In 1977, the Japanese Canadian centennial year, the first Powell Street Festival was initiated by a member of the Japanese Canadian Volunteers Association (Tonari Gumi) in an effort to celebrate the area that was once known as Japantown and produce an event similar to the summer festivals in Japan. Since then, the festival has grown to become a much-loved annual event that presents performances and displays which have encouraged and inspired many Asian Canadians to pursue careers in the arts. The Festival celebrated its 30th year in 2006 with its longest and largest festival to date.

Always presenting a combination of traditional and contemporary expressions of Japanese Canadian identity and art, the Festival has showcased artists as wide ranging as Katari Taiko, Canada’s first taiko group; Roy Kiyooka, Japanese Canadian icon; Noriko Tujiko and Nobukazu Takemura, electronic musicians from Japan; Kei Takei, butoh dancer from Japan; Denise Fujiwara modern dancer/choreographer from Toronto; writers Kerri Sakamoto, Kyo Maclear, Scott McFarlane, Terry Watada, Hiromi Goto and Roy Miki; Jean Yoon’s Yoko Ono Project; and Mitch Miyagawa’s play, Plum Tree.

The Society has successfully presented 30 annual festivals as well as ongoing programs throughout the year, including events as part of Asian Heritage Month every May, art exhibits, and co-presentations with other arts organizations. Over the years, the Society has collaborated with such arts presenters as Video In, Vancouver International Dance Festival, Vancouver Opera, Centre A, Carnegie Community Centre, Vancouver Japanese Language School, Pacific Cinematheque, Vancouver New Music Society, Chinese Cultural Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre.

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