(Photo provided by: Greater Kansas City Japan Festival)

Cavs, prepare yourselves for JCCC’s biggest on-campus event of the year, the Greater Kansas City Japan Festival. Many of you may be regular attendees of this exciting event, while others may be hearing about it for the first time. If that is the case, you are in for a treat, as it occurs only once a year, and is certainly worth going to at least once during your time at JCCC.

So, what is this event all about? Japan Fest is put together by the Heart of America Japan-America Society (HAJAS), and has been happening in Kansas City since 1997, “to further the understanding between the peoples of Japan and the Greater Kansas City area by promoting social, cultural, and educational exchanges.” JCCC has been hosting the event since 2004, making this the 20 year anniversary of Japan Fest on our beautiful campus.

“The festival usually attracts about 4,000-5,000 people. I think this is partly due to its longevity as a festival and a staple in the community,” Andrea Thimesch, Festival Assistant Director and Librarian at JCCC said. “We really try to showcase local businesses, Japanese restaurants, Martial Arts Schools, Museum Curators, Taiko Performers, and local artists, among many others. The Greater Kansas City Japan Festival is as much about showcasing the amazing cultural opportunities Kansas City has to offer all in one place.”

It comes as no surprise that an event of this statute takes copious amounts of time and effort to plan; about 8-9 months, to be exact. It even begins two weeks after the last festival, according to Thimesch.

Every year, there is a new theme for the event, and this year’s theme is Masks and Myths. The theme goes along with the stamp passport activity that is open to anyone looking for a fun “side quest” to go do as they explore the endless activities all over campus.

“The masks chosen for the stamps each have a cultural significance. There will be eight to track down this year: Oni, Okame, Tengu, Samurai (or a Menpo), Hyottoko, Kitsune, Kabuki, and Kappa,” Thimesch said.

The locations for the stamps are under tight lock until the day of the festival, but you can count on them being in different areas than last year, in order to keep things fresh, and who doesn’t like a challenge? But, what is the point of collecting these stamps?

“There will be the opportunity for those who complete the stamp passport to put their name for prizes,” Thimesch said. “Among those prizes one can enter their name into after completing the stamp passport: A Lego Japanese Maple Tree Kit, A Festival T-shirt, A festival tote bag, two tickets for next year, a festival enamel pin, a Yokai Sticker set, and some generous donations of gift cards and gift certificates from our partnering Japanese Restaurants.”

Enticing indeed.

There are a plethora of exciting activities to keep you busy and engaged while you look around for stamps, including, but not limited to: performances by the Three Trails Taiko (drummers), Himawari Choir, and other singers. For all you academics out there, there will also be lectures and classes on a variety of topics, such as Japanese Calligraphy, Garden Design, Bonsai, and Japanese Language, to name a few. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to break open your wallet, there will be plenty of vendors set up in Capitol Federal 101. You can expect to see Aki Clothing, Magical Mews, Astrawitch, and Planet Anime.

Some new additions to the festival this year will be the showing of JCCC student-made films in the Hudson Auditorium at the Nerman Museum. The Japanese electronics company, Panasonic, will also be making an appearance at the festival this year. Interested students can speak to representatives at their dedicated table.

Of course, no cultural festival is complete without food. KC Craft Ramen, a local favorite in Overland Park, will be set up in the food court, as well as Jinya, another excellent ramen bar in Overland Park. There is also the option to grab food from the regular JCCC food court. Either way, filling your belly will be no problem.

“This festival is a great way to meet and connect with people who share the same interests as you,” Thimesch said. “I hope the people attending feel the same way.”

JCCC’s 20th annual Greater Kansas City Japan Festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.. Be sure to get your tickets soon, either in-person at the Midwest Trust Center, or online at https://www.jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events/2025-2026/japan-festival.html.

See you there!