Meet Kazuko Lillie

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kazuko Lillie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kazuko, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Our mission is to introduce and share Japanese culture with communities across the United States. Although our event takes place in Gwinnett, it attracts visitors from many other states, bringing economic activity and positive visibility to the local area. We also highlight Japanese companies based in Georgia, helping connect them with the broader community and contributing to the region’s cultural and economic vitality.

We are currently conducting research to make our event more accessible and barrier-free.
Our goal is to create an event where everyone can fully enjoy the experience.
This year, we donated tickets to schools for students with special needs as well as organization that support low-income families and veterans.

We hope to create an event where people can feel the essence of Japan without having to travel there.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I don’t necessarily compare our work to other people or organizations. What I am most proud of is carrying on an event that has been running for 39 years. It’s an honor to inherit something with such a long and meaningful history.

The path itself wasn’t particularly difficult because those who came before us had already built a strong foundation. However, my professional background in Japan was nursing, so stepping into a completely different field was the biggest challenge for me.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our event is deeply supported by the Japan-America Society of Georgia, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, and the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta. In addition, many Japanese companies based in Georgia provide invaluable support every year in many different ways. And of course, our board members play a crucial role as well.

Website: https://www.japanfest.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japanfest_atlanta/

Twitter: https://x.com/atljapanfest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japanfestatlanta/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JapanFestAtlanta

Image Credits
ANIS ATLANTA