A wonderful way to get acquainted with the Japanese Sister City is to attend the annual Spring Cherry Blossom festival on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at the Sermon Center, located on the corner of Noland & Truman.

In 1983 the Japanese Sister City Commission initiated a one day festival featuring Japanese arts, crafts and food. The event is held bi-annually at the Sermon Community Center. It takes place in the spring of each year.

Hana Yori Dango is an expression the Japanese use to say that people tend to look at the material things of this world rather than nature. It is a good expression for the Cherry Blossom Festival since we are experiencing the culture and food of Japan but not the natural habitat itself. Therefore it is our new theme.

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Independence is about the shared relationship between Independence and Higashimurayama. The activities and displays assist the public in awareness of Japan as well as a way to get to know the students who are participating in the exchange program or the Alumni who have participated in the program in the past. It also encourages students in learning about the exchange program and the lifestyles of Japanese students. Because of this all proceeds go to exchange student program. Never the less, It is also a great time for old friends to get together and new people to meet the committee that the city has selected to work for this commission.

Activities can include:

• Japanese garden booth
• Higashimurayama gift display
• Ikebana Flower arrangements display and sales area
• Japanese kimono display
• Children's crafts made from Glendale Elementary School
• Bonsai gardening display and sales
• Japanese bazaar
• Oshiko Yamanaka and the Japan Club of Kansas City
• Dr. Honda's Japanese Acupuncture and Chiropractic
• Anime
• Asian ball-jointed dolls

• Teriyaki chicken, fried rice, salad, drinks and desserts
• Performances all day from Glendale Elementary School Theater Group
• Japanese martial arts demonstrations
• Japanese Dance
• Bento Box lunch
• Hand made jewelry
• Cherry desserts and drinks
• Tea Ceremony demonstration
• 2nd floor Memory Sharing Room
• Live Interview with Bill and Joann Shaw
• and more!

For more information about the Cherry Blossom Festival, contact Commission Chair John Seeley.