This month Nashvillians can enjoy a day of Japanese culture by participating in the 2010 Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival on March 27 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The beautiful pink trees, called sakura in their homeland, have functioned as a symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan for nearly a century. The festival, which will take place at Riverfront Park, is jointly sponsored by the Japan-America Society Tennessee, the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville, and the City of Nashville. The mission of the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is a ten-year-long initiative: the organization hopes to plant 100 cherry trees each spring for the next ten years. Consul General Sato said, “In the years to come, I hope that the Cherry Blossom Festival will continue to grow as the number of cherry trees grows, and that this festival will become a Nashville tradition.” The 2010 celebration will include a performance by the Kaminari Tiako drum ensemble from Houston, Texas. Visitors can also enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony, martial arts demonstrations, and Japanese food booths.
For more information please visit
www.NashvilleCherryBlossomFestival.org.