Halloween in Japantown 2024

Thursday, October 31st, 4:30-7:30PM

Safety note: ALL candy distributors must be approved before the event. Anyone handing out candy that was not pre-approved will be asked to desist for the safety of the attendees. If you are interested in distributing candy, please contact us via email (info@taiko.org).

Activities to check out between 4:30 - 7:30PM

  • Treats from Japantown businesses, organizations, and partners!

  • Musical stylings of Michael & Kirk in front of Shigematsu Insurance

  • Kimono Club at Nichi Bei Bussan

  • SJMade DIY Coloring Station

  • Jurassic adventure + Golden Row near Zonkey’s

  • Costume contests (multiple categories) hosted by Zonkey’s

  • SJSU Car Club Trunk-n-Treat near Pau Hana

  • Japantown Lion’s Club Trunk-n-Treat near Headliners

  • Lotus Preschool / Santo Market haunted house on the corner of 5th and Jackson

  • Wesley United Methodist Church Trunk -n- treat in their 5th Street parking lot

  • Red Ladder Theatre Company will have a scary sound stage and Halloween Tattoos

4:45PM Taiko performances on 5th Street near Wesley United Methodist Church and Issei Memorial Building.

5:15PM Roving taiko drummers throughout Japantown. Short jam sessions to scare the demons away!

This year’s event is dedicated to San Jose Japantown’s Rich Saito, who passed this year. We miss you, Rich.

Halloween in Japantown has taken place every year on Halloween (October 31) for the last 20 years, including virtual Halloween at the height of COVID. It will continue to be held on this date until otherwise announced by San Jose Taiko.

Event History:

Halloween in Japantown was created by Franco Imperial of San Jose Taiko and Kathy Sakamoto (at that time of the Japantown Business Association) in 2003 as 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 became overcrowded and posed safety concerns. In 2017, with the help of our friends at the 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. We’re so happy it has become a community tradition!