OC Japan Fair returns to California packed with all kinds of Japanese culture

Tuna dismantling? You bet!

Every year, a weekend celebration of almost all things Japanese takes place in Orange County, California, and this year it’s coming back bigger than ever. From 16 to 18 October, the OC Japan Fair will be putting food, traditional culture, pop culture, music, shopping, and more in the spotlight, giving Californians a rare glimpse into many corners of life in Japan.

The main event is set to be the Japan Pop Culture Zone. This section will make up about half the entire indoor space of the venue and will showcase major anime titles, with Dan Da Dan and Blue Lock announced so far.

Also seeing some growth this year is Cosplay & Ai♡Fes Idol Festival, loaded with cosplayers and idols active in both Japan and California performing, including Sakura Graduation from Nagoya, who will be performing on all three days of the festival.

In addition to the anime and idols at OC Japan Fair, an entire Akihabara Electric Town exhibit will once again be set up to recreate the sights and sounds of the famous district in Tokyo.

On the other hand, classical Japanese culture will also be represented. In contrast to the modern Akihabara, the Asakusa district of Tokyo will also have its atmosphere recreated in the Asakusa & Nakamise Street Traditional Culture Area. Kabuki dance, rakugo comedy, taiko drums, koto music, Nihon buyo dance, shodo calligraphy, kado flower arrangement, sado tea ceremonies, kimono… The list just keeps going, and it can all be seen in one weekend.

There will also be a Bon Odori dance experience, a cornerstone of the Japanese festival experience. An Oiran Dochu procession of courtesans held centuries ago will be reenacted on Saturday and Sunday, with full Edo period costumes.

Food and shopping will both be in full effect as well. Over 60 kinds of Japanese foods, from okonomiyaki to fried pork cutlet sandwiches, will be sold alongside a vast array of Japanese goods from anime merch to traditional Japanese crafts.

Also, a very unique part of Japanese culture will be on display in the form of a Tuna Dismantling Show (Maguro Kaitai Show). Although it’s called a “Tuna Cutting Show” by OC Japan Fair, I don’t think “cutting” really does justice to the technical precision and speed that goes into these things. Often performed on auspicious occasions like the opening of fish markets or even weddings, this involves a highly skilled chef carving up an entire tuna fish with the efficiency of an F1 pit crew.

▼ And the result of a Tuna Dismantling Show

With all the additions to this year’s festival, you might expect admission to go up, but instead the organizers decided to lower the cost of entry from last year to make it more accessible. Tickets are available for as low as US$13.58 if purchased in advance before 30 September, and admission is free for everyone under 6 years old or 65 years old and over.

The time will never be more right to get a really comprehensive taste of Japan without actually coming here, so be sure to check it out this October.

Event information

OC Japan Fair

Venue: OC Fair & Event Center

88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California
Dates & Times:

Friday, 16 October: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday, 17 October: Noon – 10 p.m.

Sunday, 18 October: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Admission:

1 – 30 September (Presale): $13.58

1 – 15 October (Presale): $15.71

16 – 18 October: $17.58

Images: Press release
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