Cherry Blossom Signature Events for April

15th Annual Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk on April 6

Walkers: are You ready to Pursue Justice? The 15th Annual Cherry Blossom Freedom
Walk, an official event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be held on
Saturday, April 6, 2013. The event will be held at the National Japanese American
Memorial to Patriotism During World War II (Intersection of D St., New Jersey and
Louisiana, NW), rain or shine.

The theme this year is “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Justice” and marks the 25th
anniversary of the signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The Cherry Blossom
Freedom Walk is a historical and cultural event to raise awareness about the
Japanese American experience during World War II and to highlight the vigilant role
that American citizens must continue to play in preserving the Constitutional rights of all
Americans.

Check-in begins at 9:00 AM. The Nen Daiko Japanese Taiko drummers of VA will
perform at 9:30AM and the program will begin at 10:00AM. Additional information on
the Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk can be found at www.njamf.com.

Nation’s Greatest Japanese Festival Set for Saturday, April 13

The 53rd Annual Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival will take place on Saturday,
April 13 over six blocks on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW – from near the White House
to FBI headquarters. This festival is the single largest celebration of Japanese culture
in the United States and is the grand finale to the overall three-week National Cherry
Blossom Festival. The Sakura Matsuri celebrates all facets of Japanese culture, including
traditional artisans, merchandise, food, and the latest and greatest from hip, urban
Japan. We have four stages of performances going throughout the day, with myriad
performances of traditional and modern music, and demonstrations of a variety of martial
arts.

The Festival runs from 10:30am to 6:00pm and admission to the Festival is $5 for ages 13
and up, children 12 and under are free. Additional information about the festival can be
found at www.sakuramatsuri.org where you can also buy tickets in advance. 2013 Cherry Blossom Festival Opens With a Star-Studded Performance

2013 Cherry Blossom Festival Opens With a Star-Studded Performance
Washington, DC – Now known as the “Nation’s Greatest Springtime Celebration,” the National
Cherry Blossom Festival is continues to draw over a million visitors to Washington, D.C. said Gregory
O’Dell President and CEO of Events DC at the 2013 National Cherry Blossom opening ceremony on
March 23. The line-up included Japanese pop star Junko Yagami and American platinum singer Andy Grammar in an evening that celebrated a long-time friendship between Japan and the United States. According to the National Park Service, the peak bloom is expected to happen around April 3-6, 2013.

Weren’t there? Don’t worry – catch some footage from the evening online at www.asianfortune.com