The Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia

What The Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia does

The Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, that operates programs connecting Japanese and American communities through arts, cultural programming, and business exchange. Its flagship asset is Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center, a traditional Japanese house and garden in West Fairmount Park that hosts over 40,000 visitors annually and provides venue access for tea ceremonies, group tours, wedding rentals, and seasonal programming. The organization also produces the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia, one of the largest cherry blossom festivals in the United States, which drew 25,000+ attendees in 2025 and is expanding to a two-day format in 2026 to mark the 100th anniversary of Japan's 1926 diplomatic gift of 1,600 cherry trees to Philadelphia.

JASGP generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model spanning individual and household memberships ($30–$150+/year), corporate memberships and event sponsorships ($500–$10,000+ annually), ticketed event admissions, venue rentals, and philanthropic contributions. Its membership tiers include Student/Senior ($30), Individual ($50), Household ($90), Guardian ($150+), Library ($100), and Corporate (Supporter through Benefactor), complemented by reciprocal benefits at 500+ ROAM and 1,500+ ROAM/NARM museums. Institutional support is anchored by Subaru of America (flagship title sponsor of the Cherry Blossom Festival) and Philadelphia Insurance Companies, which provided a $135,000 grant in 2023 for the PHLY250Sakura initiative. The organization operates no proprietary technology product; its "platform" is a physical venue plus a calendar of classes, festivals, exhibitions, and exchange programs, including the annual Life Sciences Dialogue co-hosted with Thomas Jefferson University and the Kobe Biotech Innovation Cluster.

Its customer base spans general public visitors (festival and Shofuso attendees), corporate members and sponsors (Subaru, PHLY, Fisher Phillips, and similar Japan-facing businesses), academic and research institutions (Thomas Jefferson University, Kobe University), and government partners (Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Fairmount Park Conservancy, City of Kobe sister-city). It reaches youth through the Citizen Diplomat Academy, a virtual exchange program with Kobe high schoolers. As a cultural nonprofit with 11–50 employees, JASGP combines community programming, heritage preservation, and US-Japan diplomatic-corporate networking rather than commercial product distribution.

Name

The Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia

Legal name

Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia

Website

https://japanphilly.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center and produces the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, delivering Japanese arts, cultural, and business exchange programming to Philadelphia-area residents, corporate members, academic partners, and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAFAO

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Exhibitions, Fairs & Expos (Consumer/Public)

SECONDARYMPAGAFAJ

Arts, Crafts & Maker Fairs

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Exhibitions, Fairs & Expos (Consumer/Public)

Keywords

• Cultural programming
• Japanese cultural center
• Festival management
• Arts education
• Community exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Admissions and Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from paid admission to the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, Shofuso admission fees, and add-on programs such as tea ceremonies, ikebana workshops, and group tours. Cherry Blossom Festival general admission is $15 in advance / $20 at the gate; Shofuso tours and tea ceremonies have separate per-person fees.
2. Individual and Household Memberships: Annual membership fees ranging from $30/year (student/senior) to $150+/year (Guardian level). Benefits include free Shofuso admission, discounts on programs, and access to members-only events.
3. Corporate Membership and Sponsorship: Corporate membership levels (Supporter $500, Patron $1,000, Leader $2,500, Partner $5,000, Benefactor $10,000+) provide logo placement, event presence, free admissions, and sponsorship benefits. Event title sponsorship (e.g., Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival) provides major brand visibility.
4. Institutional Grants and Philanthropic Donations: JASGP receives grant funding from institutional supporters including Philadelphia Insurance Companies ($135,000 grant for PHLY250Sakura tree planting), Philadelphia Cultural Fund, William Penn Foundation, Japan Foundation, and others. Individual donations are solicited through Annual Fund, Preservation Fund, and Roof Restoration Fund campaigns.
5. Venue Rentals and Private Event Hosting: Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center is available for wedding ceremony rentals (up to 40 people), photography rentals, and group tours. Rental fees generate revenue while promoting the venue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

JASGP operates Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center, a traditional Japanese house and garden in West Fairmount Park hosting 40,000+ visitors annually. It produces the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia (one of the largest cherry blossom festivals in the U.S.) and delivers a portfolio of Japanese arts, cultural, educational, and US-Japan business programming including tea ceremony classes, language classes, holiday festivals, exhibitions, youth exchange programs, and the annual Life Sciences Dialogue.

Product overview

The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP) is a private nonprofit cultural organization that operates a portfolio of Japanese arts, cultural, and educational programs centered around its flagship venue, Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center. The organization produces the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, presents the US-Japan Business & Public Policy Series, and provides Japanese cultural programming including tea ceremonies, language classes, holiday celebrations, art exhibitions, and youth exchange programs. Key offerings include the Shofuso venue (operating March through December with tours, tea ceremonies, and event rentals), the Cherry Blossom Festival (an expanded two-day event celebrating Japan's 1926 tree gift), educational programs (language classes, Citizen Diplomat Academy, tea ceremony workshops), and cultural exhibitions (Okaeri, Community of Images, Pictures of Belonging). The organization also manages cherry tree planting initiatives and offers membership programs with various benefit tiers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center A traditional Japanese house and garden located in West Fairmount Park, serving as JASGP's primary cultural venue. Hosts over 40,000 visitors annually (Wed–Sun, March through December) and offers tea ceremonies, group tours, wedding rentals, photography rentals, and cultural programming for individuals, families, and groups.
• Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia Annual spring festival at Fairmount Park's Horticulture Center and Shofuso, celebrating Japanese arts and culture with live performances, food vendors, cultural demonstrations, tea ceremonies, ikebana workshops, vendor fair, and beer garden. One of the largest cherry blossom festivals in the United States, drawing 25,000+ attendees.
• US-Japan Business & Public Policy Series

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 annual visitors to Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• Subaru of America, Inc.flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSubaru of America serves as the title sponsor of the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia, the organization's flagship event. The partnership provides major brand visibility for Subaru through festival naming rights, promotional materials, and on-site presence including the 'Prettiest in Pink' pet contest.
• Thomas Jefferson University (Jefferson Japan Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJASGP partners with Thomas Jefferson University's Jefferson Japan Center to produce the annual Life Sciences Dialogue series, exploring US-Japan innovation in life sciences and healthcare. In June 2025, Thomas Jefferson University and Kobe University formalized a partnership to enhance academic exchange and collaborative research, further strengthening the Kobe-Philadelphia research corridor.
• City of KobecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Kobe maintains a longstanding sister city relationship with Philadelphia (spanning nearly 40 years, celebrating 40th anniversary in 2026). JASGP collaborates with the City of Kobe on the annual Life Sciences Dialogue through the Kobe Biotech Innovation Cluster (KBIC), connecting Philadelphia's life sciences ecosystem with Japan's largest biocluster innovation community (~350 research institutions, hospitals, universities, and corporations).
• Philadelphia Parks & RecreationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhiladelphia Parks & Recreation is a key partner for the PHLY250Sakura cherry tree planting initiative and provides support for JASGP programming at Shofuso and the surrounding Fairmount Park grounds. Commissioner Susan Slawson has participated in tree planting ceremonies and festival kick-off events.
• Fairmount Park ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFairmount Park Conservancy partners with JASGP on park programming, including the PHLY250Sakura tree planting initiative. Director of Partnerships & Sponsorships John Sigmund and CEO Tony Sorrentino have participated in collaborative events and ceremonies.
• World Affairs Council of PhiladelphiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJASGP collaborates with the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia on the Citizen Diplomat Academy, a free virtual exchange program connecting Philadelphia high schoolers with students from Kobe, Japan through cultural understanding sessions and live activities.
• Urasenke PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrasenke Philadelphia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the Japanese tea ceremony, provides tea ceremony demonstrations at Shofuso and during the Cherry Blossom Festival. All teachers are licensed by the Urasenke school in Kyoto, Japan.
• Ikebana International Chapter 71coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIkebana International Chapter 71 partners with JASGP to provide ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) workshops and demonstrations during the Cherry Blossom Festival and at Shofuso. Ikebana International has over 8,000 members in more than 50 countries.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZ5t5BvCtsxH3Ml_LQRxB0A
• Facebookfacebook.com/jasgphila
• Instagraminstagram.com/phillysakura
• Xx.com/japansocietyphl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/japanphilly

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia