Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival is a FREE, public festival dedicated to increasing the understanding and friendship between the people of Japan and the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival was initiated by a gift of 1,000 cherry trees that were given to Seattle on May 8, 1976, by Japan’s former Prime Minister, Takeo Miki, in commemoration of America’s bicentennial and the long friendship between the people of Japan and Washington state. Today, the festival is the largest and oldest of its kind in the Northwest. Hanami, cherry blossom viewing, is a reminder to celebrate life, and the pink petals carried on the breeze at the first festival engendered that thought. This year's 2021 festival theme is the Regional Japan Expo — Soul of Artisans.

PROGRAM - Friday, April 9: Ceremony & Legacy

• Welcome: Awa Odori of Tokushima Prefecture — Soul of Festival
• Greetings from Festival Chair, Tazue Sasaki
• Interview with Seattle Center Director, Robert Nellams
• Mayor of Seattle & Honorary Festival Co-Chair, Jenny Durkan
• Consul General of Japan in Seattle & Honorary Festival Co-Chair, Hisao Inagaki
• Suspended Spring: Cherry Blossoms/COVID 2nd Spring
• 2020 augmented reality work by visual artist Tamiko Thiel
• Seward Park Cherry Blossoms and new Torii — Paul Talbert and Friends of Seward Park
• '80s Seattle Cherry Blossom Festivals
• Haru no Umi (The Sea in Spring): Marcia Takamura, Koto and Esther Sugai — Flute
• Tea Ceremony with Tankokai Seattle Association
• 1990-2000’s Seattle Cherry Blossom Festivals
• Demonstration and Exhibit of Ikebana International Chapter 19 — Mariko Faught and Linda Vane
• Moribana Beginner's Tutorial by Akemi Sagawa, Sogetsu School
• Advanced Ikebana by Diane Elliott, Sogetsu Seattle Branch
• 2001-2010’s Seattle Cherry Blossom Festivals
• Taiko Kotobuki Jishi by Seattle Kokon Taiko
• 2011-2020’s Seattle Cherry Blossom Festivals
• Japanese Calligraphy 101 by Ricky Kashiba, Beikoku Shodo Kenkyukai, Seattle Chapter
• Festival Advisory Organizations: Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, JET Experience, Hyogo Business & Cultural Center, Japan-America Society of State of Washington, Japan Business Association of Seattle, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Seattle Chapter, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington, Mayor of Seattle, Jenny Durkan, Seattle Center: Virtual Festál 2021, Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association

• NHK World-Japan Documentaries: A Vanished Dream Wartime Story of my Japanese Grandfather
• NHK World-Japan Documentaries:10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki: Episodes 1-4

PROGRAM - Saturday, April 10: Regional Japan Expo — Soul of Artisans

• Hiking in Japan: Michinoku Hike (Tohoku); Shinetsu Trail (Nagano/Niigata); Kumano Kodo (Wakayama) with Hiro Shinozaki, Yamnuska Hiking Tours
• Fukushima Prefecture — Seattle Fukushima Club
• Tohoku Earthquake
• Tsunami 10th Memorial with Panos
• Wakayama Prefecture — Seattle Kishu Club
• Ochiba Art by Muneo Yoshikawa
• Kamishibai Dojoji with Dillon Brown
• Demo - Aikido with Ki Aikido USA
• Hyogo Prefecture — Hyogo Business & Cultural Center
• Myouchin Hibashi Wind Chimes
• Japanese Swordsmith
• Hiroshima Prefecture — Seattle Hiroshima Club
• Hiroshima Sites
• Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki
• Fukuoka Prefecture Promotional — Seattle-Tacoma Fukuoka Kenjinkai
• Fukuoka culturally-induced products
• Okinawa Prefecture — Okinawa Kenjinkai of Washington State Chijinshuu
• OKK Taiko
• Dancers/Musicians
• Tokyo — Fukagawa area of Koto ward with its famous Fukagawa Matsuri
• NHK World-Japan Documentaries: Tokyo Miracle City: Gourmet Capital - Keeping Alive the Spirit of Tsukiji
• NHK World-Japan Documentaries: SAKE R-Evolution: A Fever Brewing across the Globe (episode 1)
• NHK World-Japan Documentaries: SAKE R-Evolution: Heady Milestones in a New Era (episode 2)

PROGRAM - Sunday, April 11: Regional Japan Expo — Soul of Artisans

• Taiko by Northwest Taiko
• Mixed Critters (2018) & Nori and His Delicious Dreams (2020) — readings by Jeff Chiba Stearns
• Chiyogami Ningyo Dolls by Kuniko Mancini
• Japan in a Suitcase: Taro Goes to Elementary School (JAPAN In the SCHOOLS) — Japan-America Society of the State of Washington
• Cooking Demonstration: Sakura Roll with Jean Nakayama of Maneki Restaurant
• Located in Japantown, Maneki is Seattle's oldest sushi restaurant.
• Tea Ceremony with Chanoyu Seattle Omotesenke-ryu
• Classic Martial Tradition by Shintokan Dojo
• Enka by George Satake group
• Karate Demonstration by Seattle Seido Karate
• Dances by UV Dance Squad
• Taiko Demonstration by The School of Taiko
• On Being Yukiko — reading by Jeff Chiba Stearns
• Performance by Fujima Dance/Music Ensemble
• NHK World-Japan Documentaries: The Tale of Granny Mochi: Kuwata Misao

Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival is part of Seattle Center Festál 2021, a year-long series of virtual festivals to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. The series began in 1997 to offer a central place for festivals to invite the public to join in their unique cultural expressions. Seattle Center Festál is Where the World Gathers, and is produced with the generous support of T-Mobile, 4Culture, the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.

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