Nashville Holds Cherry Blossom Festival

By Alara Bishop

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-The annual Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is being held in the Nashville Public Square on April 14, drawing hundreds of visitors for Japanese culture, music, and a parade.

The festival was created in honor of the promise that 1,000 cherry blossom trees would be planted in and around Nashville over the course of 10 years. Every year since 2009, the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, the Consulate-General of Japan, Davidson County, and many volunteers plant 100 cherry blossom trees in the Nashville area.

Cosplay contestants (photo provided by festival organizers)

The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is an event shared between sister cities Nashville, Tennessee, and Kamakura, Japan. The festival is a celebration of the Japanese culture and traditions. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the partnership.

The festival began with a 2 ½-mile walk. After the walk, activities included live musical performances and tented booths selling items such as Kimonos, cherry blossoms, and artwork.  

The festival is a free event for the public that offers many activities for families. The event drew more than 100 different vendors selling food and Japanese cultural items. The festival included a kid’s zone and a parade, where dog lovers showed off their furry friends. The festival had numerous live performances featuring groups from all over the country including Kaminari Taiko, Sunset Dash, Munkhjin Curtindale and many more.

 Kaminari Taiko, a group from Houston, performed several pieces of music on traditional Japanese drums. They were a crowd favorite.

Kaminari Taiko (photo by Alara Bishop)

“I think the festival will continue to grow, and Kaminari Taiko will be here every year to give the people a great show,” said a member of the group.

A traveling family circus led by Victor Kent performed in the main park area. The proud father watched as his 12-year-old daughter amazed the crowed with her strength on the trapeze. One of his sons performed with an Australian bullwhip, while his other son held items dangerously close to his body, kindly asking his brother not to hit him. The group is a member of the Japan American Society of Kentucky and was invited to showcase its talent at the Tennessee festival some 10 years ago.

  “I plan to return every year,” said Kent.

Kent Family Circus (photo by Knoxville Kids Show)

Many local businesses and food trucks brought a taste of Japan to Public Square Park on Saturday with their traditional Japanese dishes.

“The food is my favorite part of the festival,” said volunteer Lauren Elkins.

Each vendor brought different handmade items to share with the public. Booths sold anime memorabilia, origami, fans, and many other items one sees in Japan. One local vendor even spent hours folding tiny origami shapes to sell as earrings at the festival.

The festival is only one of the many ways Tennessee and Japan are working together. Over the past decade, Tennessee has seen an increase in Japanese businesses opening and a great acceptance of the culture. The relationship between sister cities Kamakura and Nashville has encouraged many institutions and companies to embrace the culture and bring in all aspects of the learning and working environment.

In 1912, the Mayor of Kyoto, Japan, sent 3,000 cherry blossom trees to the United States as a sign of friendship. Since this act of kindness, the United States has brought in many Japanese businesses to help its own economy.

Every year, Nashville sees an increase in Japanese visitors, and some even become permanent citizens. Everyone wants a piece of the American dream, and some organizations are working in small ways to make it the Japan-American dream.

For more information about the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival, visit http://www.nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org.