There are a few things I enjoy more than an outdoor cultural festival/street fair. Needless to say, being so close to DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival really is a treat for me. Yesterday was the 57th Annual Sakura Matsuri in DC and I had been looking forward to it for months.
This year, the matsuri (Japanese for "festival") was held at Navy Yard, big enough for thousands of people and dozens of stalls and completely metro-accessible. There were vendor stalls selling food and crafts, information booths regarding Japanese culture, and plenty of cultural performances throughout the day.
Here are a collection of the photos I took of the festival.
Chefs grilling squid and okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake made with different meats and topped with delicious Japanese mayonnaise
Cosplay contest/fashion show hosted by Anime USA (another con I went to this past year, but failed to share pictures from)
Earrings made from origami paper. I was pretty non-committal this year too and didn't end up buying myself a pair
Traditional ribbon-weaving ("Kimi no Na wa" anyone?)
Kokeshi dolls, I love the expressions on each of their faces
Traditional Japanese dolls, sponsored by a Japanese Doll and Crafts school in Rockville (they offer classes...need I say more?)
Beautiful kimonos
Taiko drum performance
New York-based J-rock group, The Asterplace
KENYC, a kendama group from NYC
So happy they had this torii gate here this year also!
Ah cultural festivals really are my happy place. The traditional art, food, and cultural performances make me appreciate the diversity and quirks of
Currently listening to: "Zen Zen Zense" by Radwimps
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