In her many years at the University, Akiko Kawano Jones has watched the Ohanami Cherry Blossom Festival bloom into a highly anticipated display of Japanese culture.
Tonight the 10th Ohanami will take place, commemorating 10 years since the University’s first gift of historic Japanese cherry trees.
“It started in fall 2001, when we had a ceremony for trees that were donated by alumni from Tokyo,” said Jones, adviser of the Japanese Club that sponsors the event. “We called it Ohanami because it means ‘blossom viewing’ in Japan. It’s traditional culture, to enjoy watching the cherry tree blossoms, because it’s such a short life.”
Jones expects this year’s festival to be the biggest yet and is anticipating more than 500 visitors, she said.
The free festival will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Mileti Alumni Center. It will feature traditional Japanese games, food and entertainment, including a Taiko drumming performance.
New cherry trees donated by Dowa THT America Inc. will be acknowledged at a 4:30 p.m. ceremony at Alumni Mall, the grassy area between Harshman and Kreischer residence halls.
The dedication will feature keynote speeches from John Quinn, city mayor; Kuninori Matsuda, consul-general of Japan in Detroit; Simon Morgan-Russell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and various donors and University alumni.
“This year is special because the donors of the original trees in 2001 are coming back from Japan for the 10th anniversary,” Jones said. “I asked my former students and alumni to come, so I think quite a number of them will be back, too.”
This year’s Ohanami is also significant because the Japanese Club will be accepting donations and selling raffle tickets for the Tohoku-Kanto Great Earthquake Relief Fund.
“One month ago when the earthquake happened, everyone figured that, as the Japanese Club, we should do something to raise money or help support,” said senior Tom Streetman, Japanese Club president. “It was just a question of how and when, and this is one way. Because this was recent, I expect a heightened level of interest in the festival and Japan.”
Senior Kaylin Atkinson attended Ohanami her sophomore year and plans to return today for the tree dedication and festival.
“It’s so interesting because it’s like their whole culture in one room,” she said. “They had a lot of tables set up for really easy access with things like origami and sushi and a lot of great music.”
The festival attracts many different types of people, Atkinson said.
“My group of friends was really unsure about it at first, but they all really enjoyed it,” she said. “People might think it’s not something they would like, but I think they’ll be surprised. It’s really neat.”
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: 10th annual Ohanami Cherry Blossom Festival
WHEN: Friday, 5 to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Mileti Alumni Center (corner of Mercer and Alumni streets)
COST: Free
