Support the Festival Now!
2023 Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival
Nashville Public Square
Saturday, April 15th
9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT
Join us for these Japan Week activities and events!
A Cherry Blossom Journey in Japan
An inspiring and educational exhibit about Japan’s cherry blossom culture and horticultural practices presented by Nashville Tree Foundation
March 24th - April 10th
Time: Multiple events and drop-in exhibit
Host: Nashville Tree Foundation
Venue: Nashville Downtown Library
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-cherry-blossom-journey-in-japan-tickets-270046465247?fbclid=IwAR2NW-TnnMfacFarQYyHdxMztVXp5Ns3zuTY4wrTrTGWQOCRULc7mA55zYw
Nashville Public Library Puppet Truck presents Momotaro
A mystical journey through the heart of Japan with Wishing Chair Productions and Momotaro, one of the most famous characters in Japanese folklore
A tale of bravery, unity and triumph over adversity performed with newly constructed Bunraku puppets
April 1st
Time: 5:00 PM CDT
Host: Wishing Chair Productions
Website: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88021769404?pwd=cVphVjBZR0dreGZvc3VNRnhKcEFyZz09(passcode: D6uXc1)
Tots! Craft & Story Time
Art and garden adventures abound in this drop-in toddler/guardian program, creating carp flags and listening to Japan-themed story times
April 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT; Story times - 10:00 AM, 10:45 AM and 11:30 AM CDT
Host: Cheekwood
Venue: Cheekwood
https://cheekwood.org/buy-tickets/
Free with general admissions purchase or membership
Sakura! The Cherry Blossom Festival
Kicking off Belmont’s participation in Japan Week, in cooperation with the Office of the Consul-General of Japan in Nashville, Dr. Cynthia Bisson, Professor of History, presenting a brief overview of the role the Cherry Blossom Festival has played as a symbol of U.S. - Japan friendship with music from Nozomi Takasu
April 6th
Time: 10:00 – 10:50 AM CDT
Host: Belmont University
Venue: Belmont University, JAAC 1037
Lunch and Talks on Japan
The event will begin with a series of four speeches followed by a free lunch of Japanese curry rice. The lecture topics are as follows: The Difference in Eastern and Western Storytelling using "Anime", Former Hanshin Tiger Matt Murton's experience as a pro baseball player in Japan, The Shimabara Rebellion of 1637-1638, Roger Lowther’s experience in the tsunami recovery
April 6th
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Host: Crossroads of the Nations Church
Website: Join virtually at https://youtu.be/bj9PKIvM9JI
The Golden Cracks: The Japanese Art of Kintsugi and its Message
Roger Lowther, Director of Community Arts Tokyo introducing the artistic practice of kintsugi and exploring the ways in which it brings healing and meaning
April 6th
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM CDT
Host: Belmont University
Venue: Belmont University, LCVA 117
Author Reading: The Sadness of Viewing Cherry Blossoms by a River: A Year in Japan
David Flynn from Belmont's Asian Studies program reading from his work - The Sadness of Viewing Cherry Blossoms by a River: A Year in Japan
April 7th
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM CDT
Host: Belmont University
Venue: Bunch Multimedia Hall at the Belmont University Library
Virtual Nashville Cherry Blossom Conference
For the second year, Austin Peay State University, alongside partner universities in Japan, will host presentations on the cherry blossom and its significance in the lead-up to the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival. We welcome all to come and participate in this web-based event.
April 7th
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM CDT
Host: Austin Peay State University
Venue: Virtual
RSVP: https://apsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v-zbhJS8TH6z0Iy5tSvdRQ
Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival and Cherry Blossom Walk
April 9th
Time: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM CDT
Venue: Nashville Public Square
2022 Tennessee Video Skit & Poster Presentation Contest
April 10th
Time: TBA
Award ceremony - 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CDT
Venue: Virtual
Registration Required
A Cherry Blossom Journey in Japan
An inspiring and educational exhibit about Japan’s cherry blossom culture and horticultural practices presented by Nashville Tree Foundation
March 24th - April 10th
Time: Multiple events and drop-in exhibit
Host: Nashville Tree Foundation
Venue: Nashville Downtown Library
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-cherry-blossom-journey-in-japan-tickets-270046465247?fbclid=IwAR2NW-TnnMfacFarQYyHdxMztVXp5Ns3zuTY4wrTrTGWQOCRULc7mA55zYw
Nashville Public Library Puppet Truck presents Momotaro
A mystical journey through the heart of Japan with Wishing Chair Productions and Momotaro, one of the most famous characters in Japanese folklore
A tale of bravery, unity and triumph over adversity performed with newly constructed Bunraku puppets
April 1st
Time: 5:00 PM CDT
Host: Wishing Chair Productions
Website: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88021769404?pwd=cVphVjBZR0dreGZvc3VNRnhKcEFyZz09(passcode: D6uXc1)
Tots! Craft & Story Time
Art and garden adventures abound in this drop-in toddler/guardian program, creating carp flags and listening to Japan-themed story times
April 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT; Story times - 10:00 AM, 10:45 AM and 11:30 AM CDT
Host: Cheekwood
Venue: Cheekwood
https://cheekwood.org/buy-tickets/
Free with general admissions purchase or membership
Sakura! The Cherry Blossom Festival
Kicking off Belmont’s participation in Japan Week, in cooperation with the Office of the Consul-General of Japan in Nashville, Dr. Cynthia Bisson, Professor of History, presenting a brief overview of the role the Cherry Blossom Festival has played as a symbol of U.S. - Japan friendship with music from Nozomi Takasu
April 6th
Time: 10:00 – 10:50 AM CDT
Host: Belmont University
Venue: Belmont University, JAAC 1037
Lunch and Talks on Japan
The event will begin with a series of four speeches followed by a free lunch of Japanese curry rice. The lecture topics are as follows: The Difference in Eastern and Western Storytelling using "Anime", Former Hanshin Tiger Matt Murton's experience as a pro baseball player in Japan, The Shimabara Rebellion of 1637-1638, Roger Lowther’s experience in the tsunami recovery
April 6th
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Host: Crossroads of the Nations Church
Website: Join virtually at https://youtu.be/bj9PKIvM9JI
The Golden Cracks: The Japanese Art of Kintsugi and its Message
Roger Lowther, Director of Community Arts Tokyo introducing the artistic practice of kintsugi and exploring the ways in which it brings healing and meaning
April 6th
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM CDT
Host: Belmont University
Venue: Belmont University, LCVA 117
Author Reading: The Sadness of Viewing Cherry Blossoms by a River: A Year in Japan
David Flynn from Belmont's Asian Studies program reading from his work - The Sadness of Viewing Cherry Blossoms by a River: A Year in Japan
April 7th
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM CDT
Host: Belmont University
Venue: Bunch Multimedia Hall at the Belmont University Library
Virtual Nashville Cherry Blossom Conference
For the second year, Austin Peay State University, alongside partner universities in Japan, will host presentations on the cherry blossom and its significance in the lead-up to the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival. We welcome all to come and participate in this web-based event.
April 7th
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM CDT
Host: Austin Peay State University
Venue: Virtual
RSVP: https://apsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v-zbhJS8TH6z0Iy5tSvdRQ
Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival and Cherry Blossom Walk
April 9th
Time: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM CDT
Venue: Nashville Public Square
2022 Tennessee Video Skit & Poster Presentation Contest
April 10th
Time: TBA
Award ceremony - 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CDT
Venue: Virtual
Registration Required
