Dajapón Fest 2026 to celebrate 70 years of Japanese immigration to the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic will commemorate 70 years of Japanese immigration with the Dajapón Fest 2026 – Special 70th Anniversary Edition, a cultural festival honoring the Japanese community’s contributions to the country’s agricultural, cultural, and social development.

The event will take place August 1–2 at the Japanese Colony Park in La Vigía, Dajabón, the site of the first Japanese settlement established in the Dominican Republic in 1956. Organizers describe it as the country’s largest Japanese cultural gathering.

This year’s edition will bring together, for the first time, representatives from Japanese communities across Jarabacoa, Constanza, La Altagracia, Aguas Negras, Neiba, Duvergé, and Manzanillo, creating a nationwide reunion for descendants of Japanese immigrants while welcoming visitors interested in Japanese culture.

Festivalgoers will enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine, martial arts demonstrations, cultural performances, traditional dances, samurai armor exhibits, games, and the Bon Odori festival, with activities running from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on both days.

The festival also commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese families under a 1956 cooperation agreement between Japan and the Dominican Republic, recognizing their lasting impact on Dominican agriculture and the enduring friendship between the two nations.