I have to thank a friend for reminding me that the last Sunday of May is not just Mother's Day in France, it is also when the Japanese community in and around New York shares its food, culture and traditions with the rest of us.
On May 31, it's Japan Day 2009 in Central Park's East Meadow.
It starts with Japan Run at 8am which I think has closed its registration at this time.
The festival proper kicks off at 10 AM with free food samplings offered from 11 AM on…
Plenty of entertainment from the Chin Don band Zakuro with special guest Joey Morant (between 10 am and 12pm) to J Pop by Orange Pekoe (2.30 to 4.45pm).
I learned from the program that Chin Don bands go back to the EDO period (19th century) and originally were used for advertising and marketing purposes.
For each edition, Japan Day showcases a visual artist, Keisuke Takahashi in 2009, visual director for Nibroll.
A free event for our Consumed to Thrifty times…
And if you cannot make it to Japan Day, you can always read one of my 89 Tokyo Thursdays stories.