2018 Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival - Celebration of Japanese & Japanese-American CultureNEW

Welcome to the Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival!  Each year we put on a weekend-long celebration of Japanese and Japanese-American culture.

Come join in our large Japanese Festival! There will be Kids' activities, Kids' Passports (Pick up at Info Booths), Storytelling, Ikebana, Calligraphy, Origami, Paper cut art, Crafts, Woodwork, Samurai Armour, Artwork, Non-profit Booths and Gift Shop. We will many displays, Game of Go, Films, Lectures, and Kimono Dress-up. Martial Arts, Taiko, Punk band, Traditional Dance, Music, Koto, Chorus, etc. 

Please bring Cash to purchase Food. Gyuuniku (Beef Bowl), Spam Musubi, and sweets. Outside Food Booths. The Gift Shop will Accept VISA and Mastercards. Donations are Welcome! Free Admission.

Dates
April 20 - 21, 2018

Location
Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center

Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival
Explore and experience the cultural roots and contemporary influences of Japan through live performances, visual arts, hands-on activities, foods and games including Taiko drumming and artisan demonstrations.

The Festival was founded 40 years ago in appreciation of 1,000 cherry trees gifted to Seattle by Prime Minister Takeo Miki on behalf of the Japanese government in commemoration of the nation’s bicentennial. It is the first ethnic festival to be held at Seattle Center annually and the oldest in the Seattle Center Festál series.

Presented by the Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival Committee.

Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Northwest Folklife Festival, The Boeing Company, 4Culture and ArtsWA. Additional support is provided by the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.

About
The Festival was initiated by a gift of 1,000 cherry trees that were given to Seattle on May 8, 1976, by Japan’s former Prime Minister, Takeo Miki, in commemoration of America’s bicentennial and the long friendship between the people of Japan and Washington state. Today, the Festival is the largest and oldest of its kind in the Northwest. Hanami, cherry blossom viewing, is a reminder to celebrate life, and the pink petals carried on the breeze at the first Festival engendered that thought. People sat on the grass, eating from sack lunches, enjoying traditional Japanese music and dances performed free on a temporary stage.