'We didn't expect this beautiful Japanese garden in the United States': Birmingham Cherry Blossom Festival surprises visitors
As many other areas get ready to celebrate the beauty of spring, Alabama is doing the same by commemorating the many cherry blossoms in bloom around the state.
Cherry blossom viewing or "hanami" is a traditional Japanese custom that honors nature and encourages taking time to enjoy the beauty of the blossom each spring.
On Saturday, and the came together to put on this spring鈥檚 Cherry Blossom Festival.
Watch the Briarwood Japanese Children's Club sing about seasons in the video player above.
Originally from Kobe, Japan, Mio Maeda, and honorary president of JASA, spoke at the opening ceremony.
Maeda said he is there to promote Japanese culture to the people in Alabama because he believes it is important to know about other cultures and ways of thinking.
鈥淲e have a very good relationship between Japan and Alabama,鈥� Maeda said.
Maeda expressed his appreciation for the Japanese garden in Birmingham.
鈥淭o be honest we didn't expect this beautiful Japanese garden in the United States鈥� so it's very amazing to me,鈥� Maeda said. 鈥淲e also very much appreciate people in the garden to keep this very beautiful garden for the people of Alabama.鈥�
Take a look at cherry blossoms in Tokyo below.
While many came to take part in the flower-viewing, the day was full of special cultural events and featured various vendors for food, crafts and educational activities.
The Briarwood Japanese Children鈥檚 Club kicked off the schedule of performances with a song and dance. The children sang through the seasons in Japanese and then performed a dance about being under the moon.
They ended their show by inviting the audience up on stage to dance alongside them.
Jackie Hamamatsu, wife of pastor Kotaro Hamamatsu, said that this club is one of the outreach ministries that they offer for Japanese families living here in Birmingham.
Hamamatsu said the children love the club and have been preparing their performance since January.
This event is possible because of Birmingham鈥檚 strong relationship with Japan. Birmingham has two in Japan鈥擬aebashi and Hitachi.
Hitachi has a similar industrial background, which prompted the friendship. Hitachi gifted Birmingham a stone lantern, which stays at the botanical gardens and in return was given a smaller replica statue of the Vulcan in their town.
Specialty Horticulturist for the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Katelyn Bahr said that the Japanese garden was first outdoor garden at the botanical gardens. She said that many of the original designers were Japanese and had large influence in its construction.
鈥淲hen this garden was first established, all of the stones here were handpicked and then hand placed by the original designers to have specific meaning,鈥� she said.
The garden鈥檚 entrance is marked by a red Japanese torii gate that symbolizes entering a serene area. As all Japanese gardens are made, everything about the layout of the garden, from the authentic tea house to the plant life, has intentional meaning and flow.
This specially designed garden is where the event took place. Visitors came to appreciate the authentic Japanese architecture and garden design of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. While cherry blossoms bloomed above, many gathered to watch the petals fall and enjoy the beauty of Alabama.