Matsuri: A Cultural Appropriation Of Asian American Culture

I've been a part of the Denver Cherry Blossom Festival for as long as I can remember. From a very young age, I have danced at the festival as a performer, worked at the temple's refreshments booths during middle school, and have run the temple's complimentary tea service during my time in high school. I hold many wonderful experiences from volunteering for Sakura Matsuri—this is where I learned types of teas, cook important cultural dishes like curry or sushi, or dance in odori. The greatest value of this festival, however, moves beyond entertainment and deals with controversial matters, most notably cultural appropriation, a concept I do my best to combat.

Originally, I enjoyed the activity because it was enjoyable. As I grew older, however, the brunt of facing stereotypes and fetishization of my culture made Sakura Matsuri more invaluable to me. Every time men made advances towards me because of my heritage, people demanded I teach them Chinese, or mocked the accents of Asian nail salon workers, I became determined to work towards a better understanding of my fellow Asian Americans.
Cultural appropriation is something many Asian Americans witness and have been subjected to throughout our history in the United States. As a Japanese American, I often see others taking concepts and objects of cultural importance, labeling them as abnormal and exotic, and appropriating them, thereby distorting the identity of Asians and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about people of my ethnicity. The annual Denver Cherry Blossom Festival, a two-day celebration of Japanese culture hosted by the Denver Buddhist Temple, combats the practice and replaces it with a cultural