On April 28, the DU Programing Board (DUPB) hosted a festival aimed to celebrate Japanese culture.

The Cherry Blossom Festival was an event that brought Japanese culture directly to campus. The event kicked off at 4 p.m. on Driscoll Green as participants were treated to Japanese cuisine such as teriyaki chicken, rice and mochi. From then on, participants were then encouraged to eat and socialize as they awaited a traditional Japanese dance performance by the Minyou Kai group.

The group is affiliated with the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple which seeks to provide training and education on Japanese art and culture. They have been showcasing Japanese folk dance since the 1960s. The dancers performed a series of dances that were meant to represent different stories from various regions of Japan. One such dance represented the story of a young prince that disguises himself as a herder boy and lives as a servant in the wealthy man’s home and plays the flute to express his love for the daughter.

The Cherry Blossom Festival gave the DU community a taste of what Japanese culture is like. Interested DU members can learn more about Japanese culture and art through the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple where they can get actively involved in the various clubs and classes offered at the temple.