Sakura Instrumental Group

Genre: Traditional Japanese Music

This summer at A2SF, experience a Japanese Bon Odori Festival with Sakura, a Japanese instrumental group! Named after the word for cherry blossom, this group of artists hail from hometowns in both Japan and the Midwest As Sakura, they come together to share both traditional folk music and the soundscapes of traditional music as expressed through the compositions of their mentor, Yamada Mizue from Kanazawa, Japan. From the dynamic sound of taiko drums to the melodies of festival music and the traditional Lion Dance known as the Shishimai, the live performance is a true celebration of the art of traditional Japanese culture. 

After the concert, the group will host a Bon Odori Dance Festival for the audience to join! People of all ages are welcome to participate, either standing or sitting as the group coordinates simple dance movements to a festive beat. Bon Odori is the name for a popular style of dancing during the Bon Festival season in Japan, a time where the community comes together to celebrate family. In Japan, yukatas or kimonos are often worn (temperature permitting) so attendees are encouraged to dress up in their own festival attire! No matter how you’re dressed, the wonderful stylings of Sakura are not to be missed!