The 44th annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival took place in San Jose’s Japantown on Sunday.

Beginning with a procession by San Jose Taiko, the long-running festival featured other performances by organizations such as San Jose Chidori Band and Northern California Naginata Federation. Food trucks were selling shaved ice, udon noodles and other Japanese foods. The Japanese American Museum San Jose and San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club also had exhibits for people to look at.

The Nikkei Matsuri Festival has displayed Japanese American culture since 1978, which began with the City of San Jose’s 1977 Bicentennial Celebration.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Natalie Urata,5, of San Jose, hula dances with May Serrano, of Union City, during the annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival at Japantown in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, April 24, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Leilani W. ,2, of San Jose, dances in front of hula dancers at the annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival at Japantown in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, April 24, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: A person eats shaved ice during the annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival at Japantown in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, April 24, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Victoria Nguyen, of San Jose, sells pottery to a customer from her store Atiso Garden while vending during the annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival at Japantown in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, April 24, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: The annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival took place near San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in Japantown in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, April 24, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: May Serrano (left), of Union City, hula dances with Mika Yamatake (center), of San Jose, during the annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival at Japantown in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, April 24, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: People look at bonsai trees during the annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival at Japantown in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, April 24, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 

Source: www.mercurynews.com