Annual event celebrates friendship between cultures

VANCOUVER, Wash.— The annual Sakura Festival will be celebrated at the Clark College main campus on Thursday (April 20). The free community event underneath a canopy of cherry blossoms is presented by Clark College, the city of Vancouver and Vancouver Rotary.

Opening remarks begin at 1 p.m. in the Royce Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden in the southwest area of campus. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held indoors at Gaiser Student Center in the Gaiser Hall.

The celebration continues at 2:30 p.m. in Gaiser Student Center with Portland Shishimai Kai performing the traditional celebratory lion dance of Tokyo, the Edo Kotobuki Jishi. Other event offerings include a kimono showcase, early childhood education student art showcase, exhibits including ikebana, a tea ceremony, the Japanese Club and Camas Kendo Club. Tea and cookies will be provided by the college’s Professional Baking & Pastry Arts students.

History of Sakura Festival at Clark College: More than 30 years ago, the City of Vancouver received a gift of friendship: 100 Shirofugen cherry trees, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Washington’s statehood. They were planted at Clark College, creating an enduring reminder of the bonds between our region and Japan. Over the years, those trees have grown and blossomed — as has that friendship, creating traditions like the establishment in 1995 of a sister-city relationship between Vancouver and Joyo, Japan, and our annual Sakura Festival, begun in 2006. Learn more about the history of the Sakura Festival.

This event, which is free and open to the public, will begin in the Royce Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden on Clark College’s main campus 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 the Penguin Union Building room 013.

About Clark College

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. It is a public community college offering more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves a wide range of students including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately three-quarters of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.