I survived the 28th annual Sakura Matsuri, or Cherry Blossom Festival
By Gil Asakawa
June 27, 2000

Another measure of success is the size of the crowds that come out for the entertainment. And as in previous years, when it comes to crowd pleasers, the audience was most entranced by taiko drumming. This year, there were three taiko groups that participated: One World Taiko, the Ogden Buddhist Taiko Group and the Denver Buddhist Temple's own Denver Taiko ensemble. During each of these groups, audience members came to the side of the stage asking if they can could buy CDs of this music (both One World Taiko and Denver Taiko have a CD available).

Second in popularity -- and a surprise, considering how many martial arts dojos were represented -- was both days' demonstrations by local martial arts groups. Featured were Denwakan Karate, Denver Buddhist Temple Aikido, Enshin Karate, Foothills Budokai (for an impressive demo of swordplay called Iaido), Aikido Nippon Kan, Wado Kai Shudokan Karate, Colorado Aikido Association. It's a tribute to the popularity of Asian martial arts (and this list only included some Japanese traditions, never mind Chinese styles such as the many variations of kung fu) that the audience was attentive for and appreciative of every group.

Towards the end of both days I also introduced two types of Japanese dogs -- the popular, bear-like Akita and the smaller, fox-like Shiba Inu ("inu" is Japanese for dog), so audiences even got to meet native Japanese animals.

My one disappointment is that I didn't attend the Saturday night Obon street dance, which featured an Okinawan classical dance group as a warmup. I heard the dancers were wonderful, and the Obon was well-attended, but I got too much sun and couldn't stay.

But the weekend overall was a blast. Even the weather cooperated, although the clouds threatened and spit a few drops Sunday. Amazingly for Colorado's mercurial climate, the deluge held off until five minutes after the final act, Denver Taiko cleared the stage and the festival was over. The skies opened and the downpour began, but the crowds had already dispersed and the vendors were already packing up.

The thunder of the drumming must have held the rain at bay just long enough.

You can visit Denver Taiko online at http://www.denvertaiko.org.