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Even in the warm(er) desert climate, it’s still a little early for cherry blossoms to appear on trees. But this weekend’s Arizona Matsuri 2012 will feature plenty of colorful delights. The Japanese festival commemorates the centennial of the gifting of cherry blossom trees from Japan to the U.S. and features bonsai displays, live martial arts demos, calligraphy, food, Asahi beer garden, Kendama tournament, and three stages of live entertainment, including Taikoproject drummers from Los Angeles and other traditional music.
Vendors will also be selling all-things Japanese. Festival themes for 2012 are sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom, and daruma, a hollow, round, traditional Japanese doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of Buddhism’s Zen sect.
Sat., Feb. 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 2012
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