New York City is an incredible place for engaging in Japanese culture, and Japan-related activities. From restaurants to toy shops to art exhibits, festivals, lectures & talks, and lessons in traditional arts, at any given time, there is a lot going on in New York of a Japan-related nature. No one can list or describe all of these, but Susan Hamaker sure does a great job of providing a guide to many such events.

In her blog JapanCulture・NYC, Susan posts about restaurants, art galleries & exhibitions, lectures & events, and a wide variety of other goings on, many of which I would never have heard about otherwise. I thought I was pretty well-connected when I lived in New York and worked for a Japan-related organization, but Susan has definitely got me beat. Whenever I am in NY (and when I am not), I keep an eye on her site to see what’s going on in the city.

Recent posts, as you can see, include the announcement of a kimono fashion show coming up in August, a review of Roosevelt Island’s Cherry Blossom Festival, a note on the opening of Keisui-an, a new Japanese-style tearoom in the city, and a review of a Day of Remembrance event focusing on Japanese-Americans who fought in World War II.

You can also follow JapanCulture・NYC on YouTube, and on Twitter.

Above: A photo I took at a Japan Block Fair held last summer in Midtown Manhattan, which I would never have known about if not for JapanCulture・NYC.