JJF Concept
The festival was first held in Tokyo in 1999 and has since been held every year in different locations throughout Japan.
The 28th edition of JJF is scheduled to take place this year, in 2026. The festival's concept is built around core ideas as below;
Opportunity for jugglers to come together, socialize, practice, and exchange information.
It offers a space where jugglers can interact freely, attend workshops to learn new techniques and theories, participate in juggling-related games, and showcase their skills in open performance sessions etc..
Advancing the level of juggling in Japan.
The highlight of JJF is the "Championships Stage," where performers showcase their skills and compete based on their level of skill, originality, and more. Through this competition, the festival aims to encourage jugglers to brush up their skills and contribute to the development of juggling in Japan.
A festival where connections create new challenges.
JJF2026 aims to be a festival where people gather to share diverse ideas and perspectives, which inspire a lot of new challenges.
JJF2026 resolution: To establish a system that can continue to host JJF in the future.
We believe that JJF made a significant contribution to the growth of juggling in Japan. We aspire to create a system that ensures the stable and continued holding of JJF.
In order to increase the bar for our operations, we'll work to improve a variety of events to draw in more attendees. We'll also try to improve operational efficiency and human resource development.
Statement: Making JJF a Safe and Fun Place for Everyone
With our new board members in place, the Japan Juggling Association has been thinking deeply about how to make the Japan Juggling Festival (JJF) a truly safe and welcoming space for all.
There has been a growing awareness in society about preventing harassment. Now more than ever, events like ours need to make sure every single participant is treated with respect and feels completely secure.
JJF brings together people of all ages and backgrounds—from kids to adults, and from complete beginners to world-class pros. We’re also thrilled to see more friends joining us from overseas, making JJF a vibrant international event where people of different nationalities, cultures, and languages can connect. We believe this amazing diversity is exactly what makes JJF so special!
To protect this wonderful vibe, we have created a new statement: "Making JJF a Safe and Fun Place for Everyone." Please know that this isn't meant to hold anyone back or make us police each other. Instead, it’s a shared promise. It shows our commitment to building a JJF where everyone feels at ease, simply by respecting each other and acting with kindness. We want to create this positive environment together with all of you, and we truly appreciate your understanding and support.