History
Sakura Matsuri is presented exclusively by the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC. The Society has presented the only large-scale authentic Japanese festival of its kind in the greater Washington Metropolitan area since 1961. In 1992 -- on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC -- the Society changed the date of the festival to coincide with the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebration. In 1999 and 2000, JASW officially partnered the event with the NCBF. In 1999, the festival moved from Freedom Plaza to 12th Street, between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue, NW. Later in 2002, the festive expanded to Pennsylvania Avenue between 11th and 13th Streets, NW, as well as, using 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW. In 2005 we expanded even more to the 10th and 13th street NW. When the festival decided to use a fence and charge admission, it expanded again one more block east
Specialties
Sakura Matsuri is a cross-cultural celebration of spring and friendship between Japanese and Americans occasioned by the blossoming cherry trees, which were a gift to DC from Japan in 1912. Sakura Matsuri includes: Performing Arts from Japan and the US; Arts and Crafts demonstrations and exhibits, games and activities for children and adults; a Ginza Arcade with Japanese products for sale; the Taste of Japan with local Japanese restaurants and award winning sushi chefs; and Japan Now with experience of Modern Japanese culture.