Compared to the average human life span, two or three days is an extremely short time to live.
But a short life span is exactly what has made the cherry blossom's transient existence a time-honored tradition in the greater Philadelphia area.
Through April 16, visitors can participate in a variety of festivities to celebrate the flower's beauty as part of the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival -- known as sakura matsuri in Japanese.
The annual event is a major project of the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, an organization which seeks to cultivate Japanese and American relations through its emphasis on promoting cultural, educational and social programs.
The nearly two-week celebration opened with a sword-fighting demonstration at Inter- national House last Friday. The presentation featured Japanese sword-fighting group Kamui, best known for its choreography of and acting in the action-packed scenes of Kill Bill.
Besides offering spectators a taste of the martial arts, the festival also includes popular highlights such as taiko drumming and dance performances by Tamagawa Taiko, a group of 40 dancers and drummers from Tamagawa University, Japan's prestigious performing arts college.
Performing at several locations across the region, Tamagawa Taiko even came to Penn's Wynn Commons on Thursday, April 7.
Those who wanted to sample traditional Japanese liquor did so at the Sake Tasting Festival on Wednesday, April 6, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. In addition, food lovers who crave exotic sushi can satisfy their taste buds at the Sushi Spectacular event at Roy's Philadelphia on Monday.
On the other hand, visitors who prefer to commemorate the occasion in tranquility may take a trip to the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park.
Originally built in 1953, the house retains the style of a traditional Japanese house, complete with furniture and sliding screen doors covered with translucent rice paper.
College sophomore Di Hu, who visited the attraction, particularly enjoyed the peaceful prospect of sitting by a refreshing pond.
"It was a pleasant surprise. The flowers were much bigger than I thought they were, and they're not even in full bloom yet," she said.
Ian Simpkins, the acting executive director of the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, urged students to attend before the events end.
This weekend, the house is open for tours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will also include a Hina Doll Exhibition. In addition, the regular admission fee of $4 will be waived.
This Weekend is a weekly preview of an upcoming event. It appears on Fridays.
