Springfield Botanical Gardens Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden to showcase origami lessons, archery lessons, kimono try-ons, performances, and more.

“I would for sure visit the culture tent and visit the delegates that are there,” said Springfield Sister Cities executive director Lisa Bakerink. “Make sure you take in the stage performances because there’s a great variety of things. They come and share culture and want to meet Springfield people because that relationship means so much, and yeah, it goes both ways for sure.”

By bringing this showcase of Japanese life to Springfield, leaders are hoping to expand the worldview of the people here and teach them that there is so much to see across the globe.

“I am just so proud of the people that established Springfield Sister Cities,” Bakerink said, “because they really had a great vision for not only cultural understanding of peace through people, but the opportunity to make friendships with people from other countries halfway around the world. Those kinds of things make the quality of life better here in Springfield. We all benefit from having international connections and international opportunities.”

And in a time when international travel to the U.S. is facing a decline, getting to experience worldly cultures is something you shouldn’t take for granted.

“Governments can make things so divisive, and we exist to provide unity within diversity,” she said. “We truly wholeheartedly believe that if you understand culture and you understand people you have an opportunity to get to know them, have a meal with them, talk to them, learn from them, there will be peace through people. That’s ultimately our vision is to create opportunities where people can do that and live in peace together.”

The festival starts September 5 at 5 p.m. and continues Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. Tickets are available at the gate only for $9 on Friday and Sunday, $14 on Saturday, and $4 for kids ages 3-12 every day.

There will be no left turns allowed into the parking lot, and because of the Sunshine Street bridge closure, you may need to take a detour. A map can be found here.

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