First-Ever Japanese Parade In NYC: UWS Route, Time, Acts, Weather

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — It is not often you can experience the first of something in New York City, but that is exactly what you can do this weekend for the first-ever official Japanese Parade in the Big Apple.

The Japanese Parade will take place on May 14 in unison with the Japan Day Festival, which has taken place annually in Central Park since 2007.

The first rendition of the parade was originally supposed to happen in 2020 to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the first Japanese delegates' visit to the United State, as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but it was pushed back due to the COVID pandemic.

The purpose of the first-time parade this year is to "celebrate, express and bring awareness to the friendship between NYC and Japan."

This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the Japanese mission to the United States led by Ambassador Iwakura Tomoni, as well as the United States' introduction of baseball to Japan.

Here's what to know about the Upper West Side parade on Saturday:

Time/Route

Start Time: 1 p.m.

Route: The procession will start on Central Park West and 81st Street and head south until 68th Street

Festival: Once the parade makes it to its endpoint, a street fair will happen on 67th Street between Columbus and Central Park West until 4:30 p.m.

Acts

Performances at the parade and street fair will include Columbia University's Gagaku Instrumental Ensemble of New York, the Japanese Taiko drum and dance company COBU, the Kazanami - Yosakoi Dance Project, the Japanese Folk Dance Insitute, and the Young People's Chorus of NYC.

Weather

Current forecasts don't expect Saturday to be clear skies, but the rain threat for the weekend has subsided.

The high will be around 70 degrees with a low of 61 degrees, and a stray shower or thunderstorm is possible, but unlikely, according to weather.com.

There will be morning fog, then a cloudy afternoon with light wind, weather.com adds.

Accuweather says there might be an hour of light rain later in the day.

Street Closures

Formation:
Central Park West between West 86th Street and West 84th Street
West 85th Street West 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

Route:
Central Park West between West 86th Street and West 66th Street
West 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

Dispersal:
Central Park West between West 68th Street and West 69th Street
West 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
West 68th Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway
West 69th Street between Central Park West and Broadway

Miscellaneous:
West 72nd Street and West 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

Festival:
West 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue