Mother Nature, in her infinite beauty and grace, reminds us each Spring that anything is possible. The cherry blossom, or sakura, illustrates this point so beautifully with its burst of blooms from January to June. The cherry blossom is the unofficial flower of Japan and has been celebrated for centuries as a prominent influence in social customs and culture.

When the Japanese began their immigration to America in the late 19th century, they shared the gift of the cherry blossom and planted cherry trees throughout their new country. In 1912, the Japanese government, as a token of good will, sent thousands of cherry trees to Washington D.C. which began the first Sakura Matsuri, or Cherry Blossom Festival in the U.S. Today, the cherry blossom continues to symbolize the connection between two vastly diverse cultures.

To walk below a canopy of cherry blossoms with friends at hanami, or cherry blossom viewing time, is a beautiful experience on many levels. Luckily, this feeling can be recreated even when the cherry blossoms are gone, by extending friendship, cooperation and understanding between Japan and the U.S., especially here in Austin, Texas through JASGA. Please join us and continue the tradition that the cherry blossom began.

For a very interesting article on how Japanese celebrate this exciting time, click here.

Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan:

• Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival, Motobu, Okinawa --
  The earliest cherry blossom festival in the year
• Tateyama Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Nagasaki-city, Nagasaki --
  More than 700 sakura trees
• Hiroshima Peace Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Hiroshima-city, Hiroshima --
  More than 300 sakura trees
• Tsuyama Kakuzan Koen Cherry Blossom Festival, Tsuyama-city, Okayama --
  More than 5000 sakura trees
• Mogami Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Mogami-city, Iwate --
  More than 10,000 sakura trees
• Matsumae Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Matsumae-town, Hokkaido --
  More than 10000 sakura trees