Lethbridge residents can experience Japanese traditions without leaving the city this September as Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden hosts a series of cultural events. The North American International Yosakoi Festival returns for its second year on September 19 and 20, followed by the Aki Matsuri fall festival and the Golden Maple Keirokai Reception honouring seniors.
The Yosakoi festival brings high-energy dance performances to the garden. Last year’s inaugural event featured about 100 dancers from teams across Canada, Japan, and the United States. This year, organizers are promising the same energy, colour, and spirit for the second edition.
Aki Matsuri 2026 will celebrate Japanese culture, music, dance, and community with live performances throughout the afternoon. The lineup includes a Koto and Guitar Duo from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., a Lion Dance from 1:30 to 1:45 p.m., and NCS Taiko drumming from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m.
On September 25, the garden and the Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and Area present the Golden Maple Keirokai Reception. The event recognizes and honours the senior community while bringing generations together through Japanese traditions.
The September programming also includes a screening of 1910: The Uncovering, a 27-minute documentary about the 1910 Rogers Pass avalanche that killed 58 railway workers, most of them Japanese.
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden was established in 1967 during Canada’s Centennial as a symbol of friendship between Japan and Canada. Its name combines Japanese words to mean “Japan-Canada friendship.” The garden is operated by the Lethbridge & District Japanese Garden Society.
