Each year, the Washi Ningyo Japanese Paper Dolls Group selects a special theme for their dolls to be showcased at the Cherry Blossom Festival. The dolls are intricate, gorgeous, and entirely handmade! One of the groups leaders, Yurie Nakamura, shared the following message this year: “I think it is great that the committee is able…
An Invitation to Share your Stories from the Asian Pacific American Heritage Foundation Asian Pacific Americans are living through an extraordinary time as the community is not only facing the challenges of the pandemic, but also a rising tide of anti-Asian hate and violence. APA Heritage Month provides a timely opportunity for this diverse community…
This past December, the NCCBF Organizing Committee and community were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend and dedicated member, Toyomi Tanaka. As part of the NCCBF Japan Groups Committee, Toyomi san helped coordinate artists from Japan to perform in the final weekend of the NCCBF. The group’s efforts enrich the Festival’s…
Jade Chocolates is one of the NCCBF Arts & Crafts Fair artisans known for their tantalizing bonbons, flavored Genmai chocolate bars, lilikoi and kalamansi lime truffles, as well as the rice paddies. All of their chocolates are handmade and produced in small batches to ensure the highest quality of ingredients. Jade Chocolates specializes in blending…
The NCCBF Food Bazaar is a crowd favorite. Visitors can taste the best Japanese outdoor festival foods prepared by various organizations from within the local Japanese community. The NCCBF Food Bazaar is unique in that all food vendors are non-profit organizations; for-profit, commercial food vendors and food trucks are prohibited. All sales directly benefit the…
The NCCBF Parade Marshal is a designation bestowed upon individuals who have made a significant impact on the Japanese and/or the Japanese American community through their contributions to society in the United States or Japan. The NCCBF committee is honored to introduce Yoshihiro “Yosh” Uchida as our 2020 Parade Marshal. Uchida-sensei is a true trailblazer…
We would love all of our Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival online community (children, families, everyone!) to express themselves and show their sakura spirit through art while they #blossominplace at home. Whether through origami, calligraphy, painting, embroidery, ikebana, dance, music (and more!), we encourage you to take photos of your work and share it with…
Go down the list and take a photo of the items you find or create!Post it to social media, using the hashtags#blossominplace#bipscavengerhunt!How many can you find from our list? Submissions will be accepted until April 30th. Happy Hunting! Your hand soap by the sink Handmade face mask Your meditation prop or app Mochi Cool stationery Crafts…
The Fujiyasu Furisode Kimono Story Since 1973, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen has been gifted a beautiful furisode by the Fujiyasu Kimono Company every year. In fact, most of the Queen Program’s kimonos have been donated by Mr. Seishichi Ato and his successor, Mr. Kazunari Mochizuki, of the Fujiyasu Kimono Company. Their gifts are an…
The NCCBF Community Marshal is a designation bestowed on individuals who have made a significant impact on the festival, the Japanese and/or the Japanese American community. Community Marshals have included legacy participants and community leaders. The NCCBF committee is honored to introduce Madame Michiya Hanayagi of the Hanayagi Japanese Classical Dance Group as our 2020 Community…
