Name: 2026 Opening Ceremony Co-Presented with the Japan Foundation
Start: 2026-03-21T17:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-21T18:30:00-04:00
Location: D.A.R Constitution Hall Washington DC

2026 Opening Ceremony Co-Presented with the Japan Foundation

A world of artistry and international connection unfolds at the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony, co-presented with The Japan Foundation. This signature event celebrates the richness and diversity ofJapanese culture through extraordinary live performances and marks the official opening of the four-week festival honoring the historic 1912 gift of cherry trees from Tokyo to Washington, D.C. More than a celebration of spring, the Opening Ceremony reflects the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan and builds on more than a century of cultural exchange and shared tradition. The one-night only program will take place on Saturday, March 21, from 5–6:30p.m. at DAR Constitution Hall, bringing together internationally acclaimed artists for an unforgettable start to the Festival season. Reserve your seats in advance: NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org/opening-ceremony
The evening will feature a captivating performance by Ayaka Hirahara, an award-winning pop singer and musical theater performer who has been one of Japan’s most beloved vocalists since her debut in 2003 with the hit song “Jupiter.” Hirahara has received numerous honors, including the Japan Record Awards New Artist Award and the Japan Gold Disc Award, and has built an expansive career across music, musical theater, voice acting, television, and film dubbing. Beyond the stage, Hirahara is deeply committed to philanthropy through the Ayaka Hirahara Jupiter Fund, which she founded in 2015 to support social causes through music. She performed Japan’s national anthem at the opening match of the Rugby World Cup 2019 and continues to tour annually, most recently with The Swinging Classics! concert series.
Audiences will also experience the powerful tradition represented by Futago Onikenbai, a group that performs the centuries-old Buddhist art originally known as Nenbutsu Kenbai. Dating back more than 1,200 years, Oni Kenbai was introduced by mountain ascetic monks and later carried on by farming communities as a prayer for protection, health, and abundant harvests. Though often translated as “Demon Sword Dance,” the masked performers represent manifestations of Buddhist deities as symbols of guidance and compassion rather than fear. This
dynamic art form combines chanting Buddhist prayers with rhythmic sword movements, fans, bare-hand choreography, and acrobatic sequences.
Bringing a contemporary perspective to the program, internationally recognized choreographer Takehiro Ueyama will present an innovative modern dance work. A native of Tokyo, Ueyama moved to the United States to study at The Juilliard School and later toured internationally for eight years with the Paul Taylor Dance Company. In 2005, he founded TAKE Dance, a company known for its athleticism and evocative fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics. Drawing inspiration from his Japanese heritage, nature, and humanity, Ueyama’s choreography explores themes of beauty, resilience, compassion, and the duality of light and darkness. He is the recipient of numerous honors, including the S&R Foundation Washington
Award, a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship, and the 2025 Gross Family Prize.
7News anchor Eileen Whelan will emcee the evening, guiding audiences through the program. The ceremony concludes with the cherished Moment of Friendship between the Japanese Ambassador and the Mayor of Washington, D.C., officially opening the Festival and welcoming spring to the nation’s capital.
Limited walk-up admission may be available on the day of the event as space allows. Audiences around the world can also experience this special cultural celebration via livestream on the
Festival’s YouTube channel: @CherryBlossFest.
Co-Presented with: The Japan Foundation
Host Sponsor: Daughters of the American Revolution
Supporting Sponsors:
JCAW, Daiichi Sankyo, Japan National Tourism Organization, Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation
Contributing Sponsors:
MUFG Bank, Ltd. and EventEQ
Special Thanks:
Embassy of Japan and The Webster Group - Global Event Management
Media Partner:
7 News & 24/7 News WJLA