Brooklyn Botanic Garden celebrates Japan’s cherry blossom festival
People from all over the tristate area filled Brooklyn’s Botanic Garden to celebrate the first day of Sakura Matsuri, the traditional Japanese cherry blossom festival, now in its 35th year. Many visitors sported kimonos, cosplay-themed outfits and steampunk-inspired costumes as they strolled along the Cherry Walk, a meandering path lined by one of the largest collections of prunus Kanzan, or Japanese cherry cultivars, found outside Japan itself.
Kids riding their parents’ shoulders grabbed at low hanging blossoms while teens and 20-somethings sported hair in shades of pink that matched the delicate pale blooms.
“This is what springtime is,” said one young woman arrayed in bright purple and black who gave her cosplay name, “Caitlyn.” Actress and award-winning costume designer Aleta Pardalis strode beneath the cherry blossoms wearing a stunning purple “Steampunk Maleficent” costume complete with great horns and a working mechanical parrot in cage.
A stage set at one end of the Cherry Esplanade featured sets of Kabuki Buyo dances. Renowned choreographer Sachiyo Ito and her company, Dancejapan, commanded the stage with traditional styles such as Higasa Odori, or parasol dance, and Okame, mask dancing. Dr Ruth Abrahams, executive director of Gomez Foundation for Mill House, introduced each variation with a brief comment on its significance.