SOURCE: National Cherry Blossom Festival
WHAT: The Japanese Culture Day
WHEN: Saturday, MARCH 25, 2017 from 10 AM to 3 PM
WHERE: Young Readers Center, Thomas Jefferson Building, Room # LJ-G29 (Ground Floor), Library of Congress
10 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20540
Cost: FREE
ABOUT
The Japanese Culture Day introduces children and adults to Japanese culture through hands-on origami artwork creation, trying on kimonos and other activities. Cherry Blossom princesses from the last few years will instruct children in the art of tiara-making. At 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., will present “Japan-In-A-Suitcase,” a program about Japanese life and culture. Following each of these presentations, Tsuyoshi Takemori of DC Yamato-juku Karate Club will demonstrate karate. Additional attractions for children are being planned. Children may also explore the Library’s Young Readers Center, which contains current and classic children’s literature.
WHAT: Friendship Between Nations Family Day
WHEN: Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
WHERE: Boeing Learning Center, Washington, DC
Join the National Archives for a fun, activity-filled day exploring the many ways countries show their friendship! Investigate treaties, learn about gifts countries have given, and participate in family activities.
This program is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the support of John Hancock.
WHAT: SAAM Cherry Blossom Celebration
WHAT: Today from 11:30 AM to 3 PM
WHERE: Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery, 800 G St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Join SAAM and the National Cherry Blossom Festival for a celebration of Japanese culture! A taiko drumming performance kicks off the day, followed by Japanese music and dance performances, face painting, and cherry blossom themed crafts. Make your own tatebanko (a Japanese paper diorama) with our friends from the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Galleries. Look for cherry blossom specials in the museum store and cafe. Take a scavenger hunt to find spring-themed artworks, and more!
FREE admission.
Kogod Courtyard
Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th & G Streets NW, Washington DC
This program is presented by Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
WHAT: HERITAGE FAMILY DAYS: Kites of Asia
WHEN: March 25, 2017 from 10 am to 3 pm
WHAT: National Air and Space Museum, Independence Ave at 6th St, SW, Washington, DC 20560
Cost: FREE
Celebrate Spring at the National Air and Space Museum’s Kites of Asia Heritage Family Day! Talk to kite experts, see pan-Asian kite displays, marvel at indoor kite flying, make your own kite— and maybe even take a dance lesson!
The Heritage Family Day series is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman Corporation.
https://airandspace.si.edu/events/kites-asia-9
WHAT: OPENING CEREMONY
WHEN: Saturday, MARCH 25, 2017 from 5 PM – 6:30 PM
WHERE: Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street, NW (map)
Cost: FREE; Advance ticketing required. There will be a $5 registration fee when tickets are claimed.
Tickets:
All tickets have been claimed at this time.
ABOUT
Kick-off the 2017 National Cherry Blossom Festival and watch world-renowned performers as we welcome springtime to Washington, DC and celebrate the anniversary of the gift of trees from Japan to the United States. Enjoy spirited traditional and contemporary performances in the historic Warner Theatre. The Festival heralds a natural treasure that unites our city, region, nation, and the world. The trees – both in Japan and the U.S. – always have symbolized birth and renewal. The Opening Ceremony celebrates the season through a showcase of great American and Japanese talent.
For the first time, the Opening Ceremony will be streamed on Facebook Live.
Opening Ceremony performers include:
Shigeyama Kyogen
Shigeyama Kyogen embodies some of the best traits of traditional Japanese performing culture. Kyogen is a world-renowned form of traditional Japanese theater. Kyogen is a kind of spoken drama that is based upon laughter and comedy. With more than 600 years of history, it was designated as one of the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in 2001. Shigeyama is a prestigious Kyogen family in Kyoto, Japan that has passed on this Kyogen craft from one generation to the next since the early 17th Century.
EL Squad http://wreckingcreworchestra.com/elsquad_hp/
Since its formation in 2012, EL Squad from Wrecking Crew Orchestra revolutionized the contemporary dance genre with their signature “Light Dance,” a mesmerizing blend of dance, music, and electroluminescent technology. Audiences are amazed at the dazzling effects achieved through intricate, fast-paced choreography without the help of CGI. As of July 2016, viral YouTube videos of their performances have garnered over 35 million views.
May J http://www.may-j.com/index.php
Having her roots in Japan, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Spain and the UK, multilingual J-pop artist May J. has been one of the most celebrated female singers in Japan since her debut in July 2006. She has hosted the music program “J-MELO” for eight years; it is the only Japanese music show in English that introduces the current J-pop music scene on NHK (Japan’s national public broadcasting organization). Her album “Summer Ballad Covers” (June 2013) was in the top 10 of the prestigious Oricon chart for five consecutive weeks, and her subsequent album “Heartful Song Covers” was in the top 10 for a consecutive eight weeks, a first for a female artist since the 1990s. She is perhaps best known for singing the end roll version of the title song “Let It Go” in the Japanese release of Disney’s animated movie “Frozen.”
The 6821 Quintet
Named after the distance between Washington DC and Tokyo, the quintet was created by The Ryuji Ueno Foundation as part of the Potomac Music-Lab Project for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The 2017 group consists of Mayu Kishima (1st Violin), Eric Silberger (2nd Violin), Meng Wang (Viola), Clancy Newman (Cello) and Mamiko Hirai (Composer/Pianist), and will be performing the world-premiere of a commissioned piece written by Ms. Hirai.
Step Afrika!
Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of “stepping.” It now ranks as one of the top ten African-American dance companies in the United States. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation. Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement, and and cross-cultural understanding.
RSVP on Facebook
WHEELCHAIR AND HEARING-IMPAIRED SEATING REQUESTS
To request wheelchair seating or hearing-impaired seating (require ASL interpreter), contact the National Cherry Blossom Festival ticket manager at tickets@ncbfdc.org. Wheelchair and hearing-impaired seating requests are limited to two per patron.
Getting There:
Metro: The Warner Theatre is accessible through the Metro Center station. This can be accessed through the red, orange, silver and blue lines.
