Cherry Blossom Festival
A wonderful way to get acquainted with the Japanese Sister City is to attend the annual Spring Cherry Blossom
festival.
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.
The Cherry Blossom Festival shares the relationship between Independence and Higashimurayama. The activities
assist the public in awareness of the culture of Japan as well as a way to get to know the students who are
participating in the exchange program or have participated in the program in the past. It also encourages
young students in learning about the exchange program and the lifestyles of Japanese students. Proceeds go to
exchange student scholarships.
Activities can include:
- Japanese garden booth
- Decorative art for the hand and face
- 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
- Tempari, the elegant craft of threading decorative patterns on to palm size balls
- Japanese Doll Display
- Japanese bazaar
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- Oshiko Yamanaka and the Japan Club of Kansas City
- Dr. Honda's Japanese Acupuncture and Chiropractic
- Mo-Ikkai anime and manga store and other modern items
- Teriyaki chicken, fried rice, salad, drinks and deserts
- Performances all day from Glendale Elementary School Theater Group
- Japanese marital arts demonstrations
- Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe
- Japanese Dance
- and more
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