Yokohama Chinatown, the largest town of Chinese merchants in Japan, is packed with tourists from all over the country on weekends. In October, the town is busy preparing for one of the biggest festivals of the year, the Sohu Festival. The main attraction is the traditional acrobatic lion dance. Young graduates of the Chinese Academy in the center of town practice until late at night. Some have taken over Chinese restaurants, others have chosen to leave the city and live in Japanese society. The three days leading up to the festival provide a glimpse into the bonds of Chinatown and what it means to be an overseas Chinese.
