Sunday, April 11, 2010

Cherry Blossom Festival


Over the weekend I attended the Cheery Blossom Festival in San Fransisco. Here are few pictures I took from the event.

The most popular food booth was the takoyaki balls (fried octopus). It's a combination of octopus, batter, and seasonings. I know it sounds strange but you're going to have to trust me on this one, it's the best.

For dessert we had azuki bean filled pancakes. I admit, this is an acquired taste but I've grown to love them. They're best fresh off the griddle.

From my understanding this is a Zen Buddhist Priest playing the Shakuhachi for meditation and alms. That's all I know about this.

Women performing a bamboo mat dance. Here's a video on YouTube that shows what they were doing.

I took this picture of the back of the kimono's to show the obi. Often you see the kimono from the front and never get to see the beautiful obi (sash).

Every year at the festival there's a room dedicated to Japanese crafts. The day I was there they were demonstrating Japanese embroidery. I like how the embroidery frame is set between two tables so the artists' hands can be free. It seems like it would be easier to use compared to the hand held hoop.

Japanese Embroidery

"Mom, don't look but I think Hello Kitty is standing beside me!"

Yes, even Hello Kitty was at the event, it was that popular.
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22 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 12, 2010 at 7:10 AM

    Its sounds great. The photos of Japanese Embroidery and the kimons are gorgeous.It's so nice that you share these pictures with us.

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  2. guurrrlApril 12, 2010 at 8:09 AM

    The food looks delicious. I love seeing the pictures of the obi. My father was adopted from Japan. My interest in Japanese culture is actually how I came across your blog last year. It would be so wonderful to live in a city that had a festival like this to attend. Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures. :D

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  3. greetingartsApril 12, 2010 at 12:06 PM

    Miss Kitty herself was there?! My daughter would have fainted, I think...

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  4. TienApril 12, 2010 at 2:49 PM

    I went to view the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., on Easter weekend because I couldn't attend the actual Sakura Matsuri this past Saturday in the capital. You're so lucky! I love takoyaki and the adzuki bean paste buns. We always buy too many!

    Your pictures were so nice and festive, and the embroidery is just gorgeous! Maybe I'll get to attend the festival in San Francisco some time ... especially if I get to meet Hello Kitty!

    I haven't been around for the past few weeks, so I've missed a lot of your posts. I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother, so it's belated, but you have my sincerest sympathy.

    I'll be back to read some more!

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  5. ChristineApril 12, 2010 at 4:49 PM

    Oh I was so excited to see this! I do Japanese Embroidery, I study with a teacher in Silver Spring, Maryland. More info/teachers can be found at japaneseembroidery.com. Thank you for the wonderful pictures.

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  6. ILikePaperCuttingApril 12, 2010 at 6:22 PM

    no sakura?

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  7. RobinApril 12, 2010 at 8:28 PM

    What fun! Is there some sort of list so I can find out about this festival before it happens next year?

    I love that they have the takoyaki there! I'm always a bit disappointed that whichever restaurant used to sell takoyaki in that corridor in Japancenter does not do so any longer.

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  8. KristinApril 12, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    That looks so fun, I'll have to check if they have any celebrations in Seattle, I hope we haven't missed it!

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  9. UnknownApril 12, 2010 at 9:52 PM

    The Cherry Blossom Festivals are fun! We lived in Japan for 6years and never missed a festival! And the food. ohhh we miss it! We went to the festival in San Fran a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Your post brought back lots of great memories! Thanks!

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  10. onegoldensunApril 13, 2010 at 5:49 AM

    Wonderful! I will be in SF at the end of the month ~ I wish I could have made this festival. Thanks for sharing! Looks like great fun. :)

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  11. KimmayApril 13, 2010 at 7:11 AM

    AH I love it! I was lucky enough to see the Cherry Blossom Festival in Osaka last year- it was gorrrrgeous. And there were plenty of Octopus balls and yummy Japanese treats everywhere. I would love to visit San Fran, too. Looks like so much fun!

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  12. zakkalifeApril 13, 2010 at 11:03 AM

    Christine,

    Thank you for sharing the link. I'm sure others will be interested in visiting the site to learn more.

    ILikePaperCutting,

    I was feeling a little guilty that I didn't add a picture of the sakura. Now that I read your comment I'm feeling extra guilty. I didn't like how the photo came out so I didn't add it. Perhaps, I'll put it up. It is the "Cherry Blossom" festival after all.

    Robin,

    The festival is going on next week as well. Here's a link to get all the info http://www.nccbf.org/

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  13. AyieApril 13, 2010 at 11:26 AM

    oh gosh i missed the festival again! next year i can't go to because we'll fly back home to visit. so sad =(

    i want those takoyakis too

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  14. fantaisisteApril 13, 2010 at 1:18 PM

    Please PLEASE can you give a link to the poster? I googled but found nothing, I want to hang it on my wall -- I'm redecorating right now and this pic filled me with inspiration...
    (If you also feel like recommending more cheerful graphic art with a touch of '80s, please go ahead:)
    x

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  15. fantaisisteApril 13, 2010 at 1:21 PM

    Arrrr, I forgot, the caption at the last pic is p e r f e c t!

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  16. Sara&EvaApril 13, 2010 at 2:48 PM

    jajaja..Love the kimonos.. I want to go to San Francisco..this summer is monsterscake summer in SF!

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  17. Amber MamaMoontimeApril 14, 2010 at 4:13 AM

    I can't wait to get to USA again. I love your country- there is so much to do and so many things to enjoy! I hope one day to live there for a while again. I keep a folder of all the things to do in the USA once I get back and this festival is definitely on my list of lovely things to do! Thank you! I love reading your posts in my inbox!

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  18. Lisa UApril 14, 2010 at 8:37 AM

    I just happened to be in SF this past weekend so I dropped by! I knew you'd be there but it looks like you went on Saturday because it was POURING on Sunday when I went. Unfortunately most of the booths closed shop because of this. Beautiful sakura, though!

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  19. zakkalifeApril 14, 2010 at 11:13 AM

    Amber,

    I've never thought of keeping a file of things to do in other countries but that's such a good idea.

    thanks for your kind words :)

    Jessica

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  20. RobinApril 14, 2010 at 8:49 PM

    Jessica - thank you for the link! I'm hoping to be able to visit the Cherry Blossom Festival this weekend! :)

    ~Robin

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  21. AlexanderApril 16, 2010 at 5:56 AM

    Wow! This looks like an interesting and fun festival. :)

    Alexander
    Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

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  22. Chase ClarkMay 14, 2010 at 10:58 AM

    Darn, I missed this again this year! Oh well, at least I get to see some of it through your wonderful pictures.

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