Celebration of the first cherry blossom season of the 200 trees at Langelinie Monday 15 May
Original text: Helle Nebelong (English translation by Embassy of Japan)
Photo: Tim Henningsen and Amalie Nebelong
In 2006 Copenhagen Municipality was given 200 Japanese cherry trees by the Danish Honorary Consul in Hiroshima, Mr Seiichi Takaki on the occasion of H. C. Andersen's 200 year birthday. The first cherry blossom season of the trees in Langelinie Park was celebrated with a fine little ceremony on 15 May. In Japan "hanami" which means "flower-viewing" or "admiration of flowers" is celebrated every year.
The new trees in Langelinie Park burst into blossom on Sunday 7 May, and the full bloom of light pink flowers could be enjoyed for a week. The cherry blossom front - sakura zensen in Japanese - is both capricious and transient.
The Technical and Environmental Mayor, Mr Klaus Bondam welcomes HH Princess Elisabeth to the celebration of the first cherry blossom season of the trees in Langelinie Park. Princess Elisabeth is the patroness of the Denmark-Japan Society.
Mayor Klaus Bondam bid everyone welcome and in his speech, which he held in English in honour of the Ambassador of Japan and his wife, he said, inter alia:
"At the moment the cherry flowers came out, the citizens of Copenhagen immediately began unfolding their picnic blankets underneath the treetops on the grass next to the monument of the naval hero Ivar Huitfeldt. A new annual event - sakura hanami - has reached Copenhagen thanks to a Japanese baker's appreciation of many years of relations with Denmark."
H.E. Ambassador of Japan Mr. Gotaro Ogawa held a speech in Danish in honour of the mayor and he said, inter alia:
"I am sure that the cherry trees will become a symbol of the friendship between our two nations, and please allow me to propose that from next year, when the trees come into blossom, one could arrange some kind of friendship event which could take place under the beautiful blossoming trees."
Goodwill Ambassador Mr. Peder Holm, who represented the Japanese donor of the trees, Mr. Seiichi Takaki, thanked Copenhagen Municipality on his behalf for having accepted the cherry trees and planting them at Langelinie. "Mr. Takaki hopes that the people of Copenhagen and the many guests to the city will enjoy his gift," concluded Mr. Peder Holm.
H. E. Ambassador of Japan Mr. Gotaro Ogawa and Mrs. Machiko Ogawa
Ladies attired in kimonos and Japanese drum music created a new exciting atmosphere in Langelinie Park
The proficient Danish drum group from Valby - Seido Taiko - struck up a festive mood both before and after the speeches. The group has been training for several years and has even been to Japan to be taught by Japanese drummers.
The exciting boom of the drums and the accompanying cries in Japanese from the young drummers gave the celebration an especially powerful quality.
The Seido Taiko drum group from Valby provided impressive entertainment
The first celebration of the cherry trees is over. HH Princess Elisabeth takes her leave of H. E. Mr. Ogawa
Time for a group photo of the Japanese ambassador and the elegant ladies in kimonos under the cherry trees which have nearly finished flowering. In one year they will blossom again!
Sakura Festival 2008
On April 26 and 27 the Copenhagen Sakura Festival Committee including the Municipality of Copenhagen held the Copenhagen Sakura Festival at Langelinie Park to celebrate the beautiful flowering Sakura trees. The Festival was a huge success and was visited by several thousand citizens of Copenhagen.
The weather was excellent with sunshine both days and many of the visitors had brought snacks to have a picnic under the trees. Others decided to purchase food and beverages at the booths adjacent to the grassy area, where it was possible to purchase Japanese crafts, food, candy, toys and also to enjoy Japanese Green Tea at a Tea-ceremony.
It was also possible to rent blankets for sitting on.
On the stage, which was placed so the audience could enjoy both the performances and also the view of the sea behind the scene, were performances of martial arts, kimonoshow, tea-ceremony and other Japanese Arts, with accompanying Japanese music. People could sit on the grass and watch, eat or visit the different booths in the unique Japanese/Danish atmosphere of the festival.
Picture by Edwin Mok
We had invited six Japanese Craftsmen from Japan to come and demonstrate their craftwork, which was a huge success. Especially the children enjoyed watching Ms. Kojima make imaginative, fantastic creatures in candy, many of them could recognize Pokemon and other characters from Japanese cartoons.
The festival started officially on Friday with a kick-off reception at Kunstindustrimuseet. Princess Elisabeth, Ambassador Okada and several ambassadors attended and Mayor Klaus Bondam and the Museum Director Mrs. Bodil Busk Larsen gave speeches.
On the 26th at Langelinie Park Mayor Pia Allerslev and Ambassador Okada gave speeches in Danish in honour of the many citizens of Copenhagen present. Later the Mayor, the Ambassador, Ms. Yamamoto and several other dignitaries enjoyed a cup of green tea under the Sakura trees in a small tea-ceremony.
On the stage were many performances of Japanese Drums, Karate, Kendo, Judo, Aikido, Kimono-show, Bon Odori, Japanese Story-telling, Tea-ceremony and Ninjutsu. The performers were volunteers from clubs in Copenhagen and around: Seido Taiko, Shotokan Karate Akedemi, Dansevæksthuset, Københavns Kendo Klub, Judoklubben Mitani, Copenhagen Aiki Shuren Dojo, Sakura Festival Kimono Group, Copenhagen Bon Odori Club, Gladsaxe Judoklub, JAPPY-ZA, Byakudan no kai and Bujinkan.
|
