UA Japan Program Presenting 23rd Sakura Festival

Sakura FestivalTUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Capstone International Center Japan Program will be celebrating the 23rd annual Sakura Festival March 1-31.

The Sakura Festival is held in honor of the time of ohanami, or viewing of the cherry blossoms.

The festival also exhibits the Japanese culture through music, dance, art displays, traditional Japanese green tea parties and a Haiku contest. This year’s theme for the festival is ame, or rain, to remind people of the emotions a single act of nature may evoke.

The festival brings people from throughout the Southeast to the University and Tuscaloosa; UA will host a number of events throughout the month-long festival, in addition to numerous events held in the surrounding community.

The schedule for the 2009 Sakura Festival includes:

  • The deadline for the 19th Annual Haiku Contest of the 23rd Sakura Festival is March 2.
    With the theme ame/rain, the contest provides an opportunity people in both Alabama and Narashino City to express emotions in words. Entries for the contest can be submitted in both English and Japanese and the winners will receive prizes. Information and entry forms are available at http://bama.ua.edu/~jprogram/sakura.
  • Sakura Festival at the Children’s Hands-on-Museum
    March 2-31
    Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., closed on Sundays
    CHOM, 2213 University Boulevard, Downtown Tuscaloosa
    Information is available at 205/349-4235. Admission is charged.

Celebrate Sakura Festival with a visit to CHOM’s Japan House, an authentic replica of a Japanese home. Visitors can create a variety of Japanese-inspired art projects throughout the month of March, including kimono doll bookmarks, origami kimono dolls, cherry blossom pictures, Japanese fans and framed Imperial Couple paper dolls. Creation Station will be open daily to make kimono doll bookmarks and view the Hina Matsuri-Doll Festival display in CHOM’s Japan House with additional activities each weekend. Free with museum admission.

Every day
Kimono doll Bookmarks, 2-4 p.m.

Saturday, March 7
Origami Kimono Dolls, 10:30 a.m. – noon & 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 14
Cherry Blossom Pictures, 10:30 a.m. – noon & 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 21
Japanese Fans, 10:30 a.m. – noon & 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 28
Imperial Couple Framed Paper Dolls, 10:30 a.m. – noon & 2 – 3:30 p.m.

  • “Great Day Tuscaloosa” Sakura Festival television appearances. Tune in to “Great Day Tuscaloosa” on Comcast Cable Channel 20 to enjoy Japan’s traditional cultural activities and preview upcoming Sakura Festival activities.
At Noon Featured Topics
Monday, March 2 Michelle Slagie, Kimono Consultant
Tuesday, March 3 Children’s Hands-On-Museum (CHOM)
Wednesday, March 4 Ukiyo-e (Japanese art)
Thursday, March 5 Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission
Friday, March 6 Tuscaloosa Public Library
Thursday, March 27 Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission & a Narashino visitor
  • Doll Festival/Hina Matsuri Exhibit at UA International Center for Students
    March 2-30
    9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    121-F BB Comer Hall, UA International Center for Students
    Free admission

Beautiful dolls representing the traditional Japanese royal court will be on display in the tatami room. These precious dolls have been handed down from generation to generation. The Doll Festival, which was originally a purification ritual, represents a day of hope for the growth, happiness and future of young girls. For more information call 205/348-5256 or http://bama.ua.edu/~japan/sakura

  • Hanga: Two Hundred Years of Japanese Woodblock Prints
    Opening reception, Thursday, March 5, 6 p.m.
    Art Gallery, Ferguson Center
    Free admission.
    To view by appointment, contact Catherine Pagani at 205/348-9944

The Ferguson Center Art Gallery will be the site of an exhibit of Japanese woodblock prints. Included in the exhibit are examples of ukiyo-e or “pictures of floating world,” from the 17th -19th centuries by such well-known masters as Utamaro, Hiroshige and Hokusai. This exhibit will also feature works by modern masters of the 20th century.

  • Tea Ceremony at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens
    By Lilly Kimata Eagleson, the Omote Seke tea master
    Wednesday, April 15
    Performances: 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.
    Toshinan – Japanese Tea House, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham

Ikebana International Jefferson County Chapter 137 will present the Tea Ceremony at the Toshinan – Japanese Tea House. Enjoy the tea ceremony performance along with a cup of hot powdered green tea and a traditional Japanese sweet. Spaces are limited. First come, first served. For more information contact Jessie Bean, President of the Ikebana International Jefferson County Chapter 137 at 205/823-1985

  • Sakura Festival at the Tuscaloosa Public Library
    1801 Jack Warner Parkway, Tuscaloosa
    Information is available from Jana R. Fine at 205/345-5820
    Free Admission
  • Anime Character Creations with Kittyhawk
    Wednesday, March 11, 4:30 p.m., Weaver Bolden Library
    Friday, March 13, 3:30 p.m., Tuscaloosa Public Library
    Thursday, March 19, 3:30 p.m., Brown Library
  • Annual Art Contest at Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission
    Deadline: Thursday, March 19
    Art Contest Theme: Your Path to Peace

The contest is open to children from kindergarten through 12th grade from Narashino, Japan, Schorndorf, Germany, and all Tuscaloosa City Schools. Entries of the Sakura Art Contest will be displayed in the Center Court of the McFarland Mall and during Matsuri in the Mall March 28. There will be three categories: elementary, middle school and high school. Judging will take place at the Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission, Jemison Van de Graaff Mansion on Tuesday, March 24. Winning artwork may be selected to compete for cash prizes and national recognition in the Sister Cities International Young Artist Competition, which will take place in July. For more information contact Lisa Keyes at 205/469-2183 or lykeyes@dbtech.net

  • Matsuri/Festival in the Mall
    Saturday, March 28 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
    McFarland Mall Center Court
    900 Skyland Boulevard East, Tuscaloosa

Matsuri in the Mall offers an opportunity to experience Japanese culture through an exciting variety of cultural exhibits and performances. The event is designed to build friendship and to increase an understanding of the country and people of Japan. More information is available at 205/348-5256, Capstone International Center.

Matsuri at the Mall Booth activities:

Activity Organization
Display & Sale of Bonsai Leo Wagner
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu BTSD Tuscaloosa Bujinkan Martial Arts
Overseas Exchange Programs-Japan Capstone International Center
Display & Sale of Student Ceramic Work Crimson Ceramics Society
“Lets Sumo” Georgia Sumo Association
Display of Flower Arrangement Ikebana International Jefferson Country
Kimono Display Kimono Consultant
Display of Okinawa Dance and Taiko Miyagi Ryu Noshokai
Information on Japan The Consulate General of Japan-Atlanta
Origami & Traditional Japanese Toys The Japan-America Society of Alabama
Information on Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission
“Fun with Japan Club” UA Japan Club
Japanese General Store West Alabama Japanese Community
Japanese Drum Ensemble UA Nozomi Daiko
Japanese Pop Dance Lessons Unmatching Socks

Stage Activities

Time Performance Organization
11- 11:05 a.m. Opening Ceremony
Nozomi Daiko-Drumming
Kip Tyner
UA Nozomi Daiko
11:10- 11:40 a.m. Music Performance by Suzuki Violin UA Community Music Students
School Suzuki Strings
11:45- 12:15 p.m. Bujinkan Budo Taijitsu BTSD Tuscaloosa martial arts
12:20- 12:50 p.m. Nozomi Daiko – Drumming UA Nozomi Daiko
12:55- 1:25 p.m. Traditional Japanese Swordsmanship International Shinkendo
1:30- 1:50 p.m. Okinawa Dance & Eisa Taiko Miyagi Ryu Noshokai
1:55- 2:25 p.m. Japanese Pop Dance Unmatching Socks
2:30- 3 p.m. “Let’s Sumo!” Georgia Sumo Association
3:05- 3:35 p.m. Sketch Comedy Show UA Japan Club
3:40- 4 p.m. Okinawa Dance & Eisa Taiko Miyagi Ryu Noshokai
4:05- 4:35 p.m. Traditional Japanese Swordsmanship International Shinkendo
4:40- 5:10 p.m. “Lets Sumo!” Georgia Sumo Association
5:15- 5:35 p.m. Okinawa Dance & Eisa Taiko Miyagi Ryu Noshokai
5:40- 5:45 p.m. Nozomi Daiko – Drumming UA Nozomi Daiko
5:45- 5:50 p.m. Closing Ceremony  

For more information about Sakura Festival events, contact the Capstone International Center at 205/348-5256 or http://bama.ua.edu/~jprogram/sakura.

Contact

Chloe LeBaron or Linda Hill, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu