UA’s 20th Annual Sakura Festival Focuses on Japan

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s 20th annual Sakura (cherry blossom) Festival, a celebration of Japanese culture and friendships, is scheduled for March 1-31.

The festival provides an opportunity to experience Japanese culture through lectures, exhibits, demonstrations, a Haiku contest and other activities.

The theme for this year’s festival is “yujo” or friendship. The theme represents the harmony and respect embodied in the wide variety of Japan-focused activities and events that have been set for the month of March.

As in years past, the Sakura Festival is expected to attract people from around the Southeast. Although many events will take place on the UA campus, some activities will be held in the Tuscaloosa community. Most events are free to the public.

In Japan, the Sakura Festival is a celebration of the blossoming of the cherry trees, recognizing spring’s renewal of the spirit of life and celebrating its beauty. UA’s Denny Chimes area boasts a spectacular view of blossoms on cherry trees made possible through a donation from a businessman in Tuscaloosa’s sister city of Narashino, Japan. Cherry blossoms can also be seen at the corner of University Boulevard and Stadium Drive, on trees donated by JVC America, and in the Narashino Grove, located off Lurleen Wallace Boulevard, developed with funds donated by the city of Narashino.

A schedule of festival events includes:

March 1-31 Doll Festival Exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art

Visit the Birmingham Museum to see a collection of Taisho period (1912-1926) Japanese dolls.

March 1-31 Sakura Festival at the Tuscaloosa Children’s Hands-On Museum

Celebrate Sakura with a visit to CHOM’s Japan House, an authentic replica of a Japanese home. Visitors can make a kimono doll bookmark, a cherry blossom picture and a Japanese fan. Call CHOM at 205/349-4235.

March 2-“Ukiyoe: Pictures of the Floating World” Exhibit Opening Reception, UA Ferguson Center Art Gallery, 6:30 p.m.

March 3-Doll Festival Exhibit, Tuscaloosa Japan Culture and Information Center

Children of all ages are invited to celebrate the Doll’s Festival/Girl’s Day/Peach Festival Friday, March 3 at JCIC from 2:30-4 p.m. in 121F B.B. Comer Hall. Beautiful dolls representing the traditional Japanese royal court will be on display in the “tatami” room. Call the JCIC at 205/348-5311 for details.

March 4-Japanese Anime, Tuscaloosa Public Library, 1-4:30 p.m. Contact Elizabeth Bradt at 205/345-5820; admission is free.

March 6-7 Japanese Film Festival, Bama Theatre, Greensboro Ave., 7:30 p.m., admission is free.

March 6 – “Sasame-yuki” (“The Makioka Sisters”)

March 7- “Bakushu” (“Early Summer”)

March 11-Matsuri in the Mall, McFarland Mall Center Court, Tuscaloosa

The matsuri, or festival, in the mall affords the opportunity to experience the true kizuna/bonds of Japanese culture.

11-11:05 a.m.-Opening Ceremony-Kip Tyner, local TV personality

11:10-11:40 a.m.-Japanese Drumming-Taiko-Nozomi Daiko

11:45 a.m. -12:05 p.m.- Sword Demonstration- International Shinkendo

12:10-12:30 p.m. Japanese Drumming-Taiko-Nozomi Daiko

12:35-12:55 p.m. – Japanese Martial Arts-UA Yoseikan Budo Club

1-1:20 p.m. – Okinawa Taiko Drum and Dance- Miyagi Ryu Nishokai Dance & Music School

1:25-1:55 p.m. -Sumo Demonstration- Georgia Sumo Association

2-2:45 p.m. – Okinawa Taiko Drum and Dance- Miyagi Ryu Nishokai Dance & Music School

2:50-3:10 p.m.-Suzuki Strings-UA Community Music School

3:15-3:45 p.m.-Sumo Demonstration-Georgia Sumo Association

3:50-4:10 p.m. – Okinawa Taiko Drum and Dance- Miyagi Ryu Nishokai Dance & Music School

4:15-4:30 p.m. – Japanese Drumming-Taiko-Nozomi Daiko

4:30 p.m. – Announcement of the winner of a free round trip ticket to Japan

Matsuri in the Mall-Booth Activities:

Anime Show- UA Anime Club

Art of Japanese Wrappings-West Alabama Japanese Community

Calligraphy and Origami – UA Japan Culture and Information Center

Continental Airlines

Display & Sale of Bonsai-Leo Wagner-Bonsai

Display/Demonstration of Flower Arrangement-Ikebana International Chapter137

“Do you know Sumo?”- Georgia Sumo Association

Japanese Drumming-Taiko – UA Nozomi Daiko

Japanese Martial Arts – UA Yoseikan Budo Club

Japanese Swordsmanship- International Shinkendo

Kimono Display – Michelle Slagle, kimono consultant

“Name that Picture!”- UA Japan Club

Traditional Japanese Toys – The Japan-America Society of America

Traditional Japanese Woodwork Display- Sahara Japanese Architectural Woodwork Inc.

Travel Information- IACE Travel

Treasure Hunting in the Flea Market- UA Japan Culture and Information Center

Tuscaloosa Sister Cities – Tuscaloosa Sister-Cities Commission

“Visit Japan!” – The Consulate General of Japan – Atlanta

March 15 – A Taste of Japan, 3-4 p.m., 121 B.B. Comer Hall, UA

Enjoy tasting Japan’s favorite dishes of rolled osushi, onigiri/rice ball and okonomiyaki/Japanese pizza. Contact 205/348-5311; admission is free.

March 27-28 – Narashino High School Band, UA Moody Music Concert Hall

March 27, 7 p.m.

March 28, 10:30 a.m. performance for Tuscaloosa area high school students

The 125-member Narashino High School Band is consistently ranked among the very best in Japan. The band’s performance includes orchestral and modern music, featuring costumes and dancers. Contact Lisa Keyes at 205/469-2183; admission is free.

For more information about Sakura Festival events contact the UA Japan Program at 205/348-5312, 348-5311, http://bama.ua.edu/~jprogram/sakura.