The 41st Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival drew thousands of visitors from the Greater Seattle area to experience the culture of the Japanese and Japanese American community.
The festival featured dozens of community, cultural and food booths, educational programs through film screening and lectures and stage performances. Guests to the event included English Rakugo performer Kanariya Eiraku and his troupe, Minori Nago and Utako Ishikawa of the Okinawa musical and dance performers, Masanori Baba, director of the Koda Farm documentary “Seeds – The Life of the Rice King and His Kin” and Wesley Julian and Daniel Martin of Great East Japan Earthquake documentary “113 Project.”
performs his English Rakugo
The Japan Foundation also premiered its new travel exhibit “Yakishime – Earth Metamorphosis” in Seattle.
The festival reception was held on April 22 at the Seattle Center and hosted by the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle. Takeyuki Suetsugu of Bistro Satsuma received a certificate from Japan`s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as a new Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador. Oshu Go, who has worked to strengthen economic ties between Japan and Washington State as a Port of Seattle staff, was also awarded the Consul General’s Commendation
Fujimine Ensemble performs on stage
demonstration
Midori and Utako Ishikawa from
Okinawa on stage
Japanese Language school students
sing songs on stage
Baba appears in the festival for the
screening of Seeds The Life of
the Rice King and His Kin
travel exhibit Yakishime premiers
in Seattle The exhibit will continue
through May 1
an effor t on the KumamotoOita
earthquake relief
Sogabe and Midori Kono Thiel are
featured at the festival
sells Sushi Burritos
on stage
Abdel Fat tah a Gar f ield High
School seninior wins the Level 4
speech division in the 33rd Annual
Washington State Japanese Speech
Skit Contest last Friday
Kendo Federation on stage Photo
by Eugene Tagawa below right
Budokan Dojo demonstrates on
stage
English and Japanese pages 1
