Japan Festival bursts into bloom again at Mukai Farm Garden
Published 9:18 pm Thursday, August 28, 2025
Mukai Farm & Garden will present its 6th annual Japan Festival, a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture and heritage, from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at 18017 107th Ave SW.
The beloved community event, with free admission, will include lively performances and demonstrations, delicious food and engaging activities for all ages, including traditional Japanese taiko drumming, sumo wrestling, kimono demonstrations, washi lampshade demonstrations, a bon dance and more.
Children can explore a dedicated “village” with hands-on activities and cultural experiences tailored just for them, and adults can find moments of tranquility and reflection in a specially curated Spirit Garden.
Come hungry, and purchase authentic and artfully prepared bento boxes, offering a taste of Japan.
“Our Japan Festival has become a cornerstone event for Mukai Farm & Garden, bringing together our community to celebrate and learn about Japanese culture,” says Jade Agua, Mukai’s executive director. “We are excited to once again offer a diverse program that highlights both traditional arts and contemporary expressions of Japanese heritage.”
Mukai Farm & Garden, established in 1926 by Issei pioneer B.D. Mukai, is a culturally significant site now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It stands as one of the last intact pre-World War II Nikkei farmsteads in America, celebrating Vashon Island’s Japanese American and agrarian heritage.
The property comprises a rare heritage home, a traditional Japanese stroll garden designed by B.D.’s wife Kuni (notable as the only known Japanese garden of this era designed by a woman), and a fruit barreling plant that revolutionized the strawberry industry with its pioneering cold barreling process.
More than a mere historical site, the farm and garden tell the living story of Japanese American settlement and entrepreneurial spirit in the Pacific Northwest, reflecting the aspirations of immigrant families to achieve the “American Dream” while preserving their heritage. The site also documents the extreme hardships experienced by Japanese Americans due to xenophobia and racism, particularly during the time of Alien Land Laws and the forced internment of World War II.
For more information, visit mukaifarmandgarden.org.
