The International Children's Day Celebration was held on October 5-6, 2002 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations across the street from United Nations Headquarters. This is the third year that ISF has organized the event in New York. Over seventy children and parents participated in three ceremonies held over the two days.
　
Participating families came not only from New York and New Jersey, but also from surrounding Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Many local ladies volunteered to help dress children in kimono before the ritual. The Tenri Cultural Center of New York provided beautiful traditional Japanese instrumental music. This annual performance of Shichigosan in New York is now becoming well-known to the local Japanese community.

On the same day, the Japan Society-sponsored Shintoism workshop was opened and about 30 teachers of the social studies of a school, junior and senior high schools of New York State participated and visited Shichigosan ceremony from the afternoon. There was many questions bombarded from the teachers who looked at the actual Shintoism ceremony for the first time, and Mr. Umeda (Director-General) was all of a sweat trying to answer their questions.


A portion of the customary donations given by participants is contributed to UNICEF for the needy children of the world as usual.

Next year's (2004) International Children's Day Celebration will be held around the same time as this year's. The exact dates will be announced as soon as finalized.