Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco, CA

bmwracer wrote:
We have our own down here...






But I didn't go to that, either. :ashamed:

Shame on you, Beemer. :grumble:

Good food, cherry blossom leaves blowing in the wind, kimonos and arts and crafts, sake and beer everywhere, what more can you ask? :dancing:

I expect you and 'Tricky to both attend Nisei Week this year. :woot:


Cheers, :drink:
PCM

pcmodem wrote:I expect you and 'Tricky to both attend Nisei Week this year. :woot:

I have gone the last two years with the Q-man... :victory:

bmwracer wrote:
I have gone the last two years with the Q-man... :victory:

Sweet. Though I must admit to prefer SF's Japantown to LA's Little Tokyo, a lot cooler temperature and SF's Nihonmachi is more scenic.


Cheers, :drink:
PCM

pcmodem wrote:

Think I saw you.

Hope ya had a cool time at the festival.

Escorted the court all day today.



Cheers, :drink:
PCM

Yeah, I did, I'm coming back next weekend Saturday and Sunday. I entered the raffle too. Those ladies selling the sake and beer were funny, I gave them a dollar tip each time I got a drink and they hit the sake bottle in appreciation.

You must have had a hard time escorting the court, lol. I must have saw you when you went by...it was right next to the clothing shop where they had everything out on the sidewalk. I remember an excuse me and a hi. I think I was kind of stunned to see pretty women in kimono all of a sudden.

I have pictures, but they didn't come out very well. The autofocus on my camera is screwed up.

bmwracer wrote:LOL... Sounds like you had quite a good day...

Yup :mrgreen:. Too bad I didn't think of notifying any bay area jdoramers...I've had a shitty month. The festival was a godsend...I blew off so much steam.

pcmodem wrote:Sweet. Though I must admit to prefer SF's Japantown to LA's Little Tokyo, a lot cooler temperature and SF's Nihonmachi is more scenic.

I wouldn't argue with that... But it's the only game in town.

But we've got more Japanese people and associated restaurants... So there. :P

bmwracer wrote:
I wouldn't argue with that... But it's the only game in town.

But we've got more Japanese people and associated restaurants... So there. :P

Not to be confusing, I do care LA's Little Tokyo, my father and his friends grew up there. A very special place to me.

kitakaze wrote:
Those ladies selling the sake and beer were funny, I gave them a dollar tip each time I got a drink and they hit the sake bottle in appreciation.

Yep, they give out BIG shots of sake. Don't drink it on an empty stomach or you'll not last the afternoon. :hehe:

kitakaze wrote:
You must have had a hard time escorting the court, lol. I must have saw you when you went by...it was right next to the clothing shop where they had everything out on the sidewalk. I remember an excuse me and a hi. I think I was kind of stunned to see pretty women in kimono all of a sudden.

Yep, that was on the uphill (east) side of the Peace Plazza when we first came out around noon. It'll be even more of a challenge next weekend, especially on parade Sunday, as there will be a lot more people. Plus, the courts from Hawaii, Seatlle, and LA will all be here.

There was a guy at the paper doll exhibit with a camera, wondered if it was Doch'.



Cheers, :drink:
PCM

pcmodem wrote:
Yep, they give out BIG shots of sake. Don't drink it on an empty stomach or you'll not last the afternoon.

Yeah, that was my mistake. I had a Sapporo, then I saw the sake and had a shot of that. I didn't expect it to be so big. That was about 1:00pm. I ate a bunch of stuff then had two more of those supersized shots, lol.

Yep, that was on the uphill (east) side of the Peace Plazza when we first came out around noon. It'll be even more of a challenge next weekend, especially on parade Sunday, as there will be a lot more people. Plus, the courts from Hawaii, Seatlle, and LA will all be here.

Well, I'll be there because today was awesome except for my headache, lol. Where is the best area to watch the parade?

I also put up my pics on Flickr. They're kinda crappy, but oh well. I need a new camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremy80/

kitakaze wrote:

Well, I'll be there because today was awesome except for my headache, lol. Where is the best area to watch the parade?

I also put up my pics on Flickr. They're kinda crappy, but oh well. I need a new camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremy80/

Hrm. Good question as to a place to watch the parade. A little further up the hill, like at the Laguna cross street.

Heck, weren't you an Asian Studies major? Get in there on Sunday morning and get hammered on sake and help carry the Mikoshi! :woot:

Don't just watch the parade, be a part! :dancing:

The photo "Cherry Blossom Queen and Her Court 2" the names are slightly out of order.

The correct order, left to right:
Midori
Asuka
Rie
Miwa
Ally


Cheers, :drink:
PCM

pcmodem wrote:

Hrm. Good question as to a place to watch the parade. A little further up the hill, like at the Laguna cross street.

Heck, weren't you an Asian Studies major? Get in there on Sunday morning and get hammered on sake and help carry the Mikoshi! :woot:

Don't just watch the parade, be a part! :dancing:

The photo "Cherry Blossom Queen and Her Court 2" the names are slightly out of order.

The correct order, left to right:
Midori
Asuka
Rie
Miwa
Ally


Cheers, :drink:
PCM

Whoops, thanks :mrgreen:

Yeah, I got a BA in Japanese history :beaten:...hopefully I'll go for Japanese studies soon. How do you carry the Mikoshi anyway? You have to sign anything or do you jump in?

kitakaze wrote:

Whoops, thanks :mrgreen:

Yeah, I got a BA in Japanese history :beaten:...hopefully I'll go for Japanese studies soon. How do you carry the Mikoshi anyway? You have to sign anything or do you jump in?

Here's a repost:
Oikawa 650-278-0249

Takada 415-203-6117

Email [email protected]


I'd recommend emailing them.

The Mikoshi (portable shrine) is kept in the Union Bank of California (UBOC). Assuming they still need volunteers, I recommend coming on Saturday and buying an inexpensive blue Happi Coat (Japanese style short robe-jacket) at Sanko (across from the manju shop Benkyo-do), to wear for Sunday morning while carrying the Mikoshi.

A few shots of sake with everyone on Sunday morning, a hearty round of banzai cheers, and up up and away, you'll feel like you guys could charge all the way to Ocean Beach.



Cheers, :drink:
PCM

If you're interested, they replied to me to meet at 1909 Bush St at 10 am Sunday. I think it's first come, first served, first sloshed. :drink:

Thanks for the info about the happi coat. I'll grab one in preparation for next year.

I'll post my pics from Saturday soon.

Have fun next weekend!

dochira wrote:If you're interested, they replied to me to meet at 1909 Bush St at 10 am Sunday. I think it's first come, first served, first sloshed. :drink:

Thanks for the info about the happi coat. I'll grab one in preparation for next year.

I'll post my pics from Saturday soon.

Have fun next weekend!

Note that there are other places to buy a Happi Coat besides Sanko, but I do recommend purchasing one as most Mikoshi carriers do wear one.


Cheers, :drink:
PCM

Here are my photos from the first day:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7964354@N04/sets/72157604526435192/

dochira wrote:Here are my photos from the first day:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7964354@N04/sets/72157604526435192/

Nice pics, particularly the one of the curry udon. :drooling:

bmwracer wrote:
Nice pics, particularly the one of the curry udon. :drooling:

The curry noodles would be good with a beer, ne? :woot:

Looking forward to next weekend.


Cheers, :drink:
PCM

the Japanese club @ De Anza will be heading up to SF for the festival this coming Sunday i believe....

K.T.Tran wrote:the Japanese club @ De Anza will be heading up to SF for the festival this coming Sunday i believe....

Festival is done! :sweat: :victory:

A lot of people worked themselves night and day to make the festival happen, take care of all the guest.

Hope Doch', Kita', and everyone had a great time who visited.

Elt' and Amrayu Jolie and KT, you guys have a chance to hit the festival?



Cheers, :drink:
PCM

pcmodem wrote:

Festival is done! :sweat: :victory:

A lot of people worked themselves night and day to make the festival happen, take care of all the guest.

Hope Doch', Kita', and everyone had a great time who visited.

Elt' and Amrayu Jolie and KT, you guys have a chance to hit the festival?



Cheers, :drink:
PCM

I had an awesome time. Next year is shrine carrying time, lol. Were you escorting the Cherry Blossom Queen and her Court after the parade?

kitakaze wrote:

I had an awesome time. Next year is shrine carrying time, lol. Were you escorting the Cherry Blossom Queen and her Court after the parade?

Immediately after the parade, escorted the three visiting International Queens. After that, escorted the 2008 CB Queen and Court.

Two of the visiting international queens were cool, groving out to the music and taking pictures with the kids.


Cheers, :drink:
PCM

pcmodem wrote:

Elt' and Amrayu Jolie and KT, you guys have a chance to hit the festival?



Cheers, :drink:
PCM

Went up to SF today.

Was really really packed and crowded.

Didn't catch who was who but saw a car with 3 girls on it and then one with an Asian....... :sweat: :sweat: :sweat:

Taiko Drummers, people on a NBC Float??? overall not too bad :mrgreen: