San Jose's Halloween in Japantown is bigger this year. San Jose Taiko and the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) are adding a "Skate Day" on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Schedule
- Noon: Skate Day begins. It includes skateboarding activities and a demonstration by pioneering skateboarder Judi Oyama. A beginner station is run by GoGo Skateboarding.
- 4 p.m.: The day turns into Halloween in Japantown, a free, family-friendly trick-or-treat event.
Visit San Jose lists the event as free.
Who is Judi Oyama?
Oyama is a Sansei, or third-generation, Japanese American skateboarder and graphic designer from the Bay Area. According to JAMsj, she won the 2003 World Slalom Championship and was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2018. JAMsj also says she holds a Guinness World Record for the longest female professional skateboarding career. Her exhibition, "Judi Oyama: To Be Seen / Not Heard," opens at JAMsj on Oct. 31 and runs through May 31, 2027.
A 2003 tradition
San Jose Taiko says Halloween in Japantown began in 2003 as a safety-conscious event for neighborhood kids. Fewer than eight businesses took part the first year. The group says a map and schedule are coming soon.