For Kansas City’s first Japanese Summer Festival, organizers want to 'take up space'

Two community organizers want to create a sense of belonging for the metro's Japanese community with its first Natsu Matsuri, this Saturday at the 12th Street Post.
Madoka Koguchi, a Japanese native, moved to Kansas City to help found the Vietnamese coffee shop Café Cà Phê. While the area has seen other Japanese cultural festivals, Koguchi says there has never been an authentic Natsu Matsuri for Kansas Citians.

Natsu Matsuri translates to "summer festival" in Japanese. LTC Eugene Chu Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Kim Patterson MAJ Ken Landgren Maj (Join to see) CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana MSgt Steve Sweeney MSG Stan Hutchison MSgt Michael Bischoff SSgt Richard Kensinger 1SG (Join to see) SFC Jo Ann Klawitter SP5 Dennis Loberger A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney PO1 Tony Holland PO1 Brian Austin SGT Charlie Lee CPL LaForest Gray SrA John Monette