By Austin Clark
Motlow Buzz Reporter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville
officials celebrated the ninth annual Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival on April
8 by announcing that the Japan-America Society of Tennessee Inc. has planted
over 900 cherry blossom trees throughout the city.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has
partnered with Consul General of Japan Masami Kinefuchi to set a goal of
planting 1,000 cherry trees throughout Nashville’s Metro Parks to glorify the
long-lasting friendship between Japan and Tennessee. The Cherry Blossom
Festival has made this goal possible through the celebration of Japanese
culture and traditions.
The Nashville Cherry Blossom
Festival is held every spring in Nashville Public Square to commemorate the
blossoming of cherry trees. The festival is a free, non-profit celebration that
includes activities such as Japanese games, food catered from local
restaurants, merchandise, lectures, musical performances, artwork exhibits,
martial arts, traditional clothing, and much more.
CEO Leigh Wieland said that the
numbers attending the festival grow each year. The dramatic increase in the
community’s attendance makes it possible for a genuine experience of Japan,
free of charge, for thousands of individuals who will never have the
opportunity to travel and experience it for themselves.
“Over the last nine years, we have
planted over 900 Japanese Cherry Blossom trees in Metro Parks and public
spaces, beautifying Nashville’s landscape for all to enjoy as a reminder of
Japan-Tennessee friendship,” Wieland said.
In Japan, the cherry blossom is a
symbolic representation of life. When these trees blossom in early spring,
their bright colors serve as a visual representation of how delicate life is
and how we take it for granted. These people not only come together to admire
this beautiful phenomenon, but to also celebrate the underlying meaning of life
as a whole.
Festival attendees enjoyed a taste
of Japan through local food vendors that included sushi, fresh hibachi, fried
rice, and various dessert options. The full experience also included a
marketplace that sold anime merchandise from past conventions, local Japanese
paintings, limited edition collector’s items, and hand-sewn komotos.
Established in 2000, JAST is a
non-profit organization that is funded by individual and corporate membership
fees and grants from government institutions and private foundations.
Headquartered in Nashville, JAST is overseen by a 25-member volunteer board of
directors from leading businesses, institutions and organizations from across
the state. Honorary co-chairs of the society include Haslam and Kinefuchi.
As another annual festival comes to
an end, JAST inches closer to its goal with less than 100 cherry blossom trees
remaining to be planted. The group hopes to achieve its goal by next year.
“We welcome the involvement of
corporate and civic groups, student organizations and individuals interested in
helping us raise funds for the tree planting and festival.” Wieland said. “We
also welcome volunteers to help with tree planting and on-site at the festival
each year.”
Links for the online donations and
volunteer sign-ups are found on the festival website at www.nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org
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