Another Halloween for the books! Thank you to all of you who made it out to attend this fun and safety conscious event for kids and families.

Much gratitude to the following businesses and organizations for participating in Halloween in Japantown 2025:

1. Akiyama Wellness Center
2. Nichi Bei Bussan
3. Wynn Smog Center
4. Proper Cuts
5. Taqueria Corona
6. Zonkey Toys
7. Omogari Restaurant
8. Red Ladder Theatre Company
9. Paradox Barbers
10. Golden Row / AARP
11. O Beauty Studio
12. Shabu Time
13. Mister + Mrs Hair Salon
14. The Curl Consultant
15. Gombei Restaurant
16. Roy’s Station / Silicon Valley JACL
17. Shigematsu Insurance / Yoshihara Financial Services
18. The Get Down Dance Studios
19. Ukulele Source
20. Portraits by Chaz/Curl Consultant
21. Lotus Preschool / Santo Market
22. Know Future Gallery
23. Wesley United Methodist Church
24. MOMENT JAPANTOWN
25. San Jose Betsuin
26. Minasan
27. Petite Galleria
28. Coldwater
29. Japantown Lion’s Club
30. Kumako Ramen
31. Kaita Restaurant
32. Shuei-Do Manju Shop
33. Nikkei Traditions
34. State of Grace (upstairs)
35. Wesley United Methodist Church
36. Nijiya Market
37. Biscuits
38. Aloha Fresh
39. Cukui
40. Kogura Gifts
41. Pau Hana Shave Ice Co.
42. Kazoo Restaurant
43. Okayama Restaurant
44. Classic Loot
45. Sushi Maru
46. Nikaku Gifts
47. Minato Restaurant
48. Empire Seven Studios / Tono Coffee Project
49. Prayer Garden Church
50. 246 Studio Spa
51. JAMsj
52. San Jose JACL
53. Book Giveaway
54. The Coterie Den (downstairs)
55. Ukulele Jams
56. 7 Bamboo

Thank you to Jeffrey, Chris, and the whole team at Japantown Prepared for their invaluable help to make this a safety-conscious event for the Japantown community. Lt. Saito would be proud!

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 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. 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.