Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and rise in cases due to the delta variant, the SAJCC Council decided in September 2021 that it would be safer not to host the popular Tucson Japanese Festival in January 2022. Hopefully the festival will return in January 2023. The 2021 Tucson Japanese Festival was also cancelled due to the pandemic, which came to Tucson in March, 2020: http://www.southernazjapan.org/sajcc-council-decides-to-cancel-annual-tucson-japanese-festival-for-2021/

Southern AZ Japanese Cultural Coalition started up this festival in January 2014 to celebrate the New Year’s with mochi pounding at Yume Japanese Gardens, then moved to the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory (home of Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers) for a year. Thereafter the festival grew and needed a larger venue, so it was held at Pima Community College Downtown for 3 years, then to the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center for 2 years. Each year the festival has grown in popularity and in January 2020 drew over 2,000 attendees.

The SAJCC Council vote to postpone was 11-0-2 (eleven yes, zero no, two abstentions).
SAJCC Council members are: Sharon Arceneaux, Crystal Akazawa, Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, Clint Cooper,  M. Fumie Craig,  Karen Falkenstrom, Yuki Ibuki, Miyako McKay, K Negley, Miki Pimienta, Ginger Sugimoto,  Dr. Min & Evelyn Yanagihashi. (Founding members are Crystal, Carolyn, M., Yuki, Min & Evelyn).

Info can be obtained from SAJCC Director Yuki Ibuki at yuki@southernazjapan.org.