The Capstone International Center Japan Program will be celebrating the 22nd annual Sakura Festival March 1 through 31 at the University involving citizens of Tuscaloosa's sister city in Japan.
The Sakura Festival will be held on the University's campus and throughout the Tuscaloosa community.
Sakura, meaning "cherry blossom," exhibits Japanese culture through various events all under the theme of "kagami."
"Kagami" means mirror, and is to remind people that they may see their reflections, as well as those of the people they love and respect, all around them.
People throughout the Southeast will be participating in the festival with music, dance, art displays, events and a Haiku contest.
The 18th Annual Haiku Contest provides an opportunity for citizens of Alabama and Tuscaloosa's sister city in Japan, Narashino City, to win prizes from the festival. The poems can be written in English or Japanese.
The Sakura Festival at the Children's Hands-On-Museum will last all month in Downtown Tuscaloosa, and will allow people to visit an authentic replica of a Japanese home.
The Japan House features a display that underlines the cultural role of girls in Japan and allows visitors to create Japanese-inspired art projects.
The projects vary throughout the month of March, and include Japanese fans, kimono doll bookmarks, cherry blossom pictures, Japanese fans, kimono and imperial dolls and origami samurai helmets.
The Tuscaloosa Public Library will display an exhibit for Contemporary Japanese Culture. Other activities and exhibits will take place at the Tuscaloosa Public Library and the Weaver Bolden Library all month.
Comcast Cable channel 20 will feature the "Great Day in Tuscaloosa" shows so that viewers can enjoy Japan's traditional cultural activities and preview upcoming Sakura Festival activities on certain days in March.
The Doll Festival, or Hina Matsuri, the art gallery "Ukiyo-e: Pictures of the Floating World" and the garden talk on "Cherry Blossoms/Sakura" will be hosted at various buildings on the UA campus.
"Matsuri in the Mall" offers the experience of learning about the country of Japan and Japanese culture at McFarland Mall.
The booths for the mall exhibits include toys, origami, woodworks, art and floral activities.
The Tea Ceremony will be held at the Japanese Tea House at the Birmingham Botanical Garden.
"A Reflection on Your Community" is the 10th annual art contest at the Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission is open to grades 1 through 12 in the Tuscaloosa City School System, Narashino, Japan, and Schorndorf, Germany.
Stage activities will feature a variety of musical performances and some will incorporate UA music groups in their programs.
The Sakura Festival includes many other activities, lectures, and programs as well as a drawing for a free round-trip ticket to Japan.
For more information about Sakura Festival events, contact the Capstone International Center at (205) 348-5256 or bama.ua.edu/~jprogram/sakura.
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