National Cherry Blossom Festival Announces Calendar

In addition to the many activities taking place during the Smithsonian Associates "Japan WOW," the National Cherry Blossom Festival also will offer an array of Japanese cultural treats.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held this year between March 31 and April 15. In recent years the Festival, which celebrates Japan's gift of the cherry trees to Washington, also has become a celebration of Japanese culture.

Among the many Japan-related activities this year are the Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival and the 15th Anniversary Japan Bowl, both sponsored by our Japan-America Society. In addition, the Library of Congress will be hosting an exhibit of modern Japanese woodbock prints, donated by the College Women's Association of Japan (CWAJ). The Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Arise again will display a magnificent collection of Japanese kimono. The Festival's opening day on March 31, held at the National Building Museum, will feature a wide display of Japanese arts and crafts exhibits for the entire family.

For a complete calendar of events during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, go to www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.com