Celebrate the friendship between Japan and the United States at the Japan–America Friendship Festival, part of the historic Newport–Shimoda Sister City relationship

The second Japan-America Friendship Festival takes over Touro Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, Japanese food and a family cosplay costume contest.

Admission is free and the event runs rain or shine.

The day is built around the Newport-Shimoda sister city relationship, and is produced by the Japan-America Society of Southern New England in partnership with the city and the Newport-Shimoda Sister City Commission. New this year is a history tent focused on local history and the two cities’ shared past.

Activities include calligraphy, origami, kimono photo stations and children’s crafts, along with artisan vendor booths.

Details are at jasne-janafa.org.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...