SF Cherry Blossom Festival Brings Meals and Enjoyable to Japantown

San Francisco’s 59th annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival introduced cultural showcases, meals, and festivities to the streets of Japantown this weekend. The competition spanned a number of blocks and likewise featured some indoor displays. Participants had been in a position to expertise many elements of Japanese tradition by conventional performances, culinary dishes, artwork, and shows.

On Sunday, regardless of the pouring rain, a whole lot confirmed as much as the competition. People of all ages and cultures socialized throughout the venues, stands, performances, and meals stations.

Performances highlighting Japanese tradition kicked off the occasion. The Theater of Yugen, a Japanese manufacturing group, carried out a comedic skit about tasting candy honey, believing it was poison. Oshiro Karate Dojo displayed martial arts, demonstrating sharp, crisp actions. 

“It’s great to see the students out and performing. Different people come and really shine in the performance, and the kids are always fun. Even people I’ve been practicing with for a long time, it’s kind of a treat to watch them perform,” Oshiro Karate Dojo teacher Sonya Chang mentioned. 

A conventional Japanese dance from Nijikko Dance School adopted, with performers of all ages capturing the viewers’s consideration with sleek, fluid actions. All of the performers had been draped in colourful kimonos and sashes. The martial artists wielded staffs and daggers, whereas dancers wore conventional hats and headdresses. 

Another main side of the competition was the meals. Many meals vehicles supplied each candy and savory dishes like teriyaki burgers, meat skewers, pancakes, Japanese hotdogs, shaved ice, Korean donuts, fried oreos, gyoza, spam musubi, and butter mochi. Some stands additionally offered drinks, similar to slushies, beer, and comfortable drinks. Many of the meals vehicles had been elevating cash for various causes, together with the Lions Club and Rosa Parks Elementary School. 

“I enjoyed eating all the snacks. I had red bean pancakes for the first time today. They’re very delicious, fresh off the oven,” competition attendee Kalea Pasion mentioned.

Stands starting from neighborhood service organizations to native artisans and interactive video games lined the streets. “I’m a big fan of all the art in the area. Seeing the artisans and the screen printing has been cool. The kimono-inspired jewelry was also really awesome,” Pasion mentioned. 

Other organizations just like the Aquarium of the Bay, Physicians Organizing Committee, and a Japan examine overseas program had been selling themselves and searching for to develop their volunteer communities. 

In the Children’s Cherry Blossom Village, households coloured, accomplished scavenger hunts, made cultural crafts, and performed carnival video games like ring toss and fishing for geese. All of the proceeds from the tickets for the kids’s video games went on to the organizations and colleges who had been taking part.

In the 59th yr of the Cherry Blossom Festival, the favored occasion has continued its legacy of bringing the San Francisco and Japantown communities collectively in pleasure and respect. By visiting, volunteering, and even performing, 1000’s of individuals have come every year to rejoice Japanese tradition over the course of two weekends. “I want to get more involved with the community and meet people, find new interests and hobbies,” volunteer Jason Lin mentioned. 

This upcoming weekend, the occasion organizers will host the ultimate days of the competition on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 from 11:00 a.m to five p.m.