I heard on the news today the cherry blossoms burst into bloom in Washington DC. Oh! what a gorgeous sight to see all the lovely soft pink Yoshino Cherry flowering trees surrounding the Tidal Basin and marking the beginning of spring and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. In 1912 the Mayor of Tokyo, the Honorable Yukio Ozaki, gave 3,000 cherry trees to the City of Washington, DC as a token of friendship between to two countries, Japan and the United States of America. Each year more than 1.5 million people converge on the Tidal Basin of the US capital to view this impressive and glorious sight surrounding the Jefferson Memorial.
This weekend also kicks off the 2014 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival and Grand Parade (in San Francisco Bay Area, my hometown), showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. I remember when I was a little girl, every year I participated in the Obon Festival and loved learning about the traditions, culture, foods and dressing up in my mini kimono! (I even managed to find an old snap shot of me dressed up for the event 🙂
The Japan Fair 2014 opened on April 5 and will last until April 20, 2014. The organizers of this event hope to introduce more Japanese Creators, Artists and Entertainers to Second Life, as well as benefit a charity called ShelterBox. The Japanese people received support from the world through this organization in the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and ShelterBox benefits the refugees and survivors. The sim is broken into a number of areas including Furniture, Kimono, Outfits, Hair, Poses, Vehicles and Show Items. There was even a Shinto Temple and Japanese boat, plus a display area to take photos. Many designers created exclusive items with 100% donated to ShelterBox.
I had lots of fun today exploring the Japan Fair and finding new stores and creators. At the event, I discovered a mini hunt that some designers were taking part in. Below, I’m modeling some of the hunt items in a set I created with items from the Japan Fair and my inventory. A truly wonderful event with a fabulous sim to explore that I encourage you to check out! Taxi please…
Free hunt items:
- Dress: Ambrosia, Spring Flower
- Fan: Silvery K, Japanese Hand Fan
- Eye Ornaments: AIR, Pisces
- Earrings: M’s Avon Jewelry & Fashion Shop
- Collar: Haysuriza, Ribbon
- Cherry Blossom Headband: G Field, Flower
- Hair: Lakshmi
- Rain Chime: Zacca, KusariToi
- Antique Japanese Sewing Box: Sakka’s Studio, Tsuru-kubi Haribako
Quick snap at The Japan Fair location wearing -IrodorI- Hana yose(gold), a beloved past group gift.
Gloria Silverstone 
Great pics, Gloria. That last one in the Irodori gift is amazing! What a cutie pic of you a a wee one in your mini kimono…..lucky you, growing up in the City!
Again – thanks for the landmark to the Japan Fair…having so much fun there looking around.
Oh thank you for inviting me over to your beautiful sim, I was so inspired and can’t wait to do an Asian build of me own. Glad you had fun, it really is such a nice event for a great cause!