Asian Culture Center of Tennessee Is Growing Global Citizens Year-Round

When you hear Asian Culture Center of Tennessee, the first thing that likely comes to mind is its flagship annual event: the Knox Asian Festival. But the nonprofit’s work stretches far beyond a single weekend each year, wrapping around the calendar with outreach, seasonal celebrations, language classes and hands-on community programming designed to educate through experience.

That year-round mission was on display last Sunday during the Center’s celebration of the Japanese New Year. Slightly delayed thanks to snow, it was no less joyful for it. On Market Square, visitors gathered for Mochi Tsuki (traditional mochi pounding) and a Japanese taiko drum performance. Meanwhile, over on Gay Street, the East Tennessee History Center hosted Setsubun, a lively bean-throwing ritual known as mamemaki.

During Setsubun, children gleefully tossed soybeans at mischievous “oni” (demons), chanting “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!”—“Out with demons! In with good fortune!” The ritual marks the welcoming of spring in Japan and is meant to drive away bad luck while inviting good things in. The afternoon also included crafts, music, interactive cultural tables and a sense of playful learning that felt very much in line with the Center’s philosophy.

One afternoon near the end of last year, I met with Executive Director Kumi Alderman to reflect on 2025 and look ahead to what 2026 will bring. Thinking of my own 6-year-old, I asked her why exposing children to other cultures is so central to the organization’s work.

“When children are exposed to other cultures while they’re small, they grow up already open,” Kumi said. “They see the world differently. They can be a good friend to many kinds of people.”

She traced that belief back to her own childhood near Hiroshima. “When we learned about the war, my teacher told us not to hate the people who caused it, but to pray for the world,” she said. 

For Kumi, cultural understanding is something you absorb by doing. 

“When kids experience another culture—through food, music, stories—they open up naturally,” she said. “They become curious. They accept people and differences more easily. That is how you grow global citizens.”

That philosophy guides everything the Center does, from festivals to classroom visits to seasonal gatherings like Sunday’s Setsubun celebration.

Looking ahead, the Knox Asian Festival remains a major highlight. Its 13th iteration will take place Saturday, August 29 (VIP event) and Sunday, August 30, 2026, bringing together food, performances and traditions representing cultures from Japan, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Nepal and Pakistan.

Due to year-long construction at World’s Fair Park, the festival layout will shift in 2026. Main performances, cultural exhibits and activities will move inside the Knoxville Convention Center, while the Asian Foods Market will remain outside on the World’s Fair Park lawn.

Organizers say the move opens up exciting possibilities and offers a welcome air-conditioned (hurrah!) refuge in late August.

In addition to the festival, the Center’s Japanese seasonal programming continues throughout the year:

• Sunday, March 1 – Hina Doll Festival, 1:30–3:30 p.m., East Tennessee History Center
  Crafts, music and traditional chirashi-zushi ($10/person)
• Sunday, May 5 – Children’s Day, 1:30–3:30 p.m., East Tennessee History Center
  Koi nobori crafts, mochi pounding, music and more ($10/person)

Beyond public events, the Asian Culture Center offers outreach and programming for:

• K–12 schools and childcare centers
• Universities and colleges
• Museums and libraries
• Senior centers
• Community organizations and private groups

Activities range from origami, Japanese calligraphy, kamishibai storytelling, tea ceremonies and ikebana. The Center also offers language lessons taught by native Japanese instructors for both children and adults.

It’s work rooted in connection, shaping how the next generation sees the world one shared experience at a time. Learn more: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Inside of Knoxville is a proud supporter of Knox Asian Festival.