Japan Expo Thailand turns 11 and returns with the confidence of something that knows it no longer has to explain itself. Across three days this February, the festival reshapes Bangkok into a loose map of Japanese fixations, from obsessive food corners to showcases that nod at craft, pop culture and newer creative experiments. One minute you’re watching a crowd queue politely for takoyaki, the next you’re drifting past contemporary art, anime curiosities and stages hosting headline Asian acts. Beyond the fanfare, the appeal sits in its range. Travel dreams, study ambitions and licensed collectibles share floor space without judgement. Business conversations hum quietly at the edges. Japan appears less as a distant reference point and more as a familiar neighbour, one that has been part of the region’s cultural vocabulary for years. Consider it a reunion rather than a spectacle.
February 6-8. Free. Central World, 10am-9pm