Archive 2014

Our past events

MAY 11TH, 2014 (SUN)

JAPAN DAY INC.

JAPAN DAY FESTIVAL

9:30AM – 4:00PM
Central Park’s Bandshell Area

RUN

4-mile Run 8:00AM,
Kids Race 9:30AM

Starting Point: Central Park East Drive 68th Street

PRESIDENT

Koichi Noda
Managing Director, CEO Americas Division Sumitomo Mistui Banking Corporation

SPECIAL PROJECT

“Fortune Cookie In Love” New York Ver.

As this year’s special project, Japan Day @ Central Park created a New York version of the hit Japanese music video “Fortune Cookie in Love” by AKB48, a popular Japanese girls’ group. Since the song came out last August in Japan, it has sparked a national craze, with people filming their own versions of the song and posting them to YouTube. Japanese companies, towns, and cities have made their own videos for this song. The song’s popularity has spread worldwide, with fans in England, Australia, and Singapore filming their own covers.

Our version – “Fortune Cookie in Love” NY Version partakes of a joyous, global song and dance celebration, while also happily serving the missions of Japan Day: facilitating stronger grassroots connections within the local Japanese community and introducing New Yorkers to the wonder and diversity of Japanese culture.

We shot this video at various NYC landmarks, with the help of volunteers who wanted to be part of the project. We also asked many companies and organizations to film their own clips, and we are delighted they all submitted lively footage. Moreover, thousands of New Yorkers joined us on the day of the event (May 11th, 2014) to dance together and show true genki spirit!

Our special guests Jero, Senri Oe and Sonim made special appearances in the video as well! Also, check out the special scene incorporating a giant LED screen, “Toshiba Vision,” at Times Square!

Art contest

Winner

MICHIKO NOZU

Amon Award

MATTHEW RUEGER

Honorable Mention

MICHELLE DELECKI

Honorable Mention

LEAH HARPER

Honorable Mention

KIE KATO

Honorable Mention

AARON PORTER

Honorable Mention

RACHEL MARIKO SANDLER

Honorable Mention

LAURA SORIA

GUEST JUROR: Amon Miyamoto

This year, Director Amon Miyamoto, who is widely known in Japan and worldwide, is joined Japan Day Art Contest as our special guest juror. A special “Amon Miyamoto Award” was given to one of the entries.

“Japan has now been chosen to host the Olympic Games in 2020, which means that Japan will be even more deeply involved with the rest of the world. I am looking forward to seeing cool artwork that gives us a sense of a hopeful future, and that conveys a sense of contemporary Japan, while reflecting the influence of New York, which is such a sacred ground of arts!”