Konnichiwa Japan Festival 2025 Brings Japan to the Heart of Delhi
Konnichiwa Japan Festival 2025 Brings Japan to the Heart of Delhi
Delhi immersed itself in the sights, sounds and flavours of Japan as Konnichiwa Japan Festival 2025 unfolded at Select CITYWALK, Saket, from December 13–14. Over two vibrant days, the open-air mall transformed into a lively celebration of Japanese culture, pop energy, cuisine and Indo-Japan friendship, emerging as one of the capital’s most prominent year-end cultural events.
By the close of the weekend, the festival had welcomed more than 60,000 visitors, making it the most successful edition of Konnichiwa Japan Festival to date.
Record-Breaking Turnout Highlights Growing Cultural Connect
Reflecting on the overwhelming response, Markus, Chairman of the Konnichiwa Japan Club, shared his thoughts on the milestone achievement.
“Seeing over 60,000 people walk through the festival was both humbling and inspiring. It reaffirmed how deeply Delhi embraces Japanese culture, from traditional arts to modern pop expressions. Our goal has always been to build a cultural bridge, and this year’s response showed that the bridge is stronger than ever.”
The turnout underscored Delhi’s growing interest in Japanese culture and reinforced the festival’s role as a platform for meaningful cultural exchange.
A Dynamic Opening with 130+ Japanese Artists
The festival opened with an electrifying programme featuring more than 130 Japanese artists, including two sumo wrestlers, delivering a high-energy blend of tradition and contemporary Japan. Visitors were treated to a rich mix of stage performances, hands-on workshops, interactive zones and immersive experiences, designed to engage families, students, Japan enthusiasts and industry visitors alike.
“Japan Meets India”: Tradition Meets Modern Pop Culture
Held under the theme “Japan Meets India,” the 2025 edition seamlessly brought together heritage and modern expression. Cultural highlights included Taiko drumming, martial arts and sumo demonstrations, tea ceremonies, bonsai displays and calligraphy corners. Guests also enjoyed kimono and yukata try-ons, colourful cosplay parades, and dedicated zones for anime, gaming and J-music, which drew strong participation from younger audiences.
The festival was curated as a complete “walk-through Japan in a weekend”, with distinct zones dedicated to culture, travel, food, business, education and technology offering a truly 360-degree experience of Japan.
Japanese Cuisine Takes Centre Stage
Food remained a major attraction at Konnichiwa Japan Festival 2025. A bustling Japanese food street featured stalls serving sushi, ramen, tempura, desserts and speciality beverages. For first-time visitors, the spread offered an inviting introduction to Japanese flavours, while returning attendees discovered new culinary brands and restaurants entering the Delhi-NCR market.
Strengthening People-to-People and Business Engagement
Beyond cultural performances and cuisine, the festival continued to function as a platform for deeper engagement. Information booths on travel, education in Japan, language learning and corporate collaboration connected visitors with trusted Japanese and Indian institutions, strengthening people-to-people ties and professional exchanges.
Commenting on the festival’s broader impact, Prakash Yadav, Vice President of the Konnichiwa Japan Club, said, “This year’s edition proved that cultural diplomacy is most powerful when people experience it firsthand. Families, students, professionals everyone walked away with a personal connection to Japan. That is the real success of Konnichiwa Japan 2025.”
A Must-Attend Celebration for Delhi’s J-Culture Community
For Delhi’s growing J-culture community including anime fans, manga readers, language learners, cosplayers and students the December weekend was promoted as a must-attend gathering. With free public access, a central venue and full-day programming, the festival celebrated the warmth and depth of Indo-Japanese cultural exchange.
Supported by Strong Cultural and Industry Partnerships
The event was spearheaded by the Konnichiwa Japan Club, with support from partners including the World Heritage Academy, Japan Foundation New Delhi and the India Japan Friendship Forum. Industry supporters such as Isuzu Motors India, Asahi Breweries and Aju Ryokan Hotel contributed to the festival’s success, while Select CITYWALK, Saket served as the venue partner.
Working closely with Superhits 93.5 Red FM as the community radio partner, ACN Network as the media partner, and business organisations like JCCII, the executive committee positioned the festival as both a cultural showcase and a platform for corporate and community engagement culminating in a record-breaking turnout of over 60,000 delighted visitors.
Celebrating the Spirit of Indo-Japanese Friendship
Konnichiwa Japan Festival 2025 stood as a powerful celebration of shared curiosity, creativity and cultural appreciation, reinforcing Delhi’s position as a welcoming hub for global cultural experiences and strengthening the ever-growing bond between India and Japan.
