Brooklyn's Progress
April 2003

More than 50 performances of traditional Japanese music, dance, art, and more will transform the Garden into a Japanese oasis during this fun-filled weekend

By Brooklyn Botanic Garden
 
Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Botanic Garden is the place to be April 26 and 27 as the Garden celebrates its 22nd annual cherry blossom festival, Sakura Matsuri, the second largest of its kind in the northeast, with more than fifty performances, demonstrations and workshops. Visitors to the Garden will be immersed in  the cultural traditions enjoyed in Japan during cherry blossom season including traditional Japanese music, dance, and sword fighting. Japanese actor and dancer, Yoshi Amao, will MC the celebration at the Cherry Esplanade stage and talk about the history and tradition of Sakura Matsuri in Japan. Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., all activities are free with paid admission, and take place rain or shine. Each day's schedule is available by calling (718) 623-7333 or by visiting BBG's website at http://www.bbg.org/.
 
New performances, demonstrations and presentations at this year's celebration include:
  

• A kimono fashion show presented by Kyoko Ohnishi.
  
• A concert of Gagaku, the imperial court music performed for Japanese emperors throughout the centuries, with the Tenri Gagaku Music Society of New York.
  
• A demonstration of Wagashi, the tradition of highly artistic Japanese sweets, conducted by Toraya, Japan's oldest confectioners, and featuring cherry-blossom themed sweets.
  
• An exhibit of artist Mukyo Hirama's work, which combines calligraphy and art to form life-size, modern-art pieces, and a demonstration of his process.
  
• An antique kimono presentation by Kururu and Agaru of Tokyo.
  
• A demonstration of the art, history and cultivation of Sencha, or green tea, with the Artisans of Green Tea from Ito En, the world's largest purveyor of green tea.
  
• A hanami (cherry blossom) sushi-making demonstration with chef and instructor, Hiroko Shimbo.
  
• A demonstration of Tsutsumi, the art of Japanese gift wrapping presented by Kate's Paperie.
   

Children's activities include an exciting Samurai Sword Fighting demonstration with Kanda Gumi, a performance of the Fisherman and Tortoise fairy tale by the Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company, a karate presentation with the Kobukan Martial Arts School and Stanton Street Settlement, an origami workshop with Jeremy Aaron and Soojin Horland, a ginger-planting Discovery Workshop, and more.
 
Returning favorites, the Soh Daiko taiko drummers, will take the stage Saturday, to thrill audiences with their dramatic performances and resonating musical rhythms. Sachito Ito & Company will perform classical Japanese and Okinawan dance, complete with beautiful costumes and traditional make-up. Japanese folk and modern dance will also be performed. The written art of calligraphy, the ancient floral art Ikebana, and bonsai pruning techniques will be demonstrated. Haiku readings, origami workshops, and shakuhachi flute performances will add to day's festivities.
 
In Japan, flowering cherries enjoy a rich history reaching back one thousand years. The Japanese even have a special name for flower viewing (hanami) and a long-established tradition surrounding the custom. This tradition is the inspiration for Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Sakura Matsuri Festival.
 
Most cherry blossoms last no more than a week, and tracking their fleeting beauty has become an event unto itself. Floods of phone calls asking "Are they blooming yet?" led the Garden to make wise use of new technology. Since 1999, Brooklyn Botanic Garden has answered this question by tracking blossoms for all the cherry trees in the Garden via the World Wide Web. Anyone can log on to our Website at http://www.bbg.org/cherrywatch/ to find out which cherries are flowering and where they are located. Even though the blooms are short-lived, with more than 42 varieties of cherries, the Garden is assured of an enchanting and long-lasting display.
 
The Garden is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm Tuesday through Friday, and from 10am to 6:00pm on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. The Garden is closed on Mondays except on public holidays. General admission is charged. Children under 16, all school groups, Garden Members, and Frequent Visitor Pass holders are admitted free at all times. Seniors are admitted free all-day Friday, and the Garden is free to the public on Saturdays until noon, and on Tuesdays. The Garden has entrances on Eastern Parkway, Flatbush Avenue, and at 900 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. By subway, take the 2 or 3 train to Eastern Parkway or the Q to Prospect Park. By bus, use the B41, B47, B48 or B71. Parking is available at 900 Washington Avenue for a fee. For more information call 718/623-7200. Additional information is also offered online at http://www.bbg.org/