Halloween in Japantown + Skate Day!
This year, San Jose Taiko is partnering with the Japanese American Museum of San Jose to add “Skate Day” to our usual festivities with extended hours, skateboarding activities, and a special skate demonstration by Judi Oyama.
Participating Japantown partners
Thank you to the following Japantown businesses and organizations for participating in Halloween in Japantown this year. Please visit these folks for treats and/or a family fun activity:
Bad Witch Crystals - 1st Halloween in Jtown!
Book Giveaway
Classic Loot
The Curl Consultant
Empire Seven Studios
Fur Baby Fancy Grooming - 1st Halloween in Jtown!
The Get Down Dance Studios
"Golden Row"
Minasan SJ
JAMsj
Japantown Business Assoc
Japantown Lions Club
Japantown Prepared
Kaita Restaurant
Knit Knots of Roy’s Station
Know Future
Kogura Gifts
Lotus Preschool
Minasan SJ
Minato Japanese Restaurant
Mister + Mrs.
MOMENT Japantown
Nichi Bei Bussan
Nijiya Market
Nikaku Gifts
Nikkei Traditions
Paradox Barbers
Pau Hana Shave Ice Co.
Proper Cuts
Red Ladder Theater Company
Roy's Station Coffee & Teas
San Jose Betsuin
San Jose Police Dept
Santo Market
Shigematsu Insurance
Shuei-Do Manju Shop
Silicon Valley JACL
Sixth & Jackson Apartments
State of Grace
Ukulele Source
Wesley UMC
Wynn Smog Center
Yoshihara Financial Services
Zonkey
Schedule
12:00 PM Judi Oyama Art Exhibition opens at JAMsj
1:00 PM Skate Day begins! Slalom Demo (with live taiko) just south of 5th and Jackson
2:30 PM Skateboard lessons for beginners (on 5th towards JAMsj) and a skate park at Wynn’s Smog Center. Ends at 6:30PM
4:00 PM Halloween in Japantown festivities begin! Taiko kickoff performance on 5th just south of Jackson St.
7:00 PM Event end
Parking is limited due to street closures. Please consider public transit or ride share. Thank you!
Safety notes:
- This is a family friendly safety conscious event. Folks drinking alcohol within the street closure will be asked to take it outside the event.
- You must get permission to distribute treats at this event. You will be asked to leave the event if discovered.
Event History:
Halloween in Japantown was created by Franco Imperial of San Jose Taiko and Kathy Sakamoto (at that time President of the Japantown Business Association) in 2003 as a safety-conscious event for the community. Rich Saito of the SJPD volunteered his time to give a safety talk to kids before the trick-or-treating ensued. In its first year, there were fewer than 8 Japantown businesses or organizations involved - Heidi Shigematsu of Shigematsu Insurance handed out balloons and a handful of others joined in on the fun. After San Jose Taiko moved out of its rehearsal space at Okida Hall on 6th Street, Wesley United Methodist Church kindly housed San Jose Taiko’s opening performance and safety skit in their Fellowship Hall. As the popularity of the event grew, the Fellowship Hall and the sidewalks along Jackson street became overcrowded and posed safety concerns. In 2017, with the help of our friends at Knight Foundation, we piloted street closures to give our community the freedom to move about on the street and allow for our beloved Japantown businesses and organizations to activate their spaces in their own unique ways. In 2024 in honor of Lt. Rich Saito we asked Japantown Prepared to assist with safety monitoring for the event.
We’re so happy Halloween in Japantown has become a community tradition!
Halloween in Japantown has taken place every year on Halloween (October 31) since 2003, including virtual Halloween at the height of COVID. It will continue to be held on this date unless otherwise announced by San Jose Taiko.