The 47th Northern California Cherry Blossom opened April 12 and 13 in San Francisco Japantown. The 2014 Cherry Blossom Court, selected Saturday night at the Sundance Kabuki Cinema and introduced to the public in Peace Plaza the next morning, consists of (from left) Princess Kristin Matsumoto, First Princess Alison Nishiyama, Queen Kyle Tana, Princess Saaya Sakurai and Princess Alessandra Dameshghi.
Left: 2014 Cherry Blossom Queen Kyle Tana was crowned by 2013 Queen Kelly Walton. Right: 2014 First Princess Alison Nishiyama was crowned by 2013 First Princess Jamie Martyn.
Students of dance instructors Michiya Hanayagi and Michisuya Hanayagi, who have participated in the festival from the beginning.
San Francisco Taiko Dojo, another fixture at the festival, performed under the direction of Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, who will serve as grand marshal of the parade.
Martial arts demonstrations included Soko Joshi Judo Club, a women’s dojo founded by the late Keiko Fukuda, who was profiled in the documentary “Mrs. Judo.”
Left: Guitarist Hideo Date of Yamasho Kai. Right: Tojokan Shinkendo Dojo.
Above: J-pop singer KANA was one of the featured performers in Peace Plaza. Below: Matsutoyo Kai performed at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California. The festival continues April 19 and 20 with the Grand Parade on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. at City Hall and ending in Japantown. For more information, visit http://sfcherryblossom.org.
