Around My Town: Japanese Festival 2013

I live just north of the fourth largest city in the nation. What that means to me is plenty of opportunities to do a lot of cool stuff. Take last weekend for example. The 20th Japanese Festival occurred downtown in Hermann Park. This is a festival my family has attended nearly every year for about six or seven years. We absolutely love it! The best part? Entry is free. For a family of six, that’s just what we need.

I don’t remember how I first learned of the Japanese Festival. It’s put on every year by The Japan-American Society of Houston. This organization is dedicated to ” encourage mutual knowledge and understanding of Japan by Americans and of America by Japanese, and to encourage communication between the two countries.” (from their website) 

Every year they do a fantastic job of bringing together food, dance, martial arts, art, crafts, and various entertainment from Japan. We stuff ourselves full and buy things that don’t last the year. But that’s okay because we know we’ll just go back next year to buy more. One of my favorite aspects of the festival is the costumes worn by the attendees. If you like cosplay, anime, or anything to do with Japanese fashion (real or in the movies) then you would get an eye-full at the festival.

I was told this bookmark says “Missy”.
I would have had a better picture of my food if I had remembered to take one before chowing down. Sorry. The pork and curry over rice was just too yummy to resist.

One of the most popular items (aka longest lines) at the festival are these drinks with tapioca. Umm, not for me but the teens love them.

This year my girls surprised me by trying something new. A bun filled with sweet bean paste. I wasn’t adventurous enough to give it a taste. 




Fun for the whole family includes two long tents filled with children’s games. This is one the youngest plays every year. Especially since I wouldn’t let her try to win a goldfish again.



I take this photo every year and it never gets old. Hopefully she’ll still let me when she’s in her teens.




This year paper swans were added to the pond. I never got close enough for a better picture, but you get the idea.

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