Cherry Blossom in DC: "It's Always You"

Enjoying the beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Springtime along the Potomac.  Sophie Zelmani sings "Always You."

Arigato Tomodachi

Yayoi  no kotoba

Kyou kiguu nimo US capital de muryou no tsua gaidansu wo ukerukotogadekimasita. Watashi ha DC ga totemo kiniirimashita! Watashi ha amerika ga nihon ni konnnani takusan no sakura wo okutta kotowo shirimasendeshita. Soshite, konoyouna subarasii koukei wo mirukotogadekirutoha, amerika ni kurumae ha omoimo shimasen deshita. sakura ga subarashii monyumento totatemono wo kakonde irunante! Sonna wakede watashi ha tsujo yori mo DC wo tanoshimu kotogadekita nodesu. Chito, arigatou!

Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony 2011

Letter from Yayoi:

I didn't know that Japan gave so many cherry blossoms to the US. So I had a lot of opportunities to enjoy DC more than adequately. And I'd never imagined to see such a beautiful view -cherry blossoms are surrounding wonderful monuments and buildings- here before I came to the US...! I liked DC very much! Today, I had the opportunity to get a free guided tour of the U.S. Capitol. Thank you, Chito!

US Capitol

Cherry Blossom Fest: Cranes for Japan and a Magical Ceremony

Misako Ballet Company

Beautiful Kimonos adorned the Ceremony

This year, during the National Cherry Blossom Family Day opening ceremony, families were asked to create small cranes using origami.  These cranes are not that simple to make -- in fact it takes a lot of creativity, perserverance and group work.

But once all their hard work was finished, the families watched their prized possessions get taken away -- they were asked to give them up.

The cranes will then be shipped to the Bezos Family Foundation in Seattle whose goal is to partner with children around the world to support their Japanese peers.

A view of the big pink lanterns that hung from the rafters of the Museum

 The Foundation has pledged to donate $2 for every paper crane it receives from the National Cherry Blossom Festival for rebuilding efforts in Japan.

The ceremony was amazing, as it is every year.  But next year, for the Centennial celebration, we should expect an even more amazing show.  The focus this year is on our unconditional and lasting support for Japan.

We were especially touched by the smooth jazz piano performance by Keiko Matsui who played a beautiful rendition of "Cherry Blossom."

The Take Dancers were just as magically impressive, blending east and west athletic-art form to communicate universal health and happiness.

These kids are working hard with their parents in making origami.

Also just as wonderfully impressive was the Washington National Opera, Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists.  Both tenor, Jose Ortega and Maryland native, soprano Jennifer Lynn Waters wowed the audience and made the cheery, pink petals flutter all around the Tidal Basin.

Japanese Students Walk for National Epilepsy

Yokohama Hayato Senior High School during the National Walk for Epilepsy

More than 100 Japanese 10th-grade students from Yokohama Hayato Senior High School in Yokohama, Japan are visiting DC.  The students arrived last week, just two days after the earthquake shook the island nation, creating a tsunami that flooded the east coast.

Their trip is sponsored by Sakura Educational Exchange USA, a Rockville-based nonprofit, and serves as an opportunity for the students to learn about American culture and practice English, 

The students have collected donations for the Japanese Red Cross.  They have really connected with the American students and shared cultures.  The group also planted a tree on the grounds of Rockville High as a symbol of friendship between the two schools.

It's pretty amazing that these Japanese students are moving on in their lives and supporting other worthy initiatives such as the National Walk for Epilepsy  despite experiencing the great tragedy back home.

Despite living thousands of miles away these kids want to make a difference and support the 3 million Americans who live with seizures as well as their friends and family who support them.

The walk has grown to an event with 8000 participants and has raised several million dollars for the cause.

The walk included a pre-rally with music and guests, face-painting and a short, non-competitive, family-oriented walk.

"Stand for Japan" at the TIdal Basin

Spirit of Hope and Rebuilding at the Tidal Basin

Yayoi with Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki

Yayoi is visiting us from Japan.  She was in NYC when the deadly earthquake and Tsunami struck Honshu.  Sadly, Yayoi's parents still live in Fukushima, just 18 miles from the Daiichi power plants.

The plant was old with inadequate safety features.  When the natural disaster hit, the electricity supply was hampered, knocking out the cooling system.  Nuclear power needs coolant.  And without coolant, the reactor quickly heats up and is susceptible to failure.

A couple of days later, the plant exploded, spewing radiation into the atmosphere.  The radiation has spread south over Tokyo and northeast over the Pacific Ocean.

Today, Yayoi and I attended the National Cherry Blossom Festival "Stand for Japan".  We were deeply honored to attend and show our unyielding support for our partnership with one our greatest ally.

"Everything started on what I call 3/11 — earthquake, tsunami and nuclear incident — and we are still struggling," he said. "This is a very tough fight, but the consolation is people around the world are trying to be with us," said Ambassador Fujisaki.

After the ceremony, the Ambassador and a crowd of several hundred walked around the Tidal Basin with glow sticks in hand, waiving support for  one of America's closest Tomodachi, Japan.

I love Japan -- it's culture, it's language, it's people. Living in DC, I don't get the opportunity to meet a lot of Japanese.  That is why I am truly proud and elated that every year, my hometown showcases the largest festival celebrating the Japanese  culture and the biggest Japanese street festival in the world.

Cherry Blossom Festival

I came because the wood thrush called me: They were out in mass and perhaps for another day or two.  The bloom that blushes every spring and rings the Tidal Basin pink. Blindingly beautiful and then before you know, are blown away, like everything we own, not meant to last forever, not even for a lifetime or a season of change. Like the most pure virgin smile will certainly wrinkle or the undying lovethat may one day fade away, the majestic sakura as the baby blossoms fall.

So I hit the road with weary feet, still trembling from last week's 26-miler, the one that wasn't meant to be, and now I tried to wipe away.  But my mind was fresh and my heart anew,  hungry to steal a glimpse of those pastel petals floating loftily with every puff or sprinkle. The ground, my Nikes covered in white like the foot of snow from the errant blizzard flight, imposed on us like a long-forgotten great uncle that blanketed this city just last month, if I remember right.  Other than that night, DC no longer knew pure white from the haze of snow except this fortnight, the cloud of bloom rising high and purple sepals raining nigh on the grass and foot paths something magical, idolic and ripe.

I ran with all the might I could muster but soon found myself frozen still in the light of the Pearly luster searching for the inner meaning and peace that had escaped me and hoping that this model of love and transience of life will stay indelibly etched in my enigma even if I have to chase them down before they all floated away.

Fireworks and Finish Fest -- Capping DC's Gala Event

It's been a fabulous three weeks of Cherry blossoms and celebrations, DC's Gala event of the year.  Opening festival at the Building Museum, Parade, Street Fest, Anacostia Festival including a sneak preview to my community's first classic venue: Jazz N Soul on Shannon St.  And today, it all came to a glorious finale at the Prelude and Fireworks at Waterfront Park.

The entertainment included performances by the US Army band and a local band--one of DC's best kept secrets, I'm sure -- that wowed the crowds and rocked the boats in their slips, "Sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away."

It was comfortable, cozy and relaxing all in one.  Felt like family and festive at the same time.  For a while I thought we were taken away and transplanted to a friendly, small town in New England, or a Midwest village somewhere along the mighty Mississippi, or to a community somewhere in the Deep South where I had once called home.

Chasing Cherry Blossoms and Finding the Meaning in Life

I came because the wood thrush called me: They were out in mass and perhaps for another day or two.  The bloom that blushes every spring and rings the Tidal Basin pink. Blindingly beautiful and then before you know, are blown away, like everything we own, not meant to last forever, not even for a lifetime or a season of change. Like the most pure virgin smile will certainly wrinkle or the undying lovethat may one day fade away, the majestic sakura as the baby blossoms fall.

So I hit the road with weary feet, still trembling from last week's 26-miler, the one that wasn't meant to be, and now I tried to wipe away.  But my mind was fresh and my heart anew,  hungry to steal a glimpse of those pastel petals floating loftily with every puff or sprinkle. The ground, my Nikes covered in white like the foot of snow from the errant blizzard flight, imposed on us like a long-forgotten great uncle that blanketed this city just last month, if I remember right.  Other than that night, DC no longer knew pure white from the haze of snow except this fortnight, the cloud of bloom rising high and purple sepals raining nigh on the grass and foot paths something magical, idolic and ripe.

I ran with all the might I could muster but soon found myself frozen still in the light of the Pearly luster searching for the inner meaning and peace that had escaped me and hoping that this model of love and transience of life will stay indelibly etched in my enigma even if I have to chase them down before they all floated away.

 

Sakura Matsuri

Today we visited the much anticipated Sakura Matsuri, Cherry Blossom Festival in downtown DC.

We exited the metro at Archives, so we first visited the Navy Memorial to celebrate the "Year of the Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps"

Found the Seabee mascot, the fierce-looking bee complete with Tommy gun and tools, cute and the center of attention.

Then the Navy's Ceremonial Guard in unison poured water from the Seven Seas (Black, Caspian, Persian, Red, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Arabian) and the Great Lakes into the foundation to charge the fountains. The fountains lit up and the audience cheered.

Enjoyed Navy Bean soup prepared by the White House Mess. Then we walked next block to the Street Fest. Truly enjoyed the music (J-POP, taiko drums), the culture, Japanese arts and craft, the food (udon, sashimi, calamari and chicken sate) and of course the Japanese beer garden.

Finally, a nice long walk around the Tidal Basin (Jefferson, FDR) to walk off the big meal, then the WW II Memorial. The sun shone brightly. Billowy clouds formed over the windswept waves, looking magical and majestic covering the peacefully idyllic Tidal Basin. The cherry trees, flowery and low, were definitely at peak bloom and people appeared happy and elated all around.

International Club of DC

Enjoyed the message today at National Community on Scars and forgiveness from Pastor Mark -- found it incredibly profound like all the others over the last few weeks.

Then drove to the Tidal Basin, the partially man-made inlet along the Potomac River between Jefferson and FDR Memorials.

Was amazed at the thousands upon thousands of Cherry trees and even more amazed at the several thousand locals and tourists who flocked to enjoy the beauty.

What was especially nice was the breeze, strong and steadfast and blowing from the south creating waves with white caps along the Basin and Potomac.

What was nicer was that I ran with it on my back and the nice mile and a half from the tip of Hains Point to the west side of Jefferson where I enjoyed socializing and networking with the International Group of DC during their Spring Picnic.

But later on, I felt energized and deprived.  At 10:00 pm after doing work with my roommates, I had to go out for a spin again.  Yes, the Awakenings at Hains Point magically pulled me away.  Even with 35 kts gusting winds, I pressed on the 3.2 mile stretch of road around the point.  It was refreshing, enlightening and definitely addictive.

Cherry Blossom Fest Kickoff

Today, Linda drove down from Solomons and celebrated the kick off of the 09 Cherry Blossom Festival with me.

It was a little rainy so it was best to do a windshield vice walking tour.

We first drove to the heart of the festival enjoying the panoramic view of the puffy, pink cotton candy trees that lined the Tidal Basin.

A stone's throw away, by the Washington Monument folks from near and far were lining up with their fancy kites, some exquisite, some home-made.

Then we headed to the National Building Museum and secured a lucky, front row seat to the Opening Ceremony. We saw this American guy who Linda and I thought at first was a Hip Hop artist sing Japanese folk tunes perfectly, you would think he was Japanese.

There were ballet dancers, First-grade violin players and the highlight of the whole show was this all-female drummer dance troupe that thrilled and whirled the crowd -- what a wonderful show and wonderful way to end the show.

We then strolled over to the Portrait Museum and browsed through the arts and crafts of Americana, both historic and modern.

Admiring art really worked up an appetite and Chinatown being next door, we enjoyed a nice, wholesome gluten-free dinner of roast pork, soy sauce chicken, spinach and matsutake mushroom but not necessarily in that order.

The lighter side of dinner occurred when Linda attempted to add sugar to the high-grade Chinese tea.

That was when I interceded on behalf of the Ancient Chinese mythology and saved the day.

By now, you would think that the evening was over especially since the rain had come back some.

But, I had one more surprise left up my sleeve-- a nice scenic drive by the US Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court and then a drive cross the border into VA.

Linda was surprised to see the Pentagon but was truly impressed with the determination and design of the Pentagon Memorial and the way the age lines traverse the Memorial at 45 degrees, directing our eyes across the path to the current Air Force Memorial where American Airlines Flight 77 had previously flown from.

We were touched to see the youngest victim, Dana Falkenberg, who was only three-years old and were equally honored by the oldest who was 71 and had previously served and retired from the US Army.

Then after an afternoon and evening of entertainment, arts and honor, Linda was ready for her long drive back to Solomons, through the fog and rain.