San Francisco Japantown Task Force

DATA SHEET

Place/Event: Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

Address: Post St. - Between Laguna and Fillmore, San Francisco

Description:

Every April, over a period of two weekends, more than 100,000 people come to San Francisco’s Japantown to enjoy the cultural performances and demonstrations, foods, arts exhibits, and grand parade organized by the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Committee. Local groups come out to share with audiences traditional Japanese cultural performing arts, including taiko drums, Japanese classical dance, Japanese tea ceremony, as well as give visitors a taste of Japanese cuisine at the food bazaar portion of the festival. Booths set up along Post Street and in the Buchanan Mall showcase handicrafts, art and non-profit organizations. The Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Pageant in the first weekend selects one young, capable woman represent the Northern California Japanese American community. The second weekend showcases many performers from Japan, strengthening and preserving the strong U.S.-Japan bilateral relations that have lasted for more than 150 years. The festival finale is the Grand Parade in which more than 30 groups participate, walking from Civic Center all the way to Japantown. As featured in many festivals in Japan, the parade concludes with the processional of the mikoshi shrine (portable shrine) carried by over 100 men and women.

History:

The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival began in April 1967 during a time of changes in our society. San Franciscans witnessed on-going rallies and demonstrations for both the war and civil rights. It was a time of new ethnic community awareness for groups like the Japanese Americans. The Cherry Blossom Festival started as a great display of Japanese cultural heritage and pride. Community groups came together as a spirit of unity, some taking form for the first time in order to participate in the Festival. Throughout the 37 years, it has grown to encompass the many facets of the Japanese community.

Significance:

Cultural, Historical, Social

Recognition of Significance:

Comcast television broadcast, multiple articles in Asian Week, San Francisco Examiner Newspaper,

Sources:

Allen Okamoto – Executive Committee Member, 2004 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Co-Chair

Takeno Chiyo – Executive Assistant, 2004 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

Other Comments:

Prepared By: Darryl Abantao Date Prepared: 12/22/04