Rhode Island Celebrates 43rd Annual Black Ships Festival, Strengthening Ties with Japan
The Japan-America Society and Black Ships Festival of Rhode Island, Inc. (JASRI) is hosting the 43rd Annual Black Ships Festival, a three-day event celebrating the historical and cultural ties between Rhode Island and Japan. The festival, held in Bristol and Newport, features traditional Japanese music, cultural demonstrations, family activities, and the Black Ships Festival Gala. This event commemorates the historic expedition led by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, a Newport native, which opened relations between Japan and the United States in 1854. JASRI has been organizing this festival since 1983 to honor Newport's sister-city relationship with Shimoda, Japan. The festival is part of a broader initiative to promote cultural exchange and friendship between the two regions. 
