2007 Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival

A few words from the webmaster

I believe that just about anywhere you look there are stories unfolding, many, many deserving of being told, if only one were in the right place at the right time and in the right position to catch them, retain them and pass them on. For me, one of the wonderful things about the Cherry Blossom Festival is that it just seems like this is a place where numerous stories intersect. Perhaps it is true of any place that people gather, but it feels particularly so here, maybe because there are so many people involved in making the festival a success, and so many people attending, all of without whom the festival itself just would not be possible. Each and every one of these people has a story, and for just a few moments in time they all cross paths. Pretty amazing if you think about it.

This year I have chosen to focus on three stories in particular, the stories of a doll maker, a congressman and a couple from Japan. Without the existence of the Cherry Blossom Festival, their paths might not ever have intersected, but they did, and being able to tell the story of how they did is one of the little pleasures that making these webpages brings.

There are so many stories that are left untold, and for that I apologize, but I am only one person and cannot possibly tell everything here by myself. The pages do not tell one linear story, but are designed to show glimpses of the possibility of many stories left untold. If you are not near enough to visit the Cherry Blossom Festival in person, I hope you will enjoy taking a moment to enjoy it through these pages. If you do live close by, I hope that you will come out and visit. It's the last weekend in April every year. I think there is something here for everyone to enjoy. And while you're here, stop by the soda or beer booth and buy a drink. The proceeds will go toward making the continuing student and other exchanges with Toyokawa, Cupertino's sister city in Japan possible.

The stories herein are of necessity being told from my point of view, but that is not to say that I could have made all of this on my own, for I could not. I'd like to thank Sister City Committee members Cheryl Hultquist for providing additional photos to supplement my own, and Alan Taniguchi for allowing me the use of his wonderful Memorial Park map, without which the format of this site would not have been possible. Thank so much as well to Alan and Marge Taniguchi for opening up their home to us and for providing us with everything necessary to make the Toyokawa tent possible. It is largely because of Marge's hard work and dedication that the Cherry Blossom Festival is such a success. Many thanks to Uina for booking our car for us so that we could assist in the loading, unloading and transporting of equipment necessary for the festival. Of course, this page would also not have been possible without the help of my wife, who is not only lending her moral support during a very difficult time in her life, but is constantly by my side as I make these pages, providing not only the commentaries in Japanese, but giving input on how to improve the site overall.

Thanks so much to everyone in the Sister City Committee for all of your hard work every year, and for allowing us to be a part of it. All of your stories deserve telling, and I hope some day that somehow they can be, and given the proper justice they deserve!