Clark College Celebrates Sakura Festival On April 16 (Photo) - 04/07/26
Annual Event Celebrates Friendship Between ultures
VANCOUVER, Wash.— The annual Sakura Festival returns on Thursday, April 16, to the Clark College main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. Weather permitting, this free community event is held beneath a canopy of cherry blossoms and is presented by Clark College, the city of Vancouver, and Vancouver Rotary.
Opening remarks begin at 1 p.m. in the Royce Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden, located to the east of Beacock Music Hall on Clark’s main campus. In case of inclement weather, the event will be inside Gaiser Student Center in the Penguin Union Building.
History of Sakura Festival at Clark College
In 1990, the City of Vancouver received a gift of friendship: 100 Shirofugen cherry trees from Mr. John Kageyama, President of America Kotobuki, in commemoration of Washington’s 100th statehood anniversary. These trees were planted at Clark College, creating an enduring reminder of the bonds between our region and Japan.
Twenty years after the trees were planted, Clark College was bequeathed another generous gift from Dr. Chihiro Kanagawa, CEO of Shin-Etsu, to build a Japanese Friendship Garden. At his request, the garden was named after Royce E. Pollard, a former Clark College trustee, for his role in promoting international friendship. Pollard was present at the dedication ceremony on April 19, 2012.
Over the years, those trees have grown and blossomed—as has that friendship, creating traditions such as the establishment of a sister-city relationship between Vancouver and Joyo, Japan in 1995, and our annual Sakura Festival, which began in 2006.
Learn more about the history of the Sakura Festival.
2026 SAKURA FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
12:50 p.m.– Koto performance by Yukiko Vossen, accompanied by Shigemi Getter
1:10 p.m. – Ceremony and greetings from:
- Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards
- Vancouver City Council member Erik Paulsen
- Consul General of Japan, Ken Todoriki
- Clark College student, Namika Miyagi
1:25 p.m. – Clark College Treble Ensemble performance by Dr. Jacob Funk
1:40 p.m. – Enroute to the Gaiser Student Center, guests are invited to enjoy the Japanese garden
2:00 p.m. – Activities, displays and performances, Gaiser Student Center
- Portland Shishimai Kai performance
- Takohachi Q Ensemble performance
- College Japanese Club’s Share Crane Project
- Art share by children enrolled in Child and Family Studies program
- Variety of cultural displays and demonstration tables
- Hand-painted cherry blossom cookies by the college’s Professional Baking & Pastry Arts students.
3:15 p.m. – Event adjourns
The Sakura Festival event is free and open to the public.
All Are Welcome: Clark College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds.
Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.
Accommodations: If you need accommodation due to a disability to participate in this event, please contact Office of People and Culture, Melody Williams at MWilliams@clark.edu or (360) 992-2432. Please make requests as early as possible to ensure appropriate arrangements can be made.
Clark College expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship, immigration status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal in its programs and activities. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds.
About Clark College
Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest public institution of higher education. Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. This public community college offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves almost 10,000 students, including high school students, veterans, displaced workers, multilingual and mature learners. About three-quarters of its students are the first in their families to attend college.
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