2024 - 23rd Annual Ohanami - BGSU Cherry Blossom Festival Celebrates Japanese Culture (Sushi & Japanese Snacks, Origami, Tea Ceremony..)NEW

The Ohanami Cherry Blossom Festival will be held in April from noon - 4 pm at the Lenhart Grand Ballroom, Bowen-Thompson Student Union on the Bowling Green State University campus.

The Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates Japanese culture and customs. Join us for individual activities or for the entire festival.  This year's festival returns as an in-person event!

Event Date
April 7, 2024, Sunday

Event Time
Noon - 4:00 pm

Program Schedule
12:00 p.m. Doors Open
12:15 p.m. Welcoming Ceremony & Greetings from Distinguished Guests
12:50-1:10 p.m. Martial Arts 空手、居合 by Wadokan
1:15-1:30 p.m. Tap Dance タッダンス by Shiori Yanase and students
1:35-1:45 p.m. Soran-Bushi ソーラン節 by BGSU and University of Findlay students
1:55-2:15 p.m. Taiko Performance 太" by Kaze-no-Daichi
2:20-2:40 p.m. Martial Arts 空手、居合" by Wadokan
2:45-3:00 p.m. Tap Dance タッダンス by Shiori Yanase and students
3:05-3:15 p.m. Soran-Bushi ソーラン節 by BGSU and University of Findlay students
3:20-3:40 p.m. Taiko Performance 太" by Kaze-no-Daichi
3:40-3:50 p.m. Bon-Odori 盆踊り by all the visitors

Festival Activities
Origami
Chopsticks Game
Japanese Calligraphy
Traditional Japanese Games
Karuta
Sumo Game
Super Ball Game
Yo-yo Game
Ring Toss
Japanese Flower Arrangement
Japanese Sweets Making
Caricature
Wearing Japanese Yukata
Tea Ceremony
Sushi and Japanese Snacks

Festival Location
Lenhart Grand Ballroom, Bowen-Thompson Student Union
Presented by the BGSU Japanese Club and the Asian Studies Program

Information
For more information, contact Akiko Kawano Jones at jakiko@bgsu.edu or 419-372-7136

To individuals with disabilities, please indicate if you need special services, assistance or appropriate modifications to fully participate in this event by contacting Accessibility Services at access@bgsu.edu or 419-372-8495. Please notify us prior to the event.

History of BGSU Cherry Trees
In the 1990s the alumni chapter in Tokyo, led by Mr. Emori, came up with the idea of donating sakura trees to BGSU. His vision was to create a site similar to the Washington, D.C. Potomac River cherry trees. In 2001, the dream finally came true. The alumni in Tokyo donated about 50 Japanese cherry trees to BGSU with the dream of having a wonderful park on campus some time in the future. The following year a Japanese company, Tochigi-Fuji, which used to be located in Bowling Green, donated an additional 20 trees. We also have three trees from Washington, D.C.’s original cuttings, which were a gift from the City of Tokyo to the U.S. during the Presidency of William Taft. BGSU’s tree-planting ceremony included a visit by Hope Taft, First Lady of Ohio at the time.

In 2010, Dowa THT America, a Japanese company in Bowling Green, donated 10 more trees to celebrate the 10th anniversary.

The BGSU cherry trees are visible on the north side of Alumni Mall near Kreischer quadrangle.