Light pink cherry blossom petals danced in the spring breeze, decorating the sidewalk of Centennial Mall while students mingled and ate free Japanese cuisine served by WKU Catering.
Bella Johnson, sophomore animation and Chinese double-major, stood with her food and watched the petals as sunlight shone through the branches of the cherry blossom trees.
“The cherry blossoms are all falling,” Johnson said as she looked up to the sky. “It’s just so scenic and beautiful.”
WKU Global hosted its second annual “Ohanami” celebration Wednesday afternoon in Centennial Mall. Johnson attended the Ohanami celebration alongside senior Brandon Brion, biology and Chinese double-major, and May Ouansombath, science and mathematics, mathematics and history triple-major.
John Sunnygard, associate provost for Global Learning and International Affairs, said that Ohanami is a huge celebration of spring in Japan, in which people working in various Japanese-based companies, businesses and manufacturers come together in parks to view cherry blossom trees.
During Ohanami, people in Japan lay out towels under the cherry blossoms, share food, drink sake and beer, and some people even bring out Karaoke machines to sing along with, Sunnygard said.
Sunnygard said he learned about Ohanami when he lived in Japan for one year and “totally fell in love with the country” and its beauty. He said he decided to create something similar to the celebration at WKU in spring 2025.
WKU Global provided attendees with authentic Japanese-based food, activities and prizes. Attendees who registered at the event were given a limited-edition “Ohanami” red towel, provided by WKU Global.
There were also informational tables with representatives from Japanese-owned companies, study abroad programs, WKU organizations and the City of Bowling Green. Sunnygard said WKU invites Japanese companies in the area to the celebration each year to allow students to connect with these companies and show off the cherry blossoms on campus.
“Even in the middle of Kentucky, we’re in the middle of the world,” Sunnygard said. “And things that happen around the world impact us.”
After collecting their merch and pamphlets from the tables, Johnson, Brion and Ouansombath attempted the “Beans and Chopsticks Challenge” at the Toyoda Gosei table. Opponents had one minute to see how many Lima beans they could move from one paper plate to another. At the end, the winner could choose from Japanese candy and other small prizes like stress balls.
Pocketing his candy after the activity, Brion said he mainly attended the event to be one of the first attendees to receive a limited-edition Cherry Blossom Topper Fella. He said he also attended, though, to look for more chances to study abroad.
“For me, I was just trying to look for more opportunities to study abroad,” Brion said.
Ouansombath said she didn’t know much about the event, but she attended since she was free. She said she really doesn’t get free time often, so this was a good way to spend time and learn something new with her friends.
The three friends agreed that they’d recommend this event for students in the future. Johnson said this celebration is community-based and something new to enjoy and learn about.
“I feel like Japanese culture is something that’s kind of new to a lot of people here, so it’s kind of fun to experience a new thing,” Johnson said.
