The Sakura Flower Festival of 2008 attracted Clark students, faculty and staff, even though the cherry blossoms were not in bloom. The festival was held on Thursday, April 17.

    From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., a presentation explaining Japanese culture was shown in the Penguin Student Lounge by high school students, who recently took a trip to Joyo, Japan. High school students, such as Lindsey Jahn, a student from Columbia River High School, were explaining different aspects of Japanese culture.  A total of 12 guests were present at the event.

    At 12 p.m. students, faculty and guests met at the newly opened O’Connell Sports Complex (OSC) lobby.  Guests were greeted with cherry dessert and tables decorated with Japanese artwork and clothing.

    Speeches were given outside the lobby, underneath the Shirofugen trees that had not yet blossomed. 

    Some of the guest speakers present were the Mayor of Vancouver, Wash. Royce Pollard, Tatsuo Ito, Consul General of the Portland Japanese Consulate Akio Egawa and the former Mayor of Vancouver Bruce Hagensen.

    “We appreciate all of you coming out today despite the fact that our cherry blossoms have not come in bloom yet,” Clark President Bob Knight says.

    Each guest speaker came to the stand and explained their involvement with the 100 Shirofugen trees, which were donated by John Kageyama, president of America Kotobuki, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Washington’s statehood, according to a pamphlet handed out during the festival.

    The Shirofugen tree holds the national flower of Japan, the Sakura.

    “Mr. Kageyama donated these 100 cherry trees to show the cultural similarities between the two cities,” Hagensen says.

    After the speeches were given, Knight introduced Yukiko Vossen, a musician from Yamaguchi, Japan who performed traditional Japanese music on a Koto, a stringed instrument that came to Japan from China in the 7th century.  She played pieces such as Sakura Sakura, which is very popular in Japan.

    “This is my first year playing at the Sakura Festival,” Vossen says.  “It was fun.”

    During the speeches, students from the Clark Anime and Japanese Club, as well as the Japanese Language Club set up student events such as origami, haikus and Japanese games.

    Clark Anime and Japanese Club member Aaron McPherson says, “This is our club’s first involvement.  We are glad to finally be able to help.”

    Mark Owsley, director of event services, says, “I’ve been here for 21 years and I’ve helped every time they’ve needed me.”

    The trees were planted and first celebrated on Earth Day in 1990.

    “This year has been different because it was a great chance to have our sister city of Joyo,” Owsley says. 

    Two students who stood out at the event were Timi and Erik Mason, who were dressed in traditional Japanese garb.

    “I’m not part of a club, I just have an affinity for Japanese history,” Erik says.  “This is our second year in a row attending this event.”

    The two displayed their collection of Japanese historical pieces in the OSC lobby along with a display of Japanese items and keepsakes provided by Jan Asai.

    “It was fun,” Timi says.

    After the celebration at OSC lobby, the movie The Seven Samurai was shown, hosted by Mature Learning where more cherry dessert was given along with cranberry juice.

    “I thought the event was really prepared well, everyone seemed happy,” Clark student Jamie Goldman says.