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Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival, April 1-3

Seattle Center Festál: Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival offers exploration and insights into the culture of Japan, April 1 – 3, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., in Center House, Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center Pavilion and Seattle Center Skatepark.

Learn the game GO, play with Japanese toys and participate in a tea ceremony. This feast for the senses features delicious food, Taiko drumming, artisan demonstrations and skate board routines that present both a modern and ancient view of this complex culture. 

This year’s festival theme is “Visions: Future of Our Cities”, with exhibits, speaking forums and educational activities addressing various problems engendered by urbanization.

Highlights include:  Struggling Cities:  from Japanese Urban Projects in the 1960s, The Japan Foundation exhibit and public symposium presented by the U.W. College of Built Environments, April 1, 2:30 p.m.; Water:  the Next Precious Resource, Apirl 2, time TBA; Coming of Age Ceremony, Seijin Shaki, for those reaching the age of 20, Apirl 2, 2 p.m.; Eco-sense:  Learn from Anime and Teach our Kids, talks by Shinya Asami, President of Ecore Global, April 3, time TBA; Future Cities Competition exhibit by Hamilton International School science students and talk, April 3, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Additional activities:

  • Hagoromo 2011 illumination exhibit by artist Yuri Kinoshita
  • Screening of One Big Hapa Family, with director Jeff Chiba Sterns 
  • Pre-celebration of The Next Fifty, the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair
  • Origami Airplane Contest, co-sponsored by Boeing Asian American Professional Association and The Boeing Company
  • More skateboarding with demonstrations and clinics by “Skate Like A Girl” and the Skateboarding Coalition

Seattle Center Festál: Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival is presented by Seattle Center in partnership with the Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival Committee. For more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.