Obon Festival Hosted by the City of Albuquerque (August 14, 2026)

On August 14, the annual Obon Festival was held at Albuquerque Bio Park. Within and near the "Sasebo Japanese Garden," named in honor of the City of Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture, which celebrates its 60th anniversary as Albuquerque’s sister city this year, visitors enjoyed traditional Japanese cultural experiences such as toro nagashi (floating lanterns), taiko drumming, calligraphy, tea ceremony, and origami. This year, the festival welcomed around 1,000 guests—far exceeding last year’s attendance of about 600—who came together to experience the spirit of Japanese summer.

Consul-General Okajima and staff from the Consulate-General of Japan attended, connecting with local Japanese organizations and the Albuquerque community.

We sincerely thank the Bio Park, organizers, and volunteers for their dedication to sharing and preserving Japanese traditions in the local community, making this wonderful event possible. We hope the Sasebo Japanese Garden and the Obon Festival will continue to be cherished by everyone for years to come!