Korean community unites at 7th Korea Festival in Tokyo

The Korean Association of Tokyo held a cultural festival in the Japanese capital to unite the Korean community there, drawing participants from children to seniors to experience and share Korean culture.

The association co-hosted the 7th Korea Festival — themed "Together into the Future" — at the Korean School of Tokyo in Shinjuku-ku on Tuesday.

Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event offered a range of family-friendly programs, including hands-on experiences with Korean traditional culture, cultural performances and kimchi-making activities.

The event placed particular emphasis on cooperation among Korean community organizations, with the association taking the lead and multiple diaspora groups joining in the preparations. Beyond introducing Korean culture, organizers aimed to create a space where Koreans living in Japan could meet one another and where the next generation could engage with Korean culture naturally.

Attendees could try their hand at traditional Korean games including jegi-chagi and yutnori, alongside a taekwondo performance. Cultural performances followed, giving participants a chance to experience both traditional and contemporary Korean culture.

A kimchi-making session let visitors prepare the iconic Korean dish themselves.

Two kilograms of kimchi specially brought in from South Korea were also sold on site, drawing considerable interest.

A prize raffle added to the festive atmosphere. Programs designed for children and families were woven throughout the day, allowing community members of all ages to mingle naturally across generations.

Kim Yeon-sik, chairman of the Korean Association of Tokyo, said the festival holds deep meaning for the community. "The Korea Festival is a precious occasion for Koreans living in Japan to come together across generational and organizational boundaries, and to pass on our culture and identity to the next generation," Kim said. "We will continue to strengthen cooperation among Korean organizations, engage with local Japanese society and work to help the Korean community grow together."

The event was co-organized by the Korean Association of Tokyo along with Sarang-ui Nanuum, the Tokyo chapter of the World Korean Business and Trade Association, the Korean Agricultural and Food Products Association in Japan, and the Korean Students' Association in Japan.

The breadth of participation drew attention in its own right — business leaders, international students and food industry representatives all took part, reflecting the wide-ranging network of Tokyo's Korean community.

Through the festival, the Korean Association of Tokyo worked to expand spaces for community members to connect with one another while also broadening points of contact between Korean culture and local Japanese society.

Now in its seventh year, the Korea Festival carried the theme "Together into the Future" — a message of unity within the Korean community and a commitment to connecting the next generation and the broader local society. With the association, long a central pillar of Tokyo's Korean community, joining hands with multiple diaspora organizations, the theme resonated throughout the day's events.