Spring Break
City Life: Cherry Blossom Festival
Caryn Connolly
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Once again, that magical time of year has come at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Hanami, or the cherry blossom season. The highlight of the season, Sakura Matsuri, the Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This event focuses on Japanese culture and promises to be even more interesting than last year.
Performances by Japanese pop bands, hip-hop artist Akim Funk Buddha, and taiko drummers will introduce festival-goers to traditional and contemporary music styles. Also new this year is a documentary on the history of geisha. A workshop on haiku poetry will take place on Saturday, followed by a classical dance exhibition. A Samurai sword drama will be enacted by Samurai Sword Soul. Several other Japanese folk dances will be followed by the pop performance of happyfunsmile. Other traditional music concerts include flute, koto, and shamisen. The day will end with a kimono fashion show.
In addition to the performances, there will be demonstrations of many traditional arts including bonsai pruning, paper cutting, traditional doll making, ikebana flower arranging, pillow making, jewelry making, woodblock prints, and green tea. Workshops on origami paper folding, learning to play the game Go, flower arrangement, and drumming are balanced with exhibits of ikebana, ice sculpture, prints, dolls, and jewelry. A manga library and a haiku book signing round out the events for Saturday. As can be seen from the exhaustive list of events available, attending every event, workshop, exhibition, and performance will be impossible.
Sunday brings an equally full schedule and perhaps the option to do some of the things which time did not permit on Saturday. The Stevens Anime club will be having its second annual trip to the Cherry Blossom Festival on Sunday, April 29. Admission for students is only $4. By the time of the festival, hundreds of cherry trees will be in full bloom and pink petals will be carpeting the Cherry Esplanade and Cherry Walk where the large tent that will hold all of the performances are set up. Sakura Matsuri will provide the perfect opportunity to try some Japanese food and meet many people who share similar interests.
Performances by Japanese pop bands, hip-hop artist Akim Funk Buddha, and taiko drummers will introduce festival-goers to traditional and contemporary music styles. Also new this year is a documentary on the history of geisha. A workshop on haiku poetry will take place on Saturday, followed by a classical dance exhibition. A Samurai sword drama will be enacted by Samurai Sword Soul. Several other Japanese folk dances will be followed by the pop performance of happyfunsmile. Other traditional music concerts include flute, koto, and shamisen. The day will end with a kimono fashion show.
In addition to the performances, there will be demonstrations of many traditional arts including bonsai pruning, paper cutting, traditional doll making, ikebana flower arranging, pillow making, jewelry making, woodblock prints, and green tea. Workshops on origami paper folding, learning to play the game Go, flower arrangement, and drumming are balanced with exhibits of ikebana, ice sculpture, prints, dolls, and jewelry. A manga library and a haiku book signing round out the events for Saturday. As can be seen from the exhaustive list of events available, attending every event, workshop, exhibition, and performance will be impossible.
Sunday brings an equally full schedule and perhaps the option to do some of the things which time did not permit on Saturday. The Stevens Anime club will be having its second annual trip to the Cherry Blossom Festival on Sunday, April 29. Admission for students is only $4. By the time of the festival, hundreds of cherry trees will be in full bloom and pink petals will be carpeting the Cherry Esplanade and Cherry Walk where the large tent that will hold all of the performances are set up. Sakura Matsuri will provide the perfect opportunity to try some Japanese food and meet many people who share similar interests.
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