Welcome to the 58th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival! We are so thrilled to have you with us for another year of celebration, culture, and community. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a long-time Festival fan, there is something truly special about coming together to celebrate our cultural heritage.

As Co-Chairs, we are excited to be part of this Festival and bring it into its next chapter. We’re Matt Nagatomi, who has been volunteering with the Festival for nearly 20 years, and Yuki Nishimura, who started as a performer and was also part of the Queen Program. Over the years, Yuki has transitioned from performing on stage with her martial arts group to helping behind the scenes, always eager to share the beauty of Japanese culture with the community. Matt, on the other hand, began as a logistics staff member, the first one in at 4 a.m. to close the streets and the last one out at night, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

We are both incredibly fortunate to work alongside so many passionate, dedicated individuals—our Executive Committee, General Committee, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners. Your collective effort makes this Festival what it is today, and we cannot thank you enough for your continued support.

This year, we are excited to announce that while the Peace Plaza is undergoing renovations, our Festival is not scaling back and in fact, we are expanding! On the first weekend (April 12-13), we will be adding a block of Sutter Street, bringing our Festival to even more parts of our beloved Japantown community.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In recognition of this, our Community Marshal will honor the Hibakusha—survivors of the bombings—and their descendants. It is a meaningful moment to reflect on history and to reaffirm our commitment to peace.

Whether you are here to enjoy cultural performances, savor delicious food from our nonprofit food vendors, or cheer on the Grand Parade, we hope you will take a moment to appreciate the spirit of this Festival. There is something for everyone, and we cannot wait to share this special time with you.

Warm regards,
Matt Nagatomi and Yuki Nishimura
Co-Chairs of the 58th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival