The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth has announced that Kawai Piano Gallery Dallas will serve as the official Cultural Pavilion Sponsor for the 2026 Otsukimi Japanese Moon Viewing Festival. The free community event is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Haggard Park in downtown Plano, Texas. The festival, which draws thousands of North Texas residents each year, celebrates Japanese culture, friendship, and community under the autumn moon.
As the Cultural Pavilion Sponsor, Kawai Piano Gallery Dallas will support a dedicated area of the festival designed to introduce attendees to Japanese traditions, arts, and cultural experiences. The sponsorship underscores Kawai's longstanding belief in music as a universal language that bridges diverse ages, backgrounds, and cultures. Kawai Piano Gallery Dallas, located in Plano, serves musicians and families throughout North Texas with a selection of Kawai grand, upright, digital, and hybrid pianos, as well as music education through its growing Kawai Music School.
Kawai's participation in the festival highlights the natural connection between Japanese cultural heritage and music education. The company, founded in Japan in 1927, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027. For nearly a century, Kawai has combined traditional Japanese craftsmanship with innovation to create pianos for students, educators, and professional musicians worldwide. The sponsorship will help create a space where festival attendees can learn, participate, and experience the arts as part of a broader celebration of friendship between Japan and North Texas.
Grant Ogata, President of the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, expressed gratitude for Kawai's investment in the Cultural Pavilion. 'Kawai's Japanese heritage, commitment to artistic excellence, and dedication to music education make the company a natural partner for this celebration,' Ogata said. 'Its participation will help us introduce more North Texas families to the richness of Japanese culture while strengthening the friendship between Japan and the United States.'
The Otsukimi festival, which means 'moon viewing,' is a centuries-old Japanese tradition of gathering with family and friends to appreciate the autumn moon and express gratitude for the season. This year's event will feature Japanese music and traditional dance, taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, sumo exhibitions, cultural activities, children's programming, anime and pop-culture experiences, and a variety of Japanese, American, and Asian food offerings.
Kawai Piano Gallery Dallas is home to the Kawai Music School, which offers piano and voice lessons for students of different ages and experience levels. Instructors speak Japanese, Korean, English, and Persian/Farsi, providing a welcoming and inclusive learning environment for North Texas families. Additional instruments and educational programs are planned as the school continues to expand.
The sponsorship reflects Kawai's commitment to community engagement and cultural exchange. As a company rooted in Japanese craftsmanship now serving the North Texas community, Kawai sees Otsukimi as a wonderful opportunity to strengthen ties between communities through music and shared cultural appreciation. The festival is free and open to the public, offering a family-friendly outdoor setting for all to enjoy.
