Clark College will host its 2013 Sakura Festival April 18

Posted

Clark College’s 2013 Sakura Festival will honor the historic ties of friendship between the cities of Vancouver, Washington and Joyo, Japan.

The dedication ceremony will be held on Thurs., April 18, 1 p.m., at the Royce E. Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden, located next to the Beacock Music Hall on Clark’s main campus.

Dignitaries who are scheduled to attend include Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt; John Kageyama, president of America Kotobuki; Tatsuo Ito, executive vice president of SEH America, Inc.; and Toshiharu Okuda of the Kyoto Prefecture Assembly. Joyo is located within the Kyoto Prefecture. In 1990, Mr. Kageyama donated the 100 shirofugen cherry trees whose blossoming on the Clark College campus this Sakura Festival celebrates.

The ceremony will include a koto performance by Yukiko Vossen and a performance by the Clark College Women’s Ensemble. The koto, a stringed musical instrument, is the national instrument of Japan.



From 2-4 p.m., the Sakura celebration will continue in the Gaiser Student Center, where guests will enjoy family-friendly cultural activities, including a formal tea ceremony and a taiko drum performance. Refreshments will be served. Information about the Sakura Ceremony is available at www.clark.edu/cc/sakura.

All events are free and open to the public. The Sakura Festival is sponsored by Clark College, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Rotary.

Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Individuals who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services Office at (360) 992-2314 or (360) 991-0901 (VP) or visit Gaiser Hall room 137.