Japanese culture celebrated at Arlington Park
Arlington International Racecourse lived up to the "international" part of its name Sunday when it hosted the 33rd annual Japan Day festival, the Midwest's showcase of Japanese culture.
The fest moved this year from its former home at the Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights to the racetrack, where it coincided with the 63rd running of the Hanshin Cup, a stakes race named in recognition of Arlington's ties to the Japan Racing Association.
Japan Fest featured Japanese food, art, music and dance, including performances of taiko (Japanese drums) and minyo (Japanese folk dance).
there also were historical displays, activities for children, marital arts exhibitions and musical performances.
The festival was sponsored by the Chicago Japanese Club, Chicago Sister Cities International-Osaka Committee, the Japan America Society of Chicago, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Chicago and the US-Japan Council, and was advised by the Consulate-General of Japan and JETRO Chicago.