Sakura Matsuri: Lantern Lighting Ceremony in Washington D.C.

This last April 10th saw the annual Stone Lantern Lighting Ceremony in Washington DC's Cherry Blossom Festival. This ceremony marks the 60 year old gift from Japan which is over 350 years old and sits by the Tidal Basin and is only lit once a year.

Lighting the Stone Lantern was Ms. Miyuko Niwa (seen here in the beautiful kimono) who is the 2016 Japan Princess, chosen by the local Japanese community in the D.C. area. She lit the lantern with the help of a member of the National Park Service. 

Current Japanese Ambassador Kinichiro Sasae delivered these words before a large crowd that included Cherry Blossom Princesses selected by Japanese American Communities: "One day this lantern of friendship will have spent as much time in this country as in Japan and some future Japanese Ambassador will be standing here talking about the ancient friendship between Japan and the United States."

We evidently didn't know this Stone Lantern was there or we would have stopped by on our trip to Washington D.C. last year but happy to see this here. We at American Mishima would like to give Ambassador Sasae and the Government of Japan a big ども ありがとう and wish for our two nations continued friendship for generations to come!

Washington's Sakura Matsuri

Every Spring in Japan is marked by the annual Sakura Viewing festivals and parties. But when it comes to Cherry Blossom festivals, you may have not considered Washington D.C. Yes, that's right! We have a Sakura Matsuri right here in our nation's Capital. Our nation's lasting gift from Japan blooms this time of year and is celebrated with an annual National Cherry Blossom Festival complete with parades, viewing parties, and a multitude of Japanese themed events that will through April 17th 2016. 

For those who may not know the National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift from then Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to Washington D.C. in an effort to strengthen ties between our two countries. This was actually the second gift as the first Sakura given to America were found to be infested thus burned in 1910. Over the years, Japan has contributed to the development of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C. and runs a series of events such as a paper lantern festival and a true Japanese Sakura Matsuri.

Enjoy Kudasai! 

For more information, please check local listings.

 

一日の画像 Picture of the Day : Gunto meets Budo!

Atsumi Taichou & Rosasu demonstrating two faces of Bushido at the 2010 Southern California Sakura Matsuri this last April 11th, in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.

BONZAI!!!

櫻 祀 Sakura Matsuri 2010 Update

The 2010 Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California is almost here! It will be taking place in Little Tokyo this April 10th & 11th 2010. As in years past Shinkendo will participate in the martial arts demonstrations with one new additional feature; ME! ほんと です か? はい! That's right! Yours truly, the author of American Mishima himself will be taking part of this years Shinkendo sword demonstration taking place on Sunday April 11th. So please come out and watch our demonstration as well as the many other events that will be taking place this year. We've always had fun at the Sakura Matsuri in Little Tokyo and this year shall be even more fun with me in the mix (I assure you there will be no beheadings accidental or otherwise or acts of seppuku in this demonstration of modern Samurai arts unless of course I make a mistake - なん-ちゃって!) so come out and enjoy the fun and all those かわいい girls in kimono!

For more information and a complete line up of events please visit the festivals official website at:
2010 Cherry Blossom Festival Southern California