The Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival is the biggest festival of its kind in the United States.

Thousands of visitors come each year to view the beauty of 3,000 cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, on the National Mall and on Hains Point. The cherry trees were given by Japan in 1912 as a symbol of friendship with America. Every year, Washington, D.C. celebrates its strong and friendly relationship with Japan during the sakura (cherry blossom) blooming season and this street festival.

This year, the Japan-America Society (JAS) of Washington, D.C. presented its 54th annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival on April 12. (Sakura Matsuri simply means Cherry Blossom Festival.) The JAS has been serving the D.C. Metro community since 1957.

The JAS emphasizes five areas; arts and culture, martial arts, modern Japan, the "Ginza Marketplace," and the "Taste of Japan." The streets were packed with food vendors, musicians, artists, craftsmen, games, travel agency booths, media people, and much more.

The Maryland chapter of WFWP decided to participate with the Japan-America Society in the festival this year. We have been looking for a way to network with the local JAS, as we want to follow our founder's way of honoring righteous individuals and groups. In this way we can introduce WFWP's ideals to the general public and network with other organizations at the same time.

At this event, we used the "Gotochi" idea. Gotochi—which in Japanese means to promote local attractions, local goods and customs, and the Japanese hometown—is fashionable now in Japan. It has generated an interest in and revival of traditional ways and a nostalgia for places remembered.

We gave interested participants the opportunity to dress up in traditional kimonos, both men and women, and take their pictures! The money donated will be used for WFWP's Schools of Africa project. Because of the popularity of this kimono idea, we dressed up and photographed over 140 people. Our banner was a powerful representation for WFWP in good Japanese style!

Our founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, says "Living by the Logic of Love" is love whereby we live for the sake of others. Our volunteer team was united with this theme and worked very hard. We wanted to use the kimono to bring out people's original beauty and make everyone feel a true natural beauty and happiness.

Because it was a very warm, sunny day, the street was filled with people. The line in front of our tent, with everyone waiting patiently, was a testimony to the popularity of this idea. Mrs. Onka Herstein did a great job as the photographer. Everyone's picture came out perfectly, because their happiness was shining through.

Ms. Kiyomi Miyama reflected on the day: "I had a very joyful time at the Cherry Blossom Festival. At first I was afraid that people might have no interest in learning about or wearing the traditional Japanese kimono. But as soon as we prepared to dress them in kimonos, people began to gather at our tent. I was surprised. After that, I had no time to be afraid or surprised any more. Because there was a line of so many people in front of us, and it did not disappear until we informed them at 5 p.m. that we had to finish.

"My heart was moved as I looked at the many young people waiting patiently for us to dress them. One of them asked me take a picture together with her. They were pleased to wear kimonos even though they had to wait for an hour to have that chance.

"Through this experience, I noticed that we can make U.S. citizens happy by sharing Japanese traditions. That made me happy, too."