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Zine | Pinkoi | The place for design gift ideas
  • News
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      March 25, 2021

      10 Creative and Festive Desserts to Enjoy This Holiday

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      Let Pinkoist Shopaholics Help You Choose! 4 Recommended Goody Bags

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      Hello, Holiday Sparkles! 10 Earring Styles for Your Year-End Parties

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      How to Make them Happy with Easy Essential Gifts that Never Go Wrong

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  • Meet the Makers
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      4 Ways to Use Coconut Oil Other Than Eating It

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      Upgrade Your Indian Pumpkin Curry with Homemade Curry Powder Recipe

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      April 27, 2021

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      September 6, 2019

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News

Pinkoi in San Francisco | Celebrating Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival

by Melissa July 20, 2017
by Melissa

A purifying ceremony, traditional taiko performance dedicated to the gods, mochi and sake, cosplay and parade… the North California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco Japantown is a wonderful place to celebrate Japanese culture outside of Japan.

Just as Washington D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival, the North California Cherry Blossom Festival has its own unique local flavor. Held at the oldest and largest Japantown in the US for two weekends, it also keeps many authentic traditions thanks to the elders, or “senseis (teachers in Japanese)”, volunteers and young artists.

 

100 year-old Japantown

This “Nihonmachi” is one of the only four Japantowns in the US. Cherry Blossom Festival is held every April, and Nihonmachi Festival is held every August.

At these times, generations of immigrants, Japanese Americans as well as anyone who appreciates Japanese culture get together for celebration, performances, delicious food, and creativity.

 

Mikoshi Purification Ceremony

The ceremony held at the shrine (mikoshi) by the local and Japan spiritual communities asks to bring peace and harmony to the area.

Community members and Festival merchants go up to the shrine one by one, performing the purification rite by clapping their hands.

 

After the Ceremony, purified sake is offered to everyone. This playful uncle made sure every adult passing by took part and had a cup.

 

Drumrolls: Taiko Dojo and the Grandmaster

Taiko is not simply music: it is a sacred ritual to the gods for rain and an expression of gratitude. Every year, San Francisco Taiko Dojo puts on Taiko Festivals. And as a result, every year (at least for the two years of drought we have experienced), it rains on the day after the Taiko Festival!

Maybe Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka could take some credit for this magic. He founded the Dojo in 1968, and is considered the father of modern taiko in North America.

Adults and children of different ethnicities make up the Taiko Dojo. Until today, Tanaka sensei trains his student rigorously, making sure the discipline and the respect for this noble task is taken seriously. We heard the hardcore training proved to be beneficial for the mind and the body!

 

50 years of Cherry Blossom Festival

In 2017, the Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary!

What is heartwarming is that many volunteers, long-time residents and merchants of the Japantown neighborhood keep the Festival alive.

For example, Benkyodo, the famous traditional handmade manju and mochi shop, is as old as Japantown.

 

Old-fashioned American Coca Cola signage along with traditional Japanese rice sweets: the family business founded in 1906 is an example of traditional culture in a new land!

 

Over four days in two weekends, the Festival attract 200 thousands of visitors.

In a culturally-diverse city like San Francisco, Japanese culture is recreated in all kinds of ways by people from all kinds of backgrounds.

 

We all love Miyazaki and the catbus from Totoro. We definitely love this MEWNI—a combination of MUNI, the bus system of San Francisco, and the Totoro catbus!

 

The faces of long-time artists and business owners is what gives the sense of belonging at the Cherry Blossom Festival. Thanks to them, the festival becomes a home and center stage of Japanese culture taking on new life in another country, and that’s the best part of it all.

 

Flavors of Japan

► ► ► Pinkoi in Tokyo | Visit 21_21 Design Anatomy Exhibition with Us!
► ► ► 8 Cities with Magical Flower Tunnels of Love
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Text: Melissa

Japanese Sakura earrings – four flowers pierce – Cherry blossom flowers

Angel Nina Handmade Children’s Kimono Japanese Style and Wind Flower Crane Kids Edition Party Birthday

BloodyJoke own design wind Duangua – Japanese festival gauze

Japan Sea Double Strap Camera / Camera Strap / Camera Rope / Camera / Camera

Potato cute little plum hair ornament light blue kanzashi knitted plum kimono Japanese style accessory Yukata

Leather Sakura (Pink)

Torii business card holder

Fox face white × red

Kitsune or Hyottoko | Japanese traditional mask Earring

Japanese style Shiba Inu curtain – Chai Dao (Cai Dao)

Bronzing Shrine Cherry Blossom Premium Washi [Hallmark-Card Classic Japanese Style/Multi-purpose]

Handmade Cherry blossoms brooch

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Melissa

Writer, translator, and editor at Pinkoi. Drinks milk tea every other day, is often lost in thought or being distracted by new ideas. Loves nature-inspired designs and the nuance between word choices. Melissa loves spreading ideas across cultures.

延伸閱讀

2022 Pinkoi Design Awards – International Call for Entries

Pinkoi is nominated as NEXT BIG by the Taiwan National Development Council

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Zine | Pinkoi | The place for design gift ideas
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    • 2022 Pinkoi Design Awards – International Call for Entries

      March 16, 2022

      Pinkoi is nominated as NEXT BIG by the Taiwan National Development Council

      September 1, 2021

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