On March 26 several Belmont students braved the cold and rain to participate in this year’s Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival as volunteers. Sponsored by the Japan America Society of Tennessee, Nissan and the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville, the Cherry Blossom Festival, renamed the Japan Relief Event, raised money for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Faculty from Belmont also participated in the event. Dr. Cynthia Bisson (History) served on the Cherry Blossom Committee as chair of the Ginza Marketplace area. In addition, Belmont’s Asian Studies program and its Director, Dr. Ronnie Littlejohn, contributed to the Tennessee Tomodachi Fund sponsored by JAST to help with the relief efforts in Japan.
In addition, a Bake Sale for Japan Relief was held today in the Beaman Student Life Center. International student Nozomi Takasu organized students in the Art Department for this event and obtained sponsorships from International Education, Honors, History, Art and Asian Studies. The students made origami cranes to give away at the sale. All donations will go to Japan Relief.