Social media food influencer Keith Lee poses with a sailor during Friendship Day at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Oct. 6, 2024. (James Kimber/U.S. Navy)

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Nearly 53,000 people, including a popular American social media influencer and food critic, traveled to the homeport of the U.S. 7th Fleet for its annual Friendship Day on Sunday.

Now in its 46th year, the festival celebrates the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Japan and routinely draws large crowds. About 52,900 people attended this year, making it the most highly attended Friendship Day since 2016 when 59,000 people joined the festivities, according to base spokesman Justin Keller.

“Friendship Day is an important opportunity for visitors of the base to learn more about the U.S. Navy and Japan partnership,” he said by email Sunday. “It’s an opportunity for the Fleet Activities Yokosuka and local communities to come together to celebrate our friendship and forge new bonds.”

Street performers march through the Friendship Day crowd while playing Japanese and American music at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Oct. 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

A street performer makes bubbles for children on Friendship Day at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Oct. 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

A cosplayer chats with a festivalgoer during Friendship Day at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Oct. 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

American snacks were popular items on Friendship Day at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Oct. 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

A performer on a hydroflight board shows off for Friendship Day visitors at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Oct. 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

Among this year’s attendees was food influencer Keith Lee, who was photographed posing alongside a sailor at the festival. Lee, who boasts more than 16 million TikTok followers, has been posting videos from Tokyo since Friday.

Lee’s attendance was not planned by the Navy, Keller said. The influencer did not immediately respond to a request for comment via social media on Monday.

Drawing in throngs of Japanese visitors, the festival features exhibitions from various components of the base, including the fire station and the ship-repair facility, as well as food, souvenirs, music and other entertainment.

Dozens of booths serving up American hot dogs, burgers, potato chips and energy drinks are popular each year.

Other events included tours of the guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn, a scavenger hunt, performances by the 7th Fleet band, carnival games, street performers and a fireworks show to close out the festival.

The festival was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, it drew just over 50,000 people.

“We’re thrilled to see the festival’s popularity remains as strong as ever,” Keller added.