Since 1987, Tuscaloosa’s Annual Sakura Festival celebrates and provides Japanese cultural enrichment in the form of educational demonstrations and fun activities for all ages.
In traditional Japanese thought, the time of ohanami, or viewing of the cherry blossoms reminds one of the paradoxically fleeting yet enduring nature of life, which is symbolized in the single moment that a cherry blossom petal detaches itself to float earthward. In contemporary Japan, friends gather whenever the cherry trees blossom. They meet to celebrate and recognize the beauty of sakura, friendship, and good vibes under the billowy pink branches.
