Celebrate the beauty of the full moon and the hope for a bountiful harvest with Japan-America Society of Dallas Fort Worth (JASDFW)!
Event Details
6:00pm to 10:00pm.
Haggard Park
901 E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074
Admission is Free!
Reserve your free tickets today for a chance to win exciting prizes!
and receive updates on performance and demonstration schedule
Throughout the festival, you’ll experience:
- Taiko drum performances
- Sumo wrestling demonstration
- Live musical performances
- Martial arts demonstrations
- Free children’s Japanese games
- Cultural workshops and exhibits
- Japanese anime presentations
- A food pavilion featuring authentic Japanese and Asian cuisine
- Shops featuring Japanese goods and crafts
6:00 – 6:45 PM Reception (Sponsors & Special Guests)
Silent Auction & Networking
6:45 – 7:30 PM General Admission, Silent Auction & Networking
7:00 – 7:30 PM Governor’s Reception Meet & Greet (By Invitation)
7:30 – 9:30 PM Dinner & Awards Program
Interested in becoming a Volunteer?
2026 Sun & Star Legacy Award Recipient
What is Otuskumi?
The Japanese Otsukimi Festival, literally meaning “moon-viewing”, celebrates the Harvest Moon that typically falls on the 5th day of the eighth month of the traditional Japanese calendar. In 2026, Otsukimi falls on Saturday September 26. It is said that the Otsukimi moon-viewing custom was first introduced to Japan by China, during the Heian period. The celebration is culturally important across East and Southeast Asia, where festivities often include outdoor evening picnics, seasonal cuisine, and giving thanks for the bountiful harvest of the year. In Japan, the most important imagery and objects associated with Otsukimi is rabbits pounding mochi on the full moon!
Make your own rabbit ear headgear at 2026 Otsukimi.
2026 Sun & Star Bridges to Friendship Award Recipient
Legend of "Moon Rabbit”
Presenters
HONORARY AWARD PRESENTER
Tetsuo “Ted” Ogawa
PRESENTER
EMILY
PRESENTER
CONSUL
Why Attend
This is more than a gala—it is an evening of impact, influence, and international connection.
Celebrate one of the most influential partnerships shaping global commerce and diplomacy
Celebrate one of the most influential partnerships shaping global commerce and diplomacy
Honor visionary leadership that bridges Japan and Texas and Connect with executives, and cultural leaders
Honor visionary leadership that bridges Japan and Texas and Connect with executives, and cultural leaders
Support JASDFW’s mission to advance U.S.–Japan understanding and collaboration
Support JASDFW’s mission to advance U.S.–Japan understanding and collaboration
Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities
Dallas - Sendai International Friendship Cities
Dallas and Sendai, Japan officially became International Friendship Cities in 1997, signed by Mayor Ron Kirk and Mayor Hajimu Fujii. Since then, the partnership has grown through Dallas runner participation in the Sendai International Half-Marathon, Sendai runners joining the Dallas Marathon, the Dallas–Sendai Young Ambassadors Program, and many delegation exchanges. Over the years, hundreds of students, runners, and city representatives have traveled between the two cities, strengthening a lasting bond of friendship.
The depth of this relationship became especially clear following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11, 2011. In response to the devastation in Sendai, residents across North Texas generously contributed over $186,000 to support the city’s recovery efforts, demonstrating the compassion and solidarity that characterize this enduring connection.
Mochitsuki New Year’s Celebration
Partner with us as a sponsor of the Mochitsuki New Year’s Celebration, a vibrant and community-centered cultural event that brings the rich traditions of Japanese New Year to life for families and individuals throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Bonenkai Forget-the-Year Party
Sponsoring this event offers your organization a prominent platform to connect with community leaders, business professionals, and cultural advocates while aligning your brand with cross-cultural celebration, active community involvement, and international friendship. Join us in making this memorable evening possible and in celebrating both the past year’s achievements and the promise of what’s to come!
