Marching Forward: Japanese American Association of New York’s mission to celebrate culture and…

Marching Forward: Japanese American Association of New York’s mission to celebrate culture and empower generations

Over more than a century, the Japanese American Association of New York (JAANY) has grown into a cornerstone for Japanese and Japanese American residents in the New York area. It offers community services, promotes cultural exchange, and strives to educate the public about Japanese American history. One of its flagship events is the annual Japan Parade, which draws tens of thousands of spectators along Central Park West.

“Our Grand Marshal this year is Masaharu Morimoto, who is the Iron Chef. And I’ve been selected this year as the 2025 Parade Community Leader. The NYPD estimated there were like 50,000 people watching the parade. It’s getting bigger and bigger every year,” said JAANY president Koji Sato proudly as he continued to share with Peatix CEO Taku Harada on how the association supports the Japanese American community to this day.

Sato, born in New York in 1959, is a second-generation Japanese American whose family legacy runs deep within JAANY. “We’re the first father and son presidents,” he shared. His father, who immigrated in the 1950s, was president in 1989 and 1990. A particularly nostalgic memory involves Chef Morimoto, the parade’s 2025 Grand Marshal: “There’s a picture of my father presenting something to him during the JA baseball tournament… 35 years later, I’ll be marching with Chef Morimoto at the parade.”

Efforts to engage the next generation have been reinvigorated with the revival of the Young Professionals Committee, made up of individuals under 40. “They started a committee, and now they are putting on events regularly,” he said. These events often partner with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce’s youth division, creating cross-networking opportunities and encouraging cultural pride among younger Japanese Americans.

The rise of Japanese pop culture in the U.S. has amplified JAANY’s outreach. What once was a niche is now everywhere: ramen shops, anime expos, and Japanese musicians are thriving. “When I was growing up, people didn’t know about sushi. They’d say, ‘Raw fish? You’re eating raw fish?’” he recalled. “Japanese food is so popular. You have ramen shops all over… We had Anime NYC in August, and JA also had a booth there.” The association is capitalizing on this momentum to connect with younger audiences and bring Japanese culture into the mainstream.

Alongside the Japan Parade on May 10 is a bustling street fair on 72nd Street and new partnerships with other major organizations. During Memorial Day weekend, JAANY will co-host Japanese Community Night with groups like the Japan Society, US-Japan Council, and the Japanese American National Museum, coinciding with Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers’ visit to New York. “We are selling tickets like crazy,” he said, excited about the turnout and the visibility such events bring to Japanese culture.

JAANY also supports the arts. The 22nd Annual Art Exhibition of Japanese and Japanese American Artists will take place in April, featuring speeches by Ambassador Mikio Mori and proceeds benefiting the organization. “Any art that’s sold, half comes to JA,” Sato explained. A more solemn tradition is the annual Memorial Day cemetery visit to the original burial site in Queens, where community members clean and honor those who came before.

Sato also serves on the board of the Japanese American National Museum. “About two-thirds of those people incarcerated [during WWII] were U.S. citizens,” he said, referring to the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans. “That’s something that we’re trying to teach the younger generation… one of the darker phases in American history.” This commitment to historical education is central to both organizations’ goals.

One of JAANY’s proudest initiatives is its scholarship program. The upcoming 55th Annual Scholarship Dinner will award $100,000 to 14 high school seniors of Japanese descent from the tri-state area. “The first prize winner gets a $12,000 scholarship award, plus a round-trip ticket to Japan,” he said. Graduate students involved in U.S.–Japan relations can also apply for a share of $35,000 in scholarships, broadening JAANY’s impact on future leaders.

“As a Japanese national who grew up here, I’m really excited to see all these things blossoming right now,” he concluded. From community picnics to art showcases, scholarships to sports partnerships, JAANY is embracing both its historical roots and a dynamic, inclusive future. “One of our goals is to have more people exposed to Japanese culture in the United States.” In a city as diverse as New York, JAANY stands as a vibrant reminder of what community, continuity, and cultural pride can achieve.