New York – September 28, 2026: To commemorate this year’s UN General Assembly week, a special event titled “Japan-U.S. Tourism and Culinary Night” was held on September 22, 2026 by the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), in partnership with the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), at Gotham Hall in New York. The event welcomed more than 200 media, travel advisors and travel and food industry stakeholders, alongside visiting Japanese dignitaries, to celebrate the Japan-USA Tourism Campaign 2026, which promotes reciprocal tourism between the two countries. The celebration featured local cuisine and sake from throughout Japan, interactive experiences and renowned, 13th-generation Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō XIII as a special guest.
The event opened with Ichikawa Danjūrō’s performance of Sanbaso, a traditional dance that is considered one of the most important works in Kabuki theater. Sanbaso has long been cherished as a celebratory dance of prayer to encourage abundant harvests, peace and prosperity and the happiness of the nation, expressing the wish for further expansion of the two-way exchanges for the Japan-USA Tourism Campaign 2026.
The performance was followed by opening remarks from the Commissioner of JTA, as well as further words from Japan’s Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Afterwards, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed guests via a video message that included the following remarks: “I would like to extend my congratulations on the 250th anniversary of the United States of America this year. In this historic year, I look forward to further deepening bilateral exchanges between Japan and the United States.”
Chef Nobuhiko Fukuda introduced the menu of the evening, which included dishes made with non-gluten rice flour, along with sake by Sake Samurai Timothy Sullivan and specialty cocktails from Takuma Watanabe. Ichikawa Danjūrō then led a sake toast to begin the festivities. Exhibitors from across Japan, including GREEN×EXPO 2027, Nara Visitors Bureau and JR KYUSHU RAILWAY COMPANY, hosted booths that promoted local attractions and shared the latest travel information from their regions and companies.
For more information about travel to Japan, please visit: https://www.japan.travel/en/us.
ABOUT JAPAN NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION (JNTO)
As the official tourism board, JNTO seeks to inspire international travelers to visit Japan. Focusing on sustainability, diversity and preservation of its history and culture, JNTO encourages travelers to explore the country while supporting local businesses, learning about indigenous cultures, and helping conserve its natural sites.
For more information about travel to Japan, visit https://www.japan.travel/en/us or the JNTO pages on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube. To contact the New York office of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) directly, please e-mail jntonyc_press@jnto.go.jp. To contact the Los Angeles office of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) directly, please e-mail infolax@jnto.go.jp.
