2023 Senior Appreciation Honorees

For the past 36 years, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival has thanked seniors in the local Japanese American community for their volunteer services. Each year, honorees are nominated by local community organizations. We are inspired by their stories and honor these community heroes. NORIKO KUSUMOTONominated by the San Mateo Japanese American Community Center (SMJACC)…

Give + Gift Fundraiser Graphic

Support Give & Gift Fundraiser in Japantown

The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival presents the Give & Gift fundraiser, an opportunity to shop in Japantown while giving back to small businesses and supporting our Festival at the same time. Pick up gift certificates for select retailers at discounted prices, so you can stretch your dollar further while purchasing gifts for your family,…

2020 Senior Appreciation Honorees

For the past 33 years, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival has thanked seniors in the local Japanese American community for their volunteer services. Each year, honorees are nominated by local community organizations. Although this year we were unable to celebrate these remarkable individuals at the Senior Appreciation Brunch, we would like to recognize them…

2019 Senior Appreciation Brunch

The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival’s Senior Appreciation Brunch started 30 years ago to thank seniors in the local Japanese American community for their volunteer services. Each year, honorees are nominated by senior centers and receive certificates of commendation from elected officials. Following the brunch, they are recognized at the Peace Plaza Stage for their…

Refresh Your Style (and Closet) with Japanese- and Asian-inspired Apparel

One of the delightful sights of the NCCBF is observing everyone’s fashion. Every year, our fellow festival-goers inspire us with the wide-range of clothing from the traditional and formal kimono or hakama, to the casual yukata and jinbei on warmer days, to modern prints and anime-inspired outfits. As we get inspired roaming the festival grounds,…

Jade Chocolates Makes Everything Better

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…

Original Artwork and Prints Waiting to be Discovered

Our 2020 Virtual Arts & Crafts Fair is packed with talented artisans. If you’re looking for original works of art, this is the perfect place to begin. We often find meaningful pieces in the most unexpected ways. It also happens that you would be supporting our community of artists in a time when we need…

2019 Queen’s Farewell by Yuki Nishimura

On behalf of the 2019 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Court, I would like to welcome each and every one of you to the virtual 2020 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. I have come to love this annual homage to the Japanese American heritage with demonstrations of odori to taiko to ikebana; it showcases the…