Vancouver Sakura Days Japan Fair (Includes interview and first-hand account)

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, with the active support of Vancouver VanDusen Botanical Garden, representatives from Japan-Canada business associations in Vancouver and the Consulate General of Japan started Sakura Days in 2008. It has evolved to a big event to celebrate Japanese culture represented by 30,230 people of Japanese origin who live in Greater Vancouver area. They constitute 1.44% of entire population of the region.

Cherry blossom trees in VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver Sakura Days Fair Japan.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

Sakura is a Japanese word describing a blooming cherry tree which in Japanese tradition marks coming of spring. In the program of the event there are demonstrations of Japanese dance, music (koto, performed on Japanese harp), martial art, singing, sake tasting, drumbeating, flower arranging (ikebana), tea ceremonies, paper folding (origami), haiku and calligraphy.

Besides there were outlets providing tourist and business information about Japan as well as stalls with Japanese traditional folk art, books, and music. Several places were serving Japanese food.

Koto music performed on Japanese harp, Vancouver Sakura Days Fair Japan at VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

With the recent cold weather on the Pacific North-West, all sakura trees have not been really showing their full blooming colours yet. But there were enough delicate pinkish colours to underline the character of the event and organize a big party that attracted many visitors on the first day of the fair during sunny weather. In the middle of the festival’s opening day, the visitors were lining up to two most occupied spots, food and sake tasting.

Samples of sake, ready to taste, Vancouver Sakura Days Fair Japan at VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

The volunteers at the latter one were serving those with proved age with 3 glasses of sake, all included in the price of admission. Several kinds of sake could be tasted and this popular drink in Japan, similarly to whisky, has different colours, flavours and its rich tradition of making.
In the area of pretty well developed sakura colours, there was a small tent that served as a stage to demonstrate Japanese choir singing and music koto performed on Japanese harp.

Japanese choir on improvised stage at VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver Sakura Days Fair Japan.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

The first day of event was very well prepared by the organizers and volunteers who were helping and directing audience; some were providing the information about the place of the festival, VanDusen Botanical Garden and botanical specimen collected there.

The organizers decided to donate all the profit from the festival to the Japan Relief Fund through Japanese Red Cross.

One of several outlets with Japanese food, Vancouver Sakura Days Fair Japan at VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

Improvised poster at Vancouver Sakura Days Fair Japan at VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz