ron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Grand Marshal of the Japan Parade

Iron Chef, Restauranteur, Author, and Philanthropist Masaharu Morimoto will be this year’s Grand Marshal of the 4th Annual Japan Parade and Street Fair, taking place on Saturday, May 10th at 1pm, beginning on Central Park West and 81st Street and traveling South to West 67th Street.

To celebrate, Chef Morimoto has created a special menu item and cocktail at his restaurant Momosan (342 Lexington Ave. between 39th and 40th Streets).

Beginning April 26th, and on the menu through the Japan Parade on May 10th, Chef will feature a twist on the traditional Okonomiyaki, or traditional Japanese pancake, by adding prosciutto, tomatoes, olives, and red onions. It was Chef Morimoto’s idea that this was a way to blend the cultures of Japan and NYC together.

“Made with prosciutto, cabbage, negi, red onion, cherry tomato, jalapeño, kewpie mayo, and traditional okonomiyaki sauce, this dish captures the heart of Japanese street food while embracing the bold, unexpected flavors that make New York City the cultural melting-pot that it is,” said Chef Morimoto.

There will also be a limited time signature cocktail on the menu, The Last Petal. The Last Petal is a signature tribute to fleeting beauty, cultural pride, and sparkling celebration. To commemorate this moment and this special Grand Marshal honor for Chef Morimoto, he created a cocktail that captures the spirit of the season, the pride of the parade, and the passion behind his team. Inspired by the graceful fall of the final cherry blossoms, this drink is a toast to impermanence, achievement, and cultural celebration.

The Last Petal is not overly sweet or complex. It’s light, refreshing, and slightly floral with a gentle bubbly finish. A clean and celebratory sip meant to toast the end of one season and the start of another.

“If you take a sip while making a wish, legend says the cherry blossom spirit just might carry it away for you,” confided Chef Morimoto.

Momosan is located at 342 Lexington Ave. between 39th and 40th Streets.

Following the great success of the last three years, the 4th annual Japan Parade in New York City will be held on Saturday, May 10, beginning at 1pm. Starting on Central Park West at West 81st Street and traveling south to West 67th Street, the purpose of the parade is to celebrate, express, and bring awareness to the friendship between NYC and Japan with a thank you from the Japanese community. Chef Masaharu Morimoto is this year’s Grand Marshall and Koji Soto is this year’s Japan Parade Community Leader.

Sandra Endo, news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News, and a feature reporter for Good Day LA, will serve as Emcee of the parade.

The very first Japan Parade and the Japan Street Fair was held in 2022. Actor, author, civil-rights activist, and influencer George Takei was the Grand Marshal for the inaugural parade, while Olympic Gold medalist and author Kristi Yamaguchi was the Grand Marshal for the Japan Parade in 2023, and wheelchair tennis star and four-time paralympic gold medalist Shingo Kunieda was last year’s Grand Marshal.

The Japan Parade is affiliated with Japan Day at Central Park, an annual event that has taken place in Central Park since 2007.

Activists protesting against attacks targeting Asian citizens and anti-Asian rhetoric have also marched in the parade.

Concurrently with the Japan Parade, the Japan Street Fair will be held on West 72nd Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.

The Japan Street Fair will feature tents offering fun and educational cultural activities including calligraphy, water balloon yo-yo fishing, origami, photo opportunities, and a giveaway. In collaboration with JAPAN Fes, one of the largest organizers of Japanese food festivals in the world that hosts over 20 Japanese food fair events a year in New York City, the Street Fair will also feature about 20 tents serving authentic Japanese food. The latest information on Japan’s many tourist destinations will be made available at several other tents, and as with last year, there will also be a tent where visitors may donate to a charitable cause. The Japan Street Fair is your chance to experience a Japanese festival, or matsuri, unlike any other.

Chef Masaharu Morimoto — known to millions as the star of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America and now executive producer and head judge for Roku’s Sushi Master — has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his seamless integration of Western and Japanese ingredients. In 2001, Chef Morimoto opened his first restaurant in Philadelphia, which was later followed by restaurants in New York, Napa, Honolulu, Boca Raton, Mumbai, Mexico City, Tokyo, and Maui.

Morimoto Asia Orlando at Disney Springs opened in 2015, followed by Momosan NYC and Morimoto Las Vegas at MGM Grand in 2016. Morimoto Asia Waikiki, Momosan Waikiki, and Morimoto Doha opened in 2018. Next came Momosan Seattle (2019), Momosan Wynwood (2020), Morimoto Taghazout Bay (2021), Sa’Moto (2021), Momosan at Hub Hall in Boston (2021), Morimoto Asia Napa and Momosan Santana Row (2022), Morimoto Bordeaux, Morimoto Jakarta, and Morimoto by Sea aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam (2023), and most recently MM by Morimoto, which is set to open later this year, bringing Chef Morimoto’s global restaurant count to 24.

His first cookbook, Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking (2007), won two IACP awards (in the “Chef’s and Restaurants” category and the “First Book: The Julia Child Award”), and it was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award. His second cookbook, Mastering The Art of Japanese Cooking (2017), introduces readers to the healthy, flavorful, surprisingly simple dishes favored by Japanese home cooks.

About Japan Day
Japan Day Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the primary organizer of the Japan Day @ Central Park festivals since 2007, and of Japan Parade and the Japan Street Fair since 2022. Japan Day Inc.’s activities are made possible by the support of the local leading Japanese American companies that compose Japan Day Inc.’s Board of Directors, the Consulate General of Japan in New York, and all the individuals, organizations, and companies that sponsor, donate, or volunteer and be a part of this great celebration.