ORIGAMI, THE ART: Supporting the community and embracing a wider audience

Since the first Festival, the Mihara family — owners of Paper Tree, a paper specialty store — have offered free origami instruction as part of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. The Mihara sisters, Linda and Vicky, have fond memories of teaching children to fold paper at the Festival — starting when they were kids […]

A sampling of Bay Area cultural classes

Traditional Japanese Music and Dance Odori (Dance) Ensohza Minyoshu at Crissy Field Center, Presidio, SF Schedule: Sun. (twice a month), 5-7 p.m. Cost: Sessions are free. Students must make a commitment to joining the performance group, which entails costume costs and other occasional fees for training with master teachers. Contact: info@enzohza.org. Training in Japanese folk dance […]

STRONG, GENTLE AND BEAUTIFUL: Judo master Keiko Fukuda’s legacy

2011 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Co-Grand Marshal Keiko Fukuda photo courtesy of Yuriko Gamo Romer   Despite being the highest ranking female judo master in the world, Keiko Fukuda is relentlessly modest. This year, at age 98, she was honored at the National Japanese American Historical Society awards dinner, and has been selected as […]

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: The Festival, through the eyes of the Parade’s voice

Since the early 1970s, George Yamasaki Jr. has been the voice of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. As emcee, Yamasaki narrates the Parade action as it runs its course — and has had plenty of experience thinking on his feet as floats stall or the order of participants changes without notice. Yamasaki, who […]

Candidates for 2011 NorCal Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program announced

The five women participating in the 2011 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival (NCCBF) Queen Program greeted media and community members for the first time as Queen candidates in San Francisco’s Japantown on March 12. Tamiko Escalante, Richelle Chiemi Farley, Jeddie Narumi Kawahatsu, Lauren Sachi Kawawaki and Kaori Saito introduced themselves and revealed what they will […]

Call for NorCal Cherry Blossom Festival photos

The Nichi Bei Weekly is looking for photo submissions to be considered in the 2011 Nichi Bei Weekly Guide to the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. People may submit photos of their favorite Festival memory, along with the following: • a photo title • photographer’s name, city of residence, phone number, and e-mail address • […]

Advertise in the NBW’s annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Guide

The Nichi Bei Weekly‘s annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Guide, published on April 1, offers bilingual coverage of one of the region’s most important and popular cultural events. We print 30,000 copies and distribute them around the greater Sacramento, San Francisco, South Bay and East Bay areas. A unique advertising opportunity, the guide includes […]

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