The third Japan Parade, aimed at promoting Japanese culture, was held in New York City's Manhattan on Saturday.
About 100 groups, including a delegation from the city of Yamaguchi, which was selected for The New York Times' list of "52 places to go in 2024," took part in the event. Tens of thousands of people gathered along the street where they were able to enjoy traditional Japanese culture and food.
The previous Japan Parade was held last year.
Yamaguchi Mayor Kazuki Ito dressed up in a costume from the Yamaguchi Gion festival, which has a history dating back approximately 600 years. Additionally, performances at the event included Hanagasa Ondo folk songs from Yamagata Prefecture, as well as enactments from the stage adaptation of the popular manga series "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba."
Former star wheelchair tennis player Shingo Kunieda from Japan also participated in the event, acknowledging the cheers of people lining the road.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the parade, mayor Ito said, "I want to convey the taste of 'the Kyoto in the West.'" Yamaguchi, located west of Kyoto, is said to be modeled after Japan's old capital of Kyoto and is often called the Kyoto of the West.
Visitors to the event could also enjoy Japanese food such as takoyaki (octopus dumplings) and grilled scallops from Hokkaido.