Help Us Grow Yosakoi in Alberta!

Support the Second North American International Yosakoi Festival in Lethbridge

What’s Happening?

Following the success of our first festival in 2025, the North American International Yosakoi Festival is returning to Lethbridge, Alberta, on September 19–20, 2026.

Yosakoi is a high-energy, joyful Japanese dance that brings people together. It is fun, inclusive, and exciting to watch.

In Japan, more than 200 Yosakoi festivals are held every year, bringing tens of thousands of people together across the country. In 2025, we made history by holding the first large-scale international Yosakoi festival in North America.

Now, we are building on that success and creating an even stronger cultural tradition in Alberta.

Why This Matters

Yosakoi dancers from Canada, the United States, and Japan will gather in Lethbridge for a weekend of performances, food, culture, workshops, and community celebration.

This will be:

The return of one of the largest Japanese cultural festivals ever held in Lethbridge

A chance for Albertans to experience Japanese culture up close

A boost for local businesses and tourism in Lethbridge

An opportunity to strengthen cultural connections between Canada, the U.S., and Japan

The next step in our 10-year plan to grow Yosakoi across Canada

What We Need

We have dedicated volunteers and some funding, but we need your help to continue growing this international festival.

Your donation will help us pay for:

Travel and accommodation for performers

Stage and sound equipment

Free workshops and family activities

Promotion and event setup

Transportation and logistical support

How You Can Help

Every contribution brings us one step closer to making KOKUYOSA 2026 an unforgettable international celebration. Your support helps us welcome performers from across Canada, the United States, Japan, and beyond, while keeping the festival accessible to the community.

As a thank-you, we are pleased to offer the following exclusive rewards and sponsorship opportunities.

$100 Donation — Exclusive Collaboration T-shirt

Receive an exclusive white KOKUYOSA 2026 collaboration T-shirt designed by Calgary-based artist eidus.lab.

Created especially for this year’s festival, this limited-edition shirt is available only through the KOKUYOSA 2026 fundraising campaign.

$300 Donation — Collaboration T-shirt and Original Naruko Set

Receive the exclusive KOKUYOSA 2026 collaboration T-shirt, plus a pair of original festival Naruko—traditional wooden clappers used in Yosakoi dancing.

The Naruko were designed by Poland-based artist Keiji Matsumoto, who earned his doctorate from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. His highly acclaimed work combines the spirit of Japanese calligraphy with Western artistic styles.

This unique set brings together two original artist collaborations created especially for KOKUYOSA 2026.

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Corporate sponsorships provide meaningful opportunities to promote your organization while supporting international cultural exchange, tourism, and community connection in Alberta.

Please contact us before making a corporate sponsorship contribution so that we can confirm logo files, promotional materials, T-shirt sizes, and recognition details.

$1,000 — Community Sponsor

Community Sponsors will receive:

• Company recognition in the official festival brochure

• Company logo and website link featured on the KOKUYOSA website

• Recognition through KOKUYOSA social media

• Company logo displayed during the festival

• Company logo printed on the official festival T-shirt for sponsorships confirmed by August 1, 2026

• Recognition from the stage during the festival

• Two reserved seats in the festival VIP viewing area

• Two invitations to the evening dancers’ networking and celebration event

• Two official KOKUYOSA 2026 collaboration T-shirts

• A digital Certificate of Appreciation

$2,500 — Presenting Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors will receive all Community Sponsor benefits, plus:

• Premium logo placement in the official festival brochure

• Larger and more prominent logo placement on festival signage and presentation screens

• A dedicated sponsor feature through KOKUYOSA social media

• Recognition by the emcee during opening ceremonies, key festival programs, and the evening celebration

• Opportunity to display approved promotional materials or distribute company coupons at the festival

• Four reserved seats in the festival VIP viewing area

• Four invitations to the evening dancers’ networking and celebration event

• Four official KOKUYOSA 2026 collaboration T-shirts

• Opportunity for a company representative to participate in an official presentation or sponsor photo

• Selected professional event photographs for use in the company’s communications

• A framed Certificate of Appreciation

Corporate sponsors confirmed after August 1 may still receive the other listed benefits, but logo placement on the official festival T-shirt cannot be guaranteed.

Why It’s Good for Alberta

Hosting this international Yosakoi festival offers Alberta and Canada a unique opportunity to:

• Introduce authentic Japanese culture to a wide audience through dance, music, food, and art

• Attract visitors from across Canada, the United States, Japan, and other regions, supporting tourism, hospitality, and local businesses in Lethbridge

• Position Alberta as a cultural leader capable of hosting international festivals that celebrate diversity, creativity, and connection

• Provide families, newcomers, and youth with free and inclusive access to high-quality cultural experiences

• Strengthen long-term cultural and community relationships between Canada and Japan

• Build on Alberta’s legacy as the first province to host a full-scale international Yosakoi festival of this kind in North America

KOKUYOSA is more than entertainment. It is a gateway to international cultural exchange, a celebration of community, and a growing legacy for Alberta.

Join Us!

This is more than a festival—it is a growing tradition for Alberta, Canada, and the international Yosakoi community.

Donate now and help us continue making history.

Let’s bring the joy and energy of Yosakoi back to Alberta—together.

https://kokuyosa.com/

Instagram: @kokuyosa

X: kokuyosa2025

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KOKUYOSA

E-mail: info@kokuyosa.com