Springtime Traditions on Display with National Cherry Blossom Festival Events at the Library

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April Events to Highlight Japanese Culture and Cherry Blossoms

 

 

The Library of Congress announces two cultural events during the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual commemoration of Japan’s 1912 gift to the U.S. of 3,020 cherry trees.

The Library will host a virtual presentation series Wednesday through Friday, April 6 to 8, exploring visual art and stories from the Library’s collections. On Saturday, April 9, the Library will host its annual Japanese Culture Day at the Thomas Jefferson Building, featuring family activities, including Japanese drum presentations, karate demonstrations and arts and crafts from Japan. The events are free and open to the public. Registrations or timed entry reservations are required.

Masks and social distancing are required in the Library’s buildings. Details on each event are below.

Object Lesson Series: Celebrating the 110th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Gift and U.S.-Japan Friendship
Wednesday through Friday, April 6-8, 7 to 8 p.m. Virtual event.

A series of three evening presentations will be presented by Mari Nakahara and Katherine Blood, authors of the book “Cherry Blossom: Sakura Collections from the Library of Congress” and curators in the Prints & Photographs Division. These events will not be recorded.

April 6: Object Lesson: Exploring Cherry Blossom Varieties. How many varieties of cherry blossoms can you find in your neighborhood? How do you describe their colors? Nakahara will offer a close-up exploration of exquisite watercolor illustrations of the 1912 gift of cherry blossom trees from the city of Tokyo to Washington, D.C. to increase your visual recognition of cherry blossoms each spring. Registration is required at: https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_p0ugChUXRFaGbeBR9Mz9zA

April 7: Object Lesson: One Man’s Life Dedicated to Peace. While the 1912 gift of cherry blossom trees from the city of Tokyo to Washington, D.C. is an enduring symbol of the U.S.–Japan friendship, former Japanese Ambassador Hirosi Saito also played an important role in our friendship in the 1930s. Nakahara will introduce the Library’s collections related to Saito, along with his efforts to promote peace in the years before the outbreak of World War II. Saito’s granddaughter Tomiko Kagei will also join the conversation. Registration is required at: https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_lCNtgqDvTbq2-BVwaFfnrg

April 8: Object Lesson: Seasonal Appreciations in Japanese Visual Art. Jewel-toned woodblocks from the Library’s Japanese print collection reflect recurring seasonal celebrations of springtime cherry blossoms, summer fireflies, bright autumn foliage, winter snow and more. Blood will highlight 18th century to contemporary artwork, including related, recently acquired prints, drawings and posters. Registration is required at: https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_uEpnDlPmQOei6bCXGDlz1Q

Japanese Culture Day
Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St., SE, Washington, D.C.

Time entry reservations are required at: https://loc.usedirect.com/LOC

Children of all ages, families and teachers can learn about Japanese culture through reading, writing and craft-making with Japanese cultural and linguistic professionals during the Library’s Japanese Culture day. Books related to Japan and Japanese culture will also be on display. Special highlights include a Japanese drum presentation by Miyako Taiko led by Mark Rooney and a karate demonstration by Tsuyoshi Takemori from D.C. Yamato-juku Club.

Drum Presentation: Outside – Neptune Plaza (west side of the Jefferson Building) if weather allows; Coolidge Auditorium in case of rain. Four performances will be presented at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Rooney will also introduce the history of the Miyako Taiko and answer questions.

Karate Demonstration: Mezzanine level of the Great Hall, Jefferson Building. Three demonstrations will be provided at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. Visitors may have opportunities to practice a basic Kata (form).

Other activities include:

  • Display and introduction of Library collections related to cherry blossoms and Japanese culture
  • Hands-on lessons about origami artwork creation
  • Kamishibai (Japanese storytelling)
  • Decorative Koinobori and Japanese woodblock print coloring

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the world’s great celebrations of spring. Hosted from March 20 – April 17, the 2022 Festival will include four weeks of events featuring diverse and creative programming that promotes traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org or call 877.44.BLOOM for more information, and check out Facebook (@CherryBlossomFestival), Instagram (@CherryBlossFest), Twitter (@CherryBlossFest), and YouTube (@NationalCherryBlossomFestivalDC).

About the Library

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States – and extensive materials from around the world – both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

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