5th Annual Japan Parade Details Announced....Iconic Manga Artist Acky Bright Will be Grand Marshal...May 9 Beginning at 1PM at CPW and 81st St.

Following the great success of the last four years, the 5th annual Japan Parade & Street Fair in New York City will be held on Saturday, May 9, beginning at 1pm. Starting on Central Park West at West 81st Street and traveling south to West 67th Street, the purpose of the parade is to celebrate, express, and bring awareness to the friendship between NYC and Japan with a thank you from the Japanese community.

Iconic manga artist and illustrator Acky Bright will be this year's Grand Marshal of the Japan Parade.

Known for his intricate line work and “kawakakkoii” (cute and cool) aesthetic, Acky Bright is an internationally acclaimed Japanese manga artist whose work has appeared in collaborations with McDonald's, Meta, Marvel, DC Comics, BMW, Lexus, and more. New York is one of Acky Bright's main activity hubs. His solo exhibition Acky Bright: Studio Infinity held at Japan Society in New York (2024–25) as well as his frequent guest appearances at Anime NYC and New York Comic Con, have helped build a strong connection with fans in New York.

Acky also designed Japan Parade's very first official mascot, inspired by the cultures of both New York and Japan. The design incorporates a variety of themes, including New York City's colors of orange and navy, the red and white of Japan, the iconic NYC apple, and the traditional Japanese happi coat.

There is currently a contest underway to choose the mascot's name, and those interested can enter the contest HERE. The Grand Prize Winner receives: one pair of 4-Day Tickets to Anime NYC 2026 (provided by Anime NYC), an autograph and illustration by mascot creator and Grand Marshal Acky Bright, and Official Japan Parade Mascot merchandise. The deadline to enter the contest is March 27.

“New York City has become like a second hometown to me,” says Acky Bright. “I am truly honored to design the official mascot and serve as Grand Marshal.”

Also announced for the Japan Parade is a performance from Jujutsu Kaisen The Stage – the wildly popular 2.5D stage play direct from Japan. Jujutsu Kaisen The Stage is a stage adaptation of the manga “JUJUTSU KAISEN” by Akutami Gege, depicting a battle between a curse born from negative human emotions and a sorcerer who exorcises the curse through sorcery. The original work began serialization in Shueisha's “Weekly Shonen Jump” magazine in March 2018 and had serialized for six and a half years and concluded in September 2024. 150 million copies have been sold (including digital editions) in the 30 volumes published. Jujutsu Kaisen The Stage (also known as “JUJUSte”) recreates the heated battle scenes of the original work through passionate performances by the cast.

Additional participating groups will be announced in the coming weeks.

Sandra Endo, news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News, and a feature reporter for Good Day LA, will again serve as Emcee of the parade, which she has done every year since the first year.

The very first Japan Parade & Street Fair was held in 2022. Actor, author, civil-rights activist, and influencer George Takei was the Grand Marshal for the inaugural parade, while Olympic Gold medalist and author Kristi Yamaguchi was the Grand Marshal for the Japan Parade in 2023, and wheelchair tennis star and four-time Paralympic Gold medalist Shingo Kunieda was Grand Marshal in 2024. Last year Iron Chef, restauranteur and author Masaharu Morimoto served as the 2025 Grand Marshal.

Over the last four years, the parade has had many memorable participants and performances by Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live, Live Spectacle “NARUTO,”  DEMON SLAYER - KIMETSU NO YAIBA - the stage, and Attack on Titan: The Musical as special guests from Japan, as well as taiko performers, bon-odori dance and kimono groups, karate and other martial arts groups, and many more.

Activists protesting against attacks targeting Asian citizens and anti-Asian rhetoric have also marched in the parade.

The Japan Street Fair will feature tents offering fun and educational cultural activities including calligraphy, yukata try-on, and photo opportunities. In collaboration with Festive Planet one of the largest organizers of Asian food festivals in the U.S. and the producer of large-scale fair events at conventions such as Anime NYC, the Street Fair will also feature more than 30 tents serving authentic Japanese cuisine. The latest information on Japan's many tourist destinations will be made available at several other tents, and as with last year, there will also be a tent where visitors may donate to a charitable cause. The Japan Street Fair is your chance to experience a Japanese festival, or matsuri, unlike any other.

The Japan Parade & Street Fair is affiliated with Japan Day @ Central Park, an annual event that has taken place in Central Park from 2007 until 2019.