Sakura Square (, ''Sakura Sukuea'') is a small
plaza
A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Rela ...
located on the north/east side of the intersection of 19th Street and Larimer Street in
Denver, Colorado
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
. The square contains
busts of
Ralph L. Carr, Governor of Colorado from 1939 to 1943,
Minoru Yasui, a Japanese-American lawyer, and Yoshitaka Tamai (1900–1983), a
Buddhist priest who lived in Denver. Sakura Square also has a small
Japanese garden
are traditional gardens whose designs are accompanied by Japanese aesthetics and philosophical ideas, avoid artificial ornamentation, and highlight the natural landscape. Plants and worn, aged materials are generally used by Japanese garden desig ...
, and it serves as the entrance to the 20-story Tamai Tower apartment building that occupies most of the block. There are several shops and restaurants in the ground and first floors of the apartment building.
Bust of Governor Carr
Denver's Japanese-American community installed the bust of former
Colorado Governor Ralph Lawrence Carr as a tribute to his support of
Japanese Americans
are Americans of Japanese ancestry. Japanese Americans were among the three largest Asian Americans, Asian American ethnic communities during the 20th century; but, according to the 2000 United States census, 2000 census, they have declined in ...
during the
period of their internment. At the time, Governor Carr was the only elected official in the United States to publicly apologize to the Japanese Americans for their internment.
Cherry Blossom Festival
Denver's annual Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in late June in and around Sakura Square and the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.
During the celebration, many traditional Japanese practices are celebrated, such as the
Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony (known as or lit. 'Hot water for tea') is a Culture of Japan, Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of , powdered green tea, the procedure of which is called .
The term "Japa ...
and ''
ikebana
is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is also known as . The origin of ikebana can be traced back to the ancient Japanese custom of erecting Evergreen, evergreen trees and decorating them with flowers as yorishiro () to invite the go ...
'' (flower arrangement). During the festival, many food stands offering Japanese cuisine line the street, along with various vendor booths, community information tables, and a live music stage. In the evening, a traditional ''
bon odori
or just is a fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits and a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ance ...
'' dance is held on the street, with many participants dressing in ''
yukata
A is an unlined cotton summer kimono, worn in casual settings such as summer festivals and to nearby bathhouses. The name is translated literally as "bathing cloth" and originally were worn as bathrobes; their modern use is much broader, and ar ...
'' or other traditional Japanese attire.
See also
*
Japantown
is a common name for Japanese communities in cities and towns outside Japan. Alternatively, a Japantown may be called J-town, Little Tokyo or , the first two being common names for Japantown, San Francisco, Japantown, San Jose and Little ...
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Sakura Park
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Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial
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Day of Remembrance (Japanese Americans)
*
Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
*
Empty Chair Memorial
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Fred Korematsu Day
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Go for Broke Monument
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Harada House
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Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II
*
National Japanese American Veterans Memorial Court
References
External links
SAH Archipedia Building Entry
Culture of Denver
Geography of Denver
Japanese-American culture in Colorado
Japanese-American memorials
Internment of Japanese Americans
Landmarks in Colorado
Tourist attractions in Denver
Cherry blossom festivals
{{Denver-stub