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SF’s Cherry Blossom Parade is Finally Back After 4 Years

For the first time since 2019, the grand parade of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival returns to San Francisco (April 16)
By - posted 3/17/2023 No Comment

Welcome to the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions and the biggest on the West coast.

Since 1968, the Festival serves to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and the United States using culture as its bridge. Each year, over 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the vibrant colors and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community in the festivities as San Francisco’s Japantown celebrates Japanese and Japanese-American culture. The celebration coincides with the blooming of the cherry blossoms.

56th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
– April 8-9, 2023 | 11 am to 6 pm
– April 15-16 2023 | 11 am to 6 pm
– PARADE – Sunday, April 16, 2023 – 1pm to 3pm – from Civic Center Plaza to Japantown
– Festival – Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Streets, Japantown, SF
FREE

Will there be a parade for 2023? Yes! The organizers have confirmed that the parade will return for 2023! The Grand Parade will occur on the final Sunday of the Festival. A lively procession of taiko drummers, dancers, and decorative floats will celebrate the Festival and the Japanese traditions that thrive here in Nor Cal

2023 Parade Route
The Grand Parade will depart the Civic Center Plaza at 1:00 P.M., proceeding up Polk Street to Post Street, and ending in Japantown at Post and Fillmore Streets.

2023 Festival Schedule

See the updated schedule – tentative and subject to change

4/08/2023 1:15 – 1:30 Student Scholarship Winners Peace Plaza Stage
4/08/2023 1:30 – 2:00 Sakura Minyo Doo Koo Kai Peace Plaza Stage Dance, Music, Japanese folk
4/08/2023 1:30 – 2:15 Fishcake Band Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/08/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Northern California Japanese Sword Club Union Bank Community Room Sword Display
4/08/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Kodomo no Sakura Machi – Children’s Cherry Blossom Village Post & Buchanan Kids Games, Taiko, Kendama, Cooking Demo, Hawaiian Music
4/08/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Origami Demonstration Paper Tree, outside Origami
4/08/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Ikebana (Flower Arrangement) Exhibit & Demonstration JCCCNC – Issei Memorial Hall Flower Arrangement
4/08/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Mataro Dolls JCCCNC – Classroom Two Handmade Dolls
4/08/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Washi Ningyo (Japanese Paper Dolls) JCCCNC – Classroom One Handmade Dolls
4/08/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Shoyukai Calligraphy East Mall 2F, 505, Takara Calligraphy
4/08/2023 11:00 – 6:00 Origami Exhibit Paper Tree, inside Origami
4/08/2023 11:00 – 6:00 Beginner Go lessons with SF Go Club East Mall, Suite 501 Game
4/08/2023 12:00 – 12:30 Jiten Daiko Peace Plaza Stage Music, taiko
4/08/2023 12:00-12:45 Jest Jammin’ Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/08/2023 12:30 – 1:15 Opening Ceremony Peace Plaza Stage Opening ceremony
4/08/2023 13:00 Ura-Senke Tankokai Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Tea Ceremony
4/08/2023 14:00 Ura-Senke Tankokai Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Tea Ceremony
4/08/2023 15:00 Ura-Senke Tankokai Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Tea Ceremony
4/08/2023 16:00 Ura-Senke Tankokai Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Tea Ceremony
4/08/2023 2:00 – 2:30 Northern California Naginata Peace Plaza Stage Martial arts, polearm fencing
4/08/2023 2:30 – 3:00 Essence with Masayuki Koga Peace Plaza Stage Music, shakuhachi
4/08/2023 3:00 – 3:30 Nihon Buyo Kiyonomoto Peace Plaza Stage Dance, Japanese classical
4/08/2023 3:00 – 3:45 Night Owls Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/08/2023 4:00 – 4:30 Peaceful Forest ~Takumi Kato~ Peace Plaza Stage Music, taiko
4/08/2023 4:30 – 5:00 World Oyama Karate Peace Plaza Stage Martial Arts, karate
4/08/2023 4:30 – 5:15 Funky Sound Experience (FSE) Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/08/2023 5:00 – 5:30 SF Nipponto Society Peace Plaza Stage Sword, tameshi-giri, test cutting
4/08/2023 6:00 – 9:30 2023 Cherry Blossom Queen Program Night Admission $45 online, $45 at door / Doors open 5:00 p.m. / Program starts 6:00 p.m. Cowell Theater Queen Program
4/09/2023 1:00 – 1:30 Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo Peace Plaza Stage Martials Arts, Japanese swords
4/09/2023 1:30 – 2:00 YOYOKA Peace Plaza Stage Music, drums
4/09/2023 1:30 – 2:15 Mirage Band Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/09/2023 11:00 – 4:00 Origami Demonstration Paper Tree, outside Origami
4/09/2023 11:00 – 4:00 Shishu (Japanese Embroidery) JCCCNC – Classroom Two Embroidery
4/09/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Northern California Japanese Sword Club Union Bank Community Room Sword Display
4/09/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Kodomo no Sakura Machi – Children’s Cherry Blossom Village Post & Buchanan Kids Games, Taiko, Kendama, Cooking Demo, Hawaiian Music
4/09/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Ikebana (Flower Arrangement) Exhibit & Demonstration JCCCNC – Issei Memorial Hall Flower Arrangement
4/09/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Washi Ningyo (Japanese Paper Dolls) JCCCNC – Classroom One Handmade Dolls
4/09/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Shoyukai Calligraphy East Mall 2F, 505, Takara Calligraphy
4/09/2023 11:00 – 6:00 Origami Exhibit Paper Tree, inside Origami
4/09/2023 11:00 – 6:00 Beginner Go lessons with SF Go Club East Mall, Suite 501 Game
4/09/2023 12:00-12:45 Slam Effect Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/09/2023 12:30 – 1:00 GenRyu Arts Peace Plaza Stage Music, taiko
4/09/2023 13:00 Omote-Senke Domonkai Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Tea Ceremony
4/09/2023 14:00 Omote-Senke Domonkai Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Tea Ceremony
4/09/2023 15:00 Omote-Senke Domonkai Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Tea Ceremony
4/09/2023 16:00 Omote-Senke Domonkai Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Tea Ceremony
4/09/2023 2:30 – 3:00 2023 Queen & Court Introductions Peace Plaza Stage Queen Program
4/09/2023 3:00 – 3:30 Oshiro Karate Peace Plaza Stage Martial Arts, karate
4/09/2023 3:00 – 3:45 Alice and the Wave Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/09/2023 3:30 – 4:00 Ensohza Minyoshu Peace Plaza Stage Dance, Music, Japanese
4/09/2023 4:00 – 4:30 Shigin Groups Peace Plaza Stage Poem singing
4/09/2023 4:30 – 5:00 Nijikko Dance Peace Plaza Stage Dance
4/09/2023 4:30 – 5:15 YOYOKA Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/09/2023 5:00 – 6:00 Kendama Peace Plaza Stage Game
4/15/2023 1:00 – 1:30 Wesley Ukulele Band Peace Plaza Stage Music, ukulele
4/15/2023 1:30 – 2:00 Grass Valley Taiko Peace Plaza Stage Music, taiko
4/15/2023 1:30 – 2:15 D’Groove Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/15/2023 1:30 – 3:30 Hokka Sakura Matsuri Kouhaku Utagassen / Naoko Ikoma / Hiroshi Harata AMC Kabuki 8 Dance, Music, Kawachi ondo, kayo
4/15/2023 11:00 – 12:00 Taru Mikoshi Purification Ceremony with a Performance by Kagami Kai Post & Buchanan Mikoshi, Purification Ceremony
4/15/2023 11:00 – 12:30 Karaoke Kayo Rengokai JCCCNC – Issei Memorial Hall Music, kayo, karaoke
4/15/2023 11:00 – 4:00 Bonsai/Suiseki (Bonsai trees/stones) Exhibit Union Bank Community Room Art, potted trees & stones
4/15/2023 11:00 – 4:00 Hyakunin Isshu East Mall 2F, 505, Takara Game, Japanese Poetry, karuta, card game
4/15/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Origami Demonstration Paper Tree, outside Origami
4/15/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Shoyukai Calligraphy East Mall 1F, by Union Bank Calligraphy
4/15/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Washi Ningyo (Japanese Paper Dolls) West Mall, by Suite 310 Handmade Dolls, 3D
4/15/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Contemporary Japanese American ART Exhibit / Antique Japanese swords exhibit by SF Nipponto Society National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) Japanese swords
4/15/2023 11:00 – 6:00 Origami Exhibit Paper Tree, inside Origami
4/15/2023 12:00 – 12:30 Northern California Okinawa Kenjin Kai Peace Plaza Stage Music, Dance, Okinawan
4/15/2023 12:00-12:45 Relative Key Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/15/2023 12:30 – 1:00 Zanshin Dojo Peace Plaza Stage Martial Arts
4/15/2023 12:30 – 13:30 Ishikawa Kazuma Kai, SF Koto Ensemble JCCCNC – Issei Memorial Hall Music, koto
4/15/2023 13:00 Urasenke Foundation Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Way of Tea
4/15/2023 13:30 – 14:00 Nishikawa Ryu Nihon Buyo JCCCNC – Issei Memorial Hall Dance, Japanese classical
4/15/2023 14:00 Urasenke Foundation Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Way of Tea
4/15/2023 14:00 – 15:00 Yanagiya Tozaburo 柳家 東三楼 “ZABU” JCCCNC – Issei Memorial Hall Rakugo
4/15/2023 15:00 Urasenke Foundation Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Way of Tea
4/15/2023 15:00 – 15:30 GenRyu Arts JCCCNC – Issei Memorial Hall Dance, Minyo, Japanese folk dance
4/15/2023 16:00 Urasenke Foundation Nihonmachi Little Friends – Tateuchi Auditorium Way of Tea
4/15/2023 2:00 – 2:30 Theatre of Yugen Peace Plaza Stage Theater
4/15/2023 2:30 – 3:00 Rosa Parks Elementary School Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program Peace Plaza Stage Education, Language, Culture
4/15/2023 3:00 – 3:30 Female Leaders from Nisei Week & Cherry Blossom Festival Hawaii Peace Plaza Stage Leadership
4/15/2023 3:00 – 3:45 Soul’d Out Band Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/15/2023 3:30 – 4:00 Drum Revolution Peace Plaza Stage Music, taiko
4/15/2023 4:00 – 5:40 Kazanami Yosakoi Dance Showcase Peace Plaza Stage Dance, yosakoi
4/15/2023 4:30 – 5:15 Groove Foundation Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/15/2023 9:30 – 5:00 SF Go Club: Cherry Blossom Tournament East Mall, Suite 501 Game
4/16/2023 1:00 – 3:00 Grand Parade Post & Buchanan Parade
4/16/2023 10:00 – 12:00 Senior Appreciation Brunch (by invitation only) Hotel Kabuki Senior Appreciation Brunch
4/16/2023 11:00 – 12:00 SF Kendo Peace Plaza Stage Martial Arts, kendo
4/16/2023 11:00 – 4:00 Bonsai/Suiseki (Bonsai trees/stones) Exhibit Union Bank Community Room Art, potted trees & stones
4/16/2023 11:00 – 4:00 Origami Demonstration Paper Tree, outside Origami
4/16/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Shoyukai Calligraphy East Mall 1F, by Union Bank Calligraphy
4/16/2023 11:00 – 5:00 Washi Ningyo (Japanese Paper Dolls) West Mall, by Suite 310 Handmade Dolls, 3D
4/16/2023 11:00 – 6:00 Origami Exhibit Paper Tree, inside Origami
4/16/2023 11:00 – 6:00 Beginner Go lessons with SF Go Club East Mall, Suite 501 Game
4/16/2023 12:00 – 12:30 Enshin Karate Peace Plaza Stage Martial Arts, karate
4/16/2023 12:30 – 1:00 Shorinji Kempo Peace Plaza Stage Martial Arts
4/16/2023 3:30 – 4:00 Sakura Ren Peace Plaza Stage Dance, Japanese
4/16/2023 3:30 – 4:15 Hella Beats Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/16/2023 4:00 – 4:30 Dream Show: Japanese Culture through Cosplay Peace Plaza Stage Music, Cosplay
4/16/2023 4:30 – 5:15 TBA Peace Plaza Stage Music
4/16/2023 4:45 – 5:30 Big City Revue Webster Street Stage Music, band
4/16/2023 5:15 – 6:00 NCCBF Raffle Drawing Peace Plaza Stage Raffle

Volunteer

– Volunteer at the Festival