Vancouver has a new festival centred on friendship. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is the brain child of Linda Poole who was originally struck by how beautiful the cherry blossoms in Vancouver are, and wondered why they weren't celebrated the way they are in Japan.... (go see the movie Memoirs of a Geisha for an example).
I first met Linda, when a new cherry tree was being planted on Novemeber 1st, at Vancouver City Hall. It was "Obasan Cherry Tree Day" in recognition of the achievements of Joy Kogawa, and the efforts to save and preserve "Kogawa House" and to plant a tree for continuing friendship and harmony for future generations of Vancouver to share. Joy even wrote a poem for the festival:
A window opens
Cherry Blossom Festival
Look! Friendship growing
- Joy Kogawa
Cherry Blossom Festival
Look! Friendship growing
- Joy Kogawa
Some of the planned events are:
Origami Workshop
March 16th, Thursday at Vancouver Public Library
NHK Japan Screening
March 12th
