Japanese culture celebrated with cherry blossoms

By Jen McShane
Collegian Staff
April 9, 2008

Spring time in Philadelphia brings many city favorites, including baseball with the Phillies and nights out on Penn’s Landing. However, a favorite event of many Philadelphians is the Cherry Blossom Festival, which kicked off with the onset of spring.

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates much of the Japanese culture, specifically the cherry blossoms that bloom on the trees in Japan. For hundreds of years, a well-known Japanese tradition has been the celebration of the cherry blossoms, called Sakura Matsuri, with picnics under the trees, dancing and singing. This festival has been adopted into the Philadelphia culture in part due to the generosity of Japan.

In 1926, in honor of America’s 150th birthday, Japan donated over 1,000 blossoming cherry trees to the city. Continuing in this spirit, the Japanese American Society of Greater Philadelphia has supported the festival, and continued to plant cherry trees all around the city.

“It really is symbolic of the friendship between Japan and the city of Philadelphia,” said Sam Malissa, assistant director of the Japanese America Society. “It combines traditions from both cultures, allowing for visitors to get a nice mix of both.”

 The Subaru Cherry Blossom festival of Greater Philadelphia began this year April 5 and will continue for two weeks. The Aramark Gala at Longwood Gardens kicked off the festival with various Japanese foods and live music April 5.

 Japanese cuisine is a large part of the festival, and there will be opportunities all over the city to taste the Japanese foods. There is a sushi class April 11 at Le Champignon de Tokio on Lombard Street and a sushi-making contest at the Pyramid club on Market Street April 17.

  Japanese art by Philadelphia natives will be showcased during the festival at the Philadelphia Museum of Art April 18. There will also be a discussion of the impact of Japanese art on America.

The Japanese are well-known for their meditation techniques, an example of which can be seen at the Reiki school on South Street. A master of meditation will show how the Japanese healing art of Reiki works, as well as how to sense energy and cleanse the spirit April 17.

 The biggest event of the festival is Sakura Sunday April 13 where Philadelphia has its own “revels” under the blossoming cherry trees. The Sakura Sunday event takes place in Fairmount Park, where most of Philadelphia’s cherry trees reside. The day has various events including: A Japanese tea ceremony, martial arts displays, Japanese art shows, calligraphy examples, origami-making and a cherry tree planting ceremony. Also attending the event will be Japan’s own Cherry Blossom queen.    

mcshanej2@lasalle.edu