Montreal’s Japan Week kicks off

From discovering restaurants and their savoury dishes, to visiting boutiques and participating in cultural activities, Montrealers can explore the Japanese culture right here in the city.

The 4^th edition of Montreal’s Japan Week kicked off at Neotokyo restaurant on Monday night.

“La semaine du Japon in Montreal is very important for not only the Japanese community in Montreal and in Quebec But also for all of the rest of the community who would like to discover more about the Japanese community,” said Charles Nguyen, community and public relations officer for ASIASIE.

A big part of the festival is the gastronomic experience. There are over 20 local restaurants waiting to be discovered, including Restaurant Nozy, Noren, and Juni, to name a few.

More than 20 boutiques and patisseries including Centre Taiyo, Galerie D’Okeya, and Kyoto Fleurs are also taking part in the festival.

“I think the Japanese community here in Montreal is still pretty small, so in order to showcase them individually I think it’s very important so people actually notice what they do and what we offer,” said Reina Sakao, founder of Entreprise Sakao.

You can also take part in cultural activities, including a Japanese market. Presented by Marché à la Japonaise, the event will take place on May 11 and 12 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Osmo x Marusan Café-Terrasse.

There will also be an event for dog lovers. A Shibas and Akitas gathering is set to take place as part of the festivities. It is said to be the largest gathering in Canada with over 200 dogs set to participate.

“We invite Montrealers to discover what the city has to offer in link with Japan,” Thien Vu Dang, co-founder and managing director of ASIASIE told CityNews.

The week-long event will take place in participating businesses and restaurants until May 12.