Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival Sakura Matsuri returns to Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is hosting the 34th annual Sakura Matsuri festival on April 25 and 26 — the largest annual event held in a U.S. public garden — which celebrates contemporary Japanese culture and, of course, the cherry blossoms.
The show becomes increasingly popular each year, and this season is no different. The festival will include more than 60 musical and dance performances, art and horticulture demonstrations and special exhibits showcasing Japanese culture.
“I’ve been doing this since 2003 and it doesn’t get boring because it seems like it’s bigger every year,” said the festival’s emcee Yoshi Amao. “You start to see some of the same people coming back and they get so into the performances. I don’t even use a script anymore because the audience reacts so well that I’m just up there having fun and improving everything.”
For the sixth year in a row, the festival will be closed out with a popular Cosplay Fashion Show, which will be accompanied by drumming ensemble Taiko Masala.