The Japanese tradition of holding events or festivals surrounding the short-lived blooming of ornamental cherry blossom trees (sakura) is thought to be centuries old and is maintained in many parts of the world. Cherry blossom festivals (hanami) are a reminder to celebrate life and to enjoy the transient beauty of flowers. They are held outside and often include a variety of cultural activites and performances such as music, dance, and traditional foods. Since 1978 Seattle's Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival have been held at the Seattle Center as part of the year-round FESTAL program honoring different ethnic communities in the city.

In this image 12 men and women of Ondekozo (Demon Drum Group), a taiko drumming troupe from Japan, perform at the Seattle Center House during the Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival. The large drum on the left side of the frame reportedly weighed 700 pounds and was carved from a 400-year-old tree. Katsuji Kondo, one of the performers, said, "Drumming you use every part of your body. You beat those drums as if it's a question of life and death. Drums are a fundamental sound of live and humanity. There are rhythms in life, rhythms in nature, rhythms in drums."

Caption information source: "'Out of That Comes Art,'" by Julie S, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 6, 1979, page 26.
Caption information source: https://cherryblossomfest.org/?page_id=6