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Sakura Matsuri 2009


May 2–May 3, 2009 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | Rain or Shine*


Sakura Matsuri, New York City's "rite of spring," marks its 28th year with over 50 events and performances celebrating Japanese culture and the blossoming of BBG's 220 cherry trees. Visitors to the weekend-long Cherry Blossom Festival can enjoy a range of performances from traditional Japanese music and dance to concerts by some of Japan's hottest J-pop stars, plus taiko drumming, an anime voice actor panel, bonsai pruning workshops, J-pop DJs, a traditional kimono show, and demonstrations and workshops for all ages. Bring your camera and join anime comedian Uncle Yo and the World Cosplay Summit Team USA in a giant Sakura Matsuri cosplay photo shoot!

*In case of rain, events will be moved to sheltered locations.


Schedule of Events

11:00–11:45

Children's Suzuki Recital

Brooklyn College Preparatory Center
Location: Auditorium
Noon–1:00

Taiko Drumming

Soh Daiko
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
1:15–2:00

Nihon Buyo Classical & Ryukyu Buyo Okinawan Dance

Sachiyo Ito & Company with the Sonny Ochiai Quartet
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
2:15–3:00

Japanese Gypsy Rock

Kagero
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
2:30–3:15

Hanagasa Odori (Flower Hat Dance) Procession

Japanese Folk Dance Institute of N.Y.
Location: Lily Pool Terrace
3:15–4:00

Bushido: The Soul of Samurai

Samurai Sword Soul
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
3:30–4:15

Butoh Dance

Dean Street FOO Dance
Location: Meadow
3:30–5:00

Shakuhachi Flute Concert

James Nyoraku Schlefer and Kyo-Shin-An Dojo
Location: Alfred T. White Memorial
4:15–5:00

Minami Kizuki

J-pop sensation from Japan's Amami Islands
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
5:15–6:00

Ai Kawashima

Tokyo's hottest J-pop star
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
1:00–5:00

Origami Paper Folding for Families

Jeremy Aaron Horland
Location: Lily Pool Terrace
1:00–5:00

The Game of Go

Brooklyn Go Club
Location: North Cherry Esplanade
2:00–5:00

Paper, Poetry & Plants for Families

Discovery Workshop
Location: Children's Garden
10:00–1:00

Sakura J-Lounge: DJ 2Thirteen

The J-Show's own spins anime-themed J-pop & J-rock.
Location: Osborne Garden
10:00–1:00

Pose for Cosplay Photographer Anna Fischer

Show off your cosplay costumes with the renowned portraitist.
Location: Osborne Garden
10:00–5:00

AnimeNEXT Manga Library

Browse nature-themed manga for all ages.
Location: Members' Room
10:00–6:00

Manga & Anime Artist Alley

Chat with celebrated manga and anime creators, get autographs and signed books. Presented with the N.Y. Anime Festival
Location: Osborne Garden
Noon–5:00

Sushi Pillow Photo Op

The Original Sushi Pillow
Location: Magnolia Plaza
1:00–2:00

Uncle Yo & Cosplay Photo Shoot

Giggle along with anime comedian Uncle Yo and bring your camera as World Cosplay Summit Team USA hosts a Sakura Matsuri photo shoot!
Presented with the N.Y. Anime Festival
Location: Osborne Garden
2:00–4:00

Samurai Beat Radio Live Broadcast

Megumi Sato and Tokyo FM host a live broadcast from Sakura Matsuri to radio stations all over Japan.
Location: Osborne Garden
2:30–3:30

Funny Voices: Anime Voice Actor Roundtable

NYC's hottest anime voice talents dish with film director Tom Wayland. Presented with the N.Y. Anime Festival
Location: Auditorium
4:00–4:45

Misako Rocks! A Crazy Comic Life

The award-winning manga creator of Biker Girl and Detective Jermaine gives the scoop on her childhood in Japan and inspirations.
Location: Auditorium
4:00–6:00

Sakura J-Lounge: DJ Hayden Honey

An amped-up set of pure Shibuya-kei lounge pop.
Location: Osborne Garden
4:00–6:00

The J-Lounge Dancers

Dancers Kaori "K Bunny" Nakata and Rie Sato get the J-Lounge swinging.
Location: Osborne Garden
5:00–5:45

Manga for Dummies with Kensuke Okabayashe

Get drawing tips from the renowned manga author-illustrator.
Location: Auditorium
10:00–5:00

Origami Crane Confections

Chef Max Kitano, Sugarworks
Location: Magnolia Plaza
Noon–5:00

Washi Ningyo Doll Making

Yuko Doren
Location: Magnolia Plaza
12:30–2:00

Ikebana Flower Arranging (Sogetsu School)

Fumiko Allinder
Location: Auditorium
1:00–2:00

Traditional Tea Ceremony

Urasenke Chanoyu Center
Location: Alfred T. White Memorial
2:00–3:00

Mataro Ningyo Doll Making

Kinuko Narada
Location: Members' Room Annex
3:00–4:00

Moku Hanga Woodblock Printing

April Vollmer
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
10:00–5:00

Ikebana Flower Arrangements (Sogetsu School)

Students of Fumiko Allinder
Location: Rotunda
10:00–5:00

Bonsai Display: Living Sculpture

Friends of Bonsai
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery
10:00–5:00

BBG Bonsai Permanent Collection

C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
Noon–5:00

Washi Ningyo Dolls

Yuko Doren
Location: Magnolia Plaza
1:00–5:00

Mataro Ningyo Dolls

Kinuko Narada
Location: Members' Room Annex
10:00–Noon

Tour: Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden

BBG Garden Guides
Location: Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden
10:00–5:00

Bonsai Advice for Home Gardeners

Friends of Bonsai
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
Noon–5:00

Home Gardening Experts on Flowering Cherries

Gardener's Resource Center Staff
Location: Gardener's Resource Center
1:00–2:00

Tour: Seasonal Highlights

BBG Garden Guides
Location: Visitor Center
2:00–4:00

Tour: C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum

BBG Garden Guides
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
10:00–5:30

Sakura Gift Express

Location: Cherry Esplanade
10:00–5:30

Japanese Gifts & Bonsai

Location: Lily Pool Terrace
11:00–5:30

Japanese Food & Beverages

Location: Cherry Esplanade
Noon–12:45

Taiko Drumming

Taiko Masala
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
12:45–1:00

Children's Taiko Drumming Recital

Genki Daiko Team
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
1:15–2:00

Nihon Buyo Classical & Ryukyu Buyo Okinawan Dance

Sachiyo Ito & Company with the Sonny Ochiai Quartet
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
1:30–2:30

Enta Kusakabe & the Art of Gogyohka (Five-Line Poetry)

Gogyohka Society, U.S. Chapter
Location: Alfred T. White Memorial
2:15–3:00

Koto & Shamisen Concert

Masayo Ishigure & the Miyabi Koto Shamisen Ensemble
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
2:30–3:30

Meet Poet Enta Kusakabe

Q&A session and book signing
Location: Alfred T. White Memorial
3:15–4:00

Minbu Folk Dance

Japanese Folk Dance Institute of N.Y.
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
3:30–4:15

Butoh Dance

Dean Street FOO Dance
Location: Meadow
3:30–5:00

Shakuhachi Flute Concert

James Nyoraku Schlefer and Kyo-Shin-An Dojo
Location: Alfred T. White Memorial
4:00–6:00

Documentary Film Screening (NYC Premier) Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story

Bruce Alan Johnson and Christine Toy Johnson(2008), 96 min. (Followed by Q&A with filmmakers)
Location: Auditorium
4:15–5:00

Bushido: The Soul of Samurai

Samurai Sword Soul
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
5:15–6:00

Traditional Kimono Show & Oiran Douchu (Edo Period Courtesan Procession)

Kimono Society
Location: Cherry Esplanade Stage
1:00–5:00

Origami Paper Folding for Families

Jeremy Aaron Horland
Location: Lily Pool Terrace
1:00–5:00

The Game of Go

Brooklyn Go Club
Location: North Cherry Esplanade
2:00–5:00

Paper, Poetry & Plants for Families

Discovery Workshop
Location: Children's Garden
2:30–3:15

Taiko Drumming for Families

Hiro Kurashima & Taiko Masala
Location: Auditorium
10:00–2:00

Sakura J-Lounge: DJ Saiko Mikan

Tune in for '60s "Group Sounds."
Location: Osborne Garden
10:00–5:00

AnimeNEXT Manga Library

Browse nature-themed manga for all ages.
Location: Members' Room
10:00–6:00

Manga & Anime Artist Alley

Chat with celebrated manga and anime creators, get autographs and signed books. Presented with the N.Y. Anime Festival
Location: Osborne Garden
Noon–5:00

Sushi Pillow Photo Op

The Original Sushi Pillow
Location: Magnolia Plaza
1:00–3:00

The J-Lounge Dancers

Dancers Kaori "K Bunny" Nakata and Rie Sato get the J-Lounge swinging.
Location: Osborne Garden
2:00–6:00

Sakura J-Lounge: DJ Eric B.

Groove to '60s Japanese rock.
Location: Osborne Garden
10:00–5:00

Origami Crane Confections

Chef Max Kitano, Sugarworks
Location: Magnolia Plaza
Noon–1:00

Bonsai Pruning Techniques

Julian Velasco, BBG Bonsai Curator
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
Noon–1:30

Ikebana Flower Arranging (Sogetsu School)

Fumiko Allinder
Location: Auditorium
Noon–5:00

Washi Ningyo Doll Making

Yuko Doren
Location: Magnolia Plaza
1:30–2:30

Bonsai Pruning Techniques

Julian Velasco, BBG Bonsai Curator
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
2:00–3:00

Mataro Ningyo Doll Making

Kinuko Narada
Location: Members' Room Annex
3:30–4:30

Moku Hanga Woodblock Printing

April Vollmer
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
10:00–5:00

Ikebana Flower Arrangements (Sogetsu School)

Students of Fumiko Allinder
Location: Rotunda
10:00–5:00

Bonsai Display: Living Sculpture

Friends of Bonsai
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery
10:00–5:00

BBG Bonsai Permanent Collection

C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
Noon–5:00

Washi Ningyo Dolls

Yuko Doren
Location: Magnolia Plaza
1:00–5:00

Mataro Ningyo Dolls

Kinuko Narada
Location: Members' Room Annex
10:00–Noon

Tour: Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden

BBG Garden Guides
Location: Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden
10:00–5:00

Bonsai Advice for Home Gardeners

Friends of Bonsai
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
Noon–5:00

Home Gardening Experts on Flowering Cherries

Gardener's Resource Center Staff
Location: Gardener's Resource Center
Noon–1:00

Bonsai Pruning Techniques

Julian Velasco, BBG Bonsai Curator
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
1:00–2:00

Tour: Seasonal Highlights

BBG Garden Guides
Location: Visitor Center
1:30–2:30

Bonsai Pruning Techniques

Julian Velasco, BBG Bonsai Curator
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
2:00–4:00

Tour: C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum

BBG Garden Guides
Location: Steinhardt Conservatory
10:00–5:30

Sakura Gift Express

Location: Cherry Esplanade
10:00–5:30

Japanese Gifts & Bonsai

Location: Lily Pool Terrace
11:00–5:30

Japanese Food & Beverages

Location: Cherry Esplanade

Admission Fees & Guidelines

Admission fees will be charged all weekend during Sakura Matsuri, including Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Events are free with Garden admission and will be held rain or shine. Please read these important tips and guidelines for festivalgoers.

TICKETWEBTickets are also available through TicketWeb.com for Sakura Matsuri. TicketWeb ticket holders will have expedited entry into the Garden.

Visitor Price
Adults $12
Seniors (65 and over) $6
Students 12+ with valid ID $6
Children under 12 Free
BBG Members Free

Visitor Photos

If you'd like to contribute your own photos, join BBG's Flickr group Cherry Blossom Viewing at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.



JCCI
Department of Cultural Affairs