Blossom in full bloom at the 2016 Cherry Blossom Festival (9 April 2016)

19 April 2016

On 9 April the annual Cherry Blossom Festival took place in Amstelveen, co-organized by Amsterdam InBusiness, the Netherlands-Japan Association, the JWC, the JCC, and the Embassy of Japan.
It was the perfect day for hanami, flower watching, as the weather was sunny and the cherry flowers were in full bloom.

The Mayor of Amstelveen Ms. Van ‘t Veld and Ambassador Inomata offered flowers and a moment of silence at the memorial monument near the cherry trees, which is dedicated to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
After the Mayor of Amstelveen and Ambassador Inomata held a speech at the venue, Mr. Jacobs of the Netherlands-Japan Association, Mayor of Almere Mr. Weerwind, Deputy Mayor of Haarlemmermeer Mr. Elzakalai, Deputy Mayor of Amstelveen Ms. Veeningen and Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam Mr. Choho came together on stage for a toast proposed by Mr. Sakuma, president of the JCC.

This year’s edition of the festival was also open to the general public who could join the festivities from 15:00 onwards. There was a singing choir in kimono that sang Japanese songs and ‘Tulpen uit Amsterdam’, an energetic Taiko drum performance, a yosakoi dance group that danced to the Japanese folk song “Soran Bushi”, and demonstrations of aikido.
There were also various stands where the visitors could enjoy, for example, takoyaki, miso soup, taiyaki, sushi, Japanese tea, ikebana, origami and Go, but also face painting for the younger visitors. Many people flocked to the park in Amstelveen and spent their afternoon under the magnificent cherry blossoms.