Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Japan’s annual Multicultural One Family Festival gathers hundreds of local residents, performers, vendors and activists to celebrate the rich diversity of our global community through entertainment, food and activities for all ages.

The 2017 Multicultural One Family Festival held on September 18 highlighted “omotenashi” or the spirit of sincere hospitality, transcending cultural differences to embrace diversity and treat each person as members of the same global human family.

The festival, initiated in 2015 educates the global community and shares on the spirit of omotenashi leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

With more than two million foreigners residing in Japan, it is becoming more and more apparent that transcending cultural barriers is essential to expanding respect and tolerance and promoting growth of the country into the future.