| Not to be outdone, San Francisco holds an exciting | | | | Japan Takayama Spring Festival |
| celebration of the Spring festival in their very own | | | | The Takayama Festival is celebrated annually in the |
| Japantown. The festival is also known as the North | | | | month of April to usher in the Spring season and is |
| California Cherry Blossom Festival which celebrates | | | | considered one of Japan’s most beautiful festivals. |
| the colour and grace of Japanese culture and diversity | | | | The celebration of the Spring festival is a grand affair |
| of the Japanese American community. The Cherry | | | | with about a dozen of festival floats or yatai being |
| Blossom Festival is also an annual celebration of the | | | | paraded through their streets, either towed or |
| 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the people of | | | | accompanied by participants dressed in their traditional |
| Tokyo to American citizens. | | | | costumes. |
| The celebrations are a colourful affair with | | | | The design and architecture of these festival floats |
| performances from taiko (Japanese drum) drummers, | | | | alone are impressive enough to attract the |
| Japanese classical and folk dancers, martial artists and | | | | congregation of several hundred thousands of |
| others. Performers would be dressed in colourful | | | | spectators and merry-makers. These three storey |
| traditional Japanese costumes complete with golden | | | | high floats are all intricately built with a master’s |
| embroidery, floral prints and eye-catching head gear. | | | | attention to detail. The floats come adorned with large |
| Enthusiastic Caucasians are also seen in their own | | | | drums, gold gilding, lanterns, mirrors and crimson tassels. |
| versions of Asian traditional costumes which they | | | | Its sides are drapped with lush tapestry and each are |
| sportingly parade in, all in the name of fun. | | | | guarded by gold figurines of dragons and phoenix that |
| The Cherry Blossom Festival will also include a food | | | | perch on its rooftops. |
| bazaar, featuring traditional Japanese cuisine and | | | | Several of the floats are also decorated with karakuri |
| cooking demonstrations, a Japanese traditional arts | | | | ningyo which are sophisticated mechanical dolls that |
| and crafts fair, and a children’s village. The | | | | can move and dance. Another integral part of the |
| festivities would usually coincide with the blooming of | | | | procession is the portable shrines, each containing their |
| the beautiful cherry blossoms which proliferate in | | | | respective deities, which are paraded throughout the |
| Japantown in hues of pure white or sweet pink. It is no | | | | festival. The whole affair is truly a wonderful sight |
| wonder that more than 200,000 people gather to | | | | amidst the beautiful backdrop of blooming cherry |
| observe the festive event every year. | | | | blossoms. |