The 39th Annual Arizona Matsuri
2023/3/7
Over the weekend of February 25th and 26th, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles participated in the 39th Annual Arizona Matsuri. The event was held in Phoenix’s Steele Indian School Park. The Consulate’s Japan Information and Culture Center held a booth during the festival, promoting awareness of Japanese government-organized programs. Visitors to the booth were welcomed to complimentary pamphlets of the JET Program and study abroad opportunities, as well as travel brochures, and many issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ very own magazine, “Niponica”. To highlight Phoenix’s sister city agreement with the City of Himeji in Japan, travel brochures provided by the city were distributed to visitors free of charge.
Consul General Sone attended the first day of the festival, delivering congratulatory remarks during the opening ceremony and deepening his partnership with Mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego and Arizona Matsuri organizers.
This year, the festival returned in-person for the first time since 2019. The festival saw a crowd of over 50,000 people, and 80 different booths, the most vendors in its history!
Consul General Sone attended the first day of the festival, delivering congratulatory remarks during the opening ceremony and deepening his partnership with Mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego and Arizona Matsuri organizers.
This year, the festival returned in-person for the first time since 2019. The festival saw a crowd of over 50,000 people, and 80 different booths, the most vendors in its history!
 Opening Parade |
 Opening Ceremony |
 Consul General Sone |
 Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego (right side) |
 Tea Ceremony by Urasenke Tankokai |
 Consulate Booth |
 Festivalgoers |
 Festivalgoers |