Last year on the Day of Cherry Blossom Saturation we attended both the parade and the Sakura Matsuri. This year, just for a change, we skipped the parade but subbed in another event which, coincidentally, took place on the same day and in almost the same location.
Japan on Pennsylvania Avenue
The Matsuri was just as fun, crowded, and full of cognitive dissonance (in a good way) as it was last year. The first thing I saw after entering was a group of judo fighters practicing for their demo just off the Martial Arts Stage. Some of them were barefoot in the street. That takes real dedication!
In the tent showcasing Japanese technology, I ran into an instance of culture clash – a man costumed as a fox spirit petting a robot baby seal.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) did not have astronaut food this year, but they were still more than happy to chat.
And I added to my chopstick rest collection from the JAL table.
There were folks in costume, games to try, and lots of food and drinks to consume.
Tipples
In the Beyond Tokyo pavilion, the Okinawans were dispensing samples of donuts and alcoholic beverages. Aloha brand awamori is flavored with lemon or coffee (the coffee flavor is made with Kona coffee and is delicious), and is distilled in Okinawa but refined and bottled in Hawaii. I learned that awamori was the first distilled spirit to be produced in Japan and is considered a predecessor to shochu. It’s very popular for Japanese tourists visiting Hawaii to take back home as gifts. I can see doing that!
In that spirit, I eased on over to a fabulous new feature for this year’s Matsuri: the sake sampling pavilion. Several sake producers were happy to offer tastes of their products, including one new to me: sparkling sake. Given my fondness for sparkling wine, I found this innovation delightful.
Food Plentiful; Lines Likewise
Alas, the lines for the food stalls seemed even longer this year than last. This did not seem to bother many folks. Some had worked out a strategy of eating food from one stall while waiting in line for another.
I didn’t notice the okonomiyaki-sellers last year; they had an interesting way of cooking many servings of these stuffed pancakes at once, utilizing a coffee can as a giant cookie-cutter.
Among the many varieties of expected Asian food lurked a few surprises. Who would have guessed that Japanese chocolate would have a cult following in the U.S.? By the size of the line waiting to purchase from the ROYCE’ stall, the stuff is pretty popular. And, by the tasting of the free samples, I can see why.
Sail Away
I had another stop on the agenda, just a block from the Matsuri: the Blessing of the Fleet. This maritime tradition derives from an ancient ritual meant to insure the well-being of those “in peril on the sea,” and has been performed on Pennsylvania Avenue every year since the Navy Memorial was dedicated in 1987.
There was a stirring ceremony, with the Navy Band, several high-ranking naval officers and sailors in ceremonial uniforms (I love a man in a Dixie cup!). Cylinders filled with water from the seven seas and the Great Lakes were ceremoniously emptied into the quiet basins, which cued the fountains to rise up and welcome Spring. It was a stirring sight! Then we adjourned to the underground exhibit hall for Navy bean soup, patriotic cupcakes, and very fancy cookies.
So I had some lunch without having to wait in a long line. And here’s something I learned: the Navy runs a mess in the White House. (Mess is Navyspeak for cafeteria.) They were handing out recipes for Navy Bean Soup. Is this the same as Senate Bean Soup? More research is needed.
