
Japan-American Society and Black Ships Festival of Rhode Island, Inc.
40
Celebrating
ロードアイランド日米協会・黒船祭り
Years!

OUR VISION
The Japan-America Society of Rhode Island (JASRI) plays an important role in honoring Japanese culture and history in Rhode Island. Our main goal is to celebrate and build strong relationships between our two countries.
Our annual event, the Black Ships Festival, celebrates the achievement of Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794 - 1858) from Newport. Commodore Perry arrived in Japan in 1853, negotiated the Treaty of Peace and Amity (also known as the Treaty of Kanagawa) with Japan in 1854.
Japan-American Society of Rhode Island (JASRI)ロードアイランド日米協会は、黒船祭りを中心とした様々なイベントを通じて、ロードアイランドから日本文化と日本の歴史に関する情報を発信し続けてきました。JASRIの最も大切なゴールは、日米両国の友情を祝い、さらに深い絆を促進することです。
毎年夏に催される黒船祭りは、ニューポート出身のペリー提督が日本を開国し1984年に日米和親条約の締結に成功したことを記念し、祝います。この祭りでは、地域の人々が日本文化に触れる機会を提供しています。伝統的な文化だけでなく、その時代にあったアートを紹介し、表現するための大切な交流の場として、地元コミュニティーのため多くの人たちと共に、日本文化、芸術を促進しています。これらの活動は、日米友好を促進し、さらに永続的な平和的関係を築くと確信しています。
JASRI’s annual Black Ships Festival is based on our belief that deepening understanding across Japanese and American cultures is crucial for the long lasting peace in the future.
The annual Black Ships Festival provides opportunities to manifest conversations with the local community through Japanese cultural activities. We promote not only traditional culture but also contemporary creativity among all people. After all, community is the core of our culture here in Rhode Island.
恒例の黒船祭りでは、日本文化を学ぶ機会を提供し、地域の人々と交流してきました。伝統的な文化だけでなく、時代にあったアートを紹介し、地元コミュニティーのため多くの人たちと共に、日本文化、芸術を促進して行きます。
Please consider sponsoring JASRI!
The Annual Black Ships Celebration

Culture. Tradition. Performances. Workshops.
Join the Japan - America Society of Rhode Island in summer of 2024 for the 41st Annual Black Ships Festival. Celebrating over forty years of cultural events, education and community conversations is important because it helps to promote understanding. Greater cooperation and acceptance of different cultures and perspectives. It helps to build a more inclusive and equitable society here in Rhode Island.
How? Talking with each other, sharing our experiences and perspectives with others, and learning from each other.
Thank you for your years of supporting the Black Ships Festival. Please contact us if you have questions at email JASRhodeIsland@gmail.com. We wish good health to you and your family.

2024 Black Ships Festival Schedule is still being finalized.
Here was the schedule for the
2023 BLACK SHIPS FESTIVAL EVENTS
- August 11th 2023 -
Opening Ceremonies- 10:00am
Rockwell Park, Bristol RI
Sushi Sake Sail I
Canceled due to unavailability of the ship
Goat Island, Newport RI
2pm-4pm
Free ShinDaiko Taiko Ensemble Drum Concert
Rockwell Park, Bristol RI
6:30pm
- August 12th 2023 -
Cultural Marketplace Fair
Independence Park, Bristol RI - 11:00am-3:30pm
See Full Schedule Here
Black Ships Gala at Ochre Court
Newport RI
6:30pm-10:30pm
Ticket sales have closed for this year
- August 13th 2023 -
Memorial Ceremony
Island Cemetery- Newport RI
9:30am
Sushi Sake Sail II
Canceled due to unavailability of the ship
Goat Island, Newport RI
12pm-2pm

2024 Black Ships Festival
Cultural Marketplace Fair
Saturday (date TBD) at Independence Park, Bristol, RI
We welcome you to join us for our 40th year honoring
the ongoing special friendship between Rhode Island and Japan.
We had a great Black Ships Festival this year! It was one of the Ocean State's most enjoyable free, family-friendly events. Handicap accessible.
We hope to see you in 2024. Experience fun at our Cultural Marketplace Fair filled with arts, entertainment, martial arts, food, one-of-a-kind shopping, kid's crafts & Cosplay Costume Contest - all with a distinctly Asian twist.
2024 Schedule is to be determined
Here is what the 2023 Full Schedule was
Volunteers Are Always Welcome - Help Us At The Black Ships Festival Events