Shinnenkai 2026

Let's ring in 2026 - the Year of the Horse - together!

A COLLABORATION!
This year, the Japan America Society of St. Louis partners with the St. Louis Japan Society to present a joint Shinnenkai! Together, we expect to draw a record attendance of 160 people from among both the JASSTL and the JS communities and to provide an authentic Japanese Shinnenkai for BOTH. This is grassroots cultural exchange at its best. At registration, simply choose which organization you feel closest to.

UNIQUE TUNA-CARVING DEMONSTRATION
This year's MAIN EVENT is a tuna-carving demonstration, concluding with serving of top-quality sashimi. Professional Japanese fish carver, Mr. Kawamura, has secured for us a whole tuna! He and his team will bring it to St. Louis on the day of the event and then carve and serve it before your very eyes! Once the carving is complete, we will auction off various coveted pieces of the fish.

OTHER PROGRAM FEATURES
We also plan to do a kagamibiraki ceremony (breaking of the sake cask) with a sake kanpai toast. And rumor has it, there may be an appearance of the traditional lion dance.

REGISTRATION
Your registration gets you into the event, which will include an appetizer buffet lunch, soft drinks and other beverages, and the sashimi from the tuna. You also have the opportunity to add on a nomihodai (all-you-can-drink) ticket, which means you have access to the alcoholic drinks at the event. Of course, you must be 21 to partake and everyone must drink responsibly!

Children are welcome and you can add them on to your registration, as well as any additional adults.

CANCELLATION
If you register and then have to cancel more than 48 hours before the event, we will offer a full refund. If you have to cancel 48 hours or less before the event, we may issue a refund if there is someone on the waitlist to take your place.