Cherry Blossom Festival Tantalizes at Wang Center

The 11th annual Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival on May 7 was sponsored by the Japanese Center at Stony Brook, the Charles B. Wang Center and the Japan Foundation of New York, and produced by the Ryu Shu Kan Japanese Arts Center of Farmingville, which offers karate, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, Tai Chi and Taiko drumming.

All festival proceeds were donated to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES: 
Taiko drums, bonsai exhibition, ink painting, flower arrangements, Kimono, pottery, martial arts demonstrations, anime/manga workshops, Taiko and Japanese folk dances.

PERFORMANCES: 

• Kaoru Watanabe played the Japanese fue (flute) and Taiko drums with his group.
• Yako Miyamoto and her group COBU performed a blend of Taiko and tap.
• Masayo Ishigure, who was featured on the soundtrack of Memoirs of a Geisha, played the Koto and Shamisen with her Koto group, Miyabi.
• Traditional folk dance, modern choreography and rock music were performed by members of the 10tecomai Dance Company.
• Japanese classical dances were offered by the Ichifuji-kai traditional dance group.
• Cosplay singer Reni sang and danced in the Akihabara pop culture style.
• The Ryu Shu Kan Japanese Arts Centre demonstrated the thunder of the Taiko drums.  

DEMONSTRATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS:

• Martial arts demonstrations included Okinawan karate, Japanese kendo (fencing) and judo.
• A Japanese Tea ceremony – Cha no Yu, the unique art of Ikebana (flower arranging) and a Kimono fashion show were presented by Nihon Wasou. 
• Performances of Shakuhachi (bamboo flute) music included the sounds of Zen Shakuhachi, and jazz style improvisations.