Clark College Sakura Festival celebrates peace

For Immediate Release
March 23, 2017

 For additional information (media inquiries only):
Hannah Erickson, Communications & Marketing
T: 360-992-2954 E: herickson@clark.edu
High-resolution photos of previous Sakura Festivals available upon request.

Free, family-friendly event on April 13 features installation of a peace pole

VANCOUVER, Wash. — On Thursday, April 13, Clark College’s 2017 Sakura Festival will honor the historic ties of friendship between the sister-cities of Vancouver, Washington, and Joyo, Japan.

The festival will begin at 1 p.m. with the unveiling of a “peace pole” near the Frost Arts Building on the college’s main campus. The peace pole, which is sponsored by Vancouver Rotary, will bear the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in six different languages.

The unveiling will be followed by opening remarks near the Royce E. Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden, which is located next to the Beacock Music Hall on Clark’s main campus. (In the event of inclement weather the ceremony will be held in Gaiser Student Center.) Dignitaries who are scheduled to speak include Vancouver Mayor Pro Tem Anne McEnerny-Ogle; John Kageyama, president of America Kotobuki Electronics; Kojiro Uchiyama, Portland Consul General; and Clark College Japanese scholarship recipient Honoka Ito.

The opening ceremony will include a koto performance by Yukiko Vossen and a performance by the Clark College Women’s Choral Ensemble. The koto, a stringed musical instrument, is the national instrument of Japan.

From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., the Sakura celebration will continue in the Gaiser Student Center, where guests will enjoy family-friendly cultural activities including dance performances by the Clark College Japanese Cultural Club and the Japanese dance ensemble Dance Leo, a greeting from the children in the college’s Child & Family Studies program, and a performance by members of the Takohachi Drum Group. Cookies and tea will be served. Information about the Sakura Ceremony is available at www.clark.edu/cc/sakura.

All events are free and open to the public. The Sakura Festival is sponsored by Clark College, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Rotary. For video of the 2015 Sakura celebration, please visit Clark's YouTube channel.

Clark College is located 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.

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