The is a flower

Flower

A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...

 festival held annually in Hiroshima

Hiroshima

is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

.

Overview

The Hiroshima Flower Festival has been held every year since 1977 during Golden Week, from 3 May to 5 May.
More than one million people take part in the festival each year.

The festival includes multiple stages

Stage (theatre)

In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...

 for entertainment, shop

Retail

Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...

s, a small zoo

Zoo

A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....

, and other amusement attractions along Peace Boulevard

Peace Boulevard (Hiroshima)

is one of the main streets in Hiroshima, Japan, which faces the south side of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.The street is 100 meters wide and runs 3.6 km from east to west, between Tsurumi-cho and Fukushima-cho within the green belt....

 and in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

is a memorial park in the center of Hiroshima, Japan. It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims ....

. Many concert

Concert

A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...

s, dancing

Dance

Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....

 shows, fashion show

Fashion show

A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase his or her upcoming line of clothing during Fashion Week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. This is where the latest fashion trends are made...

s, talk show

Talk show

A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....

s, and tradition

Tradition

A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...

al and contemporary

Contemporary

Contemporary is a visual arts magazine, published every month. Founded and edited by Keith Spencer in 1992, it was originally called Contemporary Art...

 performances featuring local citizens and other events are held throughout the area. Locals also participate in a parade

Parade

A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...

, and Yosakoi

Yosakoi

Yosakoi is a unique style of dance that originated in Japan. Yosakoi started in the city of Kōchi in 1954, as a modern rendition of Awa Odori, a traditional summer dance. Yosakoi-style dancing has spread throughout much of Japan. The style of dance is highly energetic, combining traditional...

 dance on Peace Boulevard.

History

The origin of the festival is the Japanese professional baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

 Central League

Central League

The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...

 Champion parade for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...

 team in 1975.

Themes

The underlying themes of the festival are to:

1. Make Hiroshima full of flowers, greens, and music.
2. Share the brightness and dignity of life with all people.
3. Appeal for a warm-hearted cultural and personnel interchange from Hiroshima to the world.

Concerts and performances

• Multiple concerts and performances on twenty stages, and in seventy squares every day.
• Candle
  Candle
  A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow...
  
  light services with peace messages and origami cranes
  Thousand origami cranes
  is a group of one thousand origami paper cranes held together by strings.An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury...
  
  
• Mikoshi
  Mikoshi
  A is a divine palanquin . Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine...
  
  , Kagura
  Kagura
  - Fictional characters :*Kagura Tsuchimiya, the protagonist of Ga-rei*Kagura, an InuYasha character*Kagura Sohma , a Fruits Basket character*Kagura, an Azumanga Daioh character*Ten'nōzu Kagura, a Speed Grapher character...
  
   and peace concerts are held at night.

Flower singer

• A featured performer termed the Flower singer was arranged to sing the theme song each year up to 2005. From 2006 the Flower singer was replaced with Flower Festival special guests, and other guests were also noted. These performers have been:

  Year	Flower singer	Other artists
  1977, 1978	Naomi Sagara
  1979, 1980, 1985	Yoko Seri
  1981	Junko Sakurada Junko Sakurada is a Japanese singer and actress. She was part of a music trio in 1973, which included Momoe Yamaguchi and Masako Mori. Sakurada then became successful in a solo music career. In 1979 Sakurada appeared in a film made by the production company Toho, and became popular as an actress...
  1982	Hitomi Ishikawa
  1983	Ikue Sakakibara Ikue Sakakibara is a female Japanese actress and a J-pop singer.Her Peter Pan stage play was very popular and continued for over 20 years.- External links :*...
  1984	Hidemi Ishikawa
  1986	Judy Ongg Judy Ongg Judy Ongg is an actress, singer, author and woodblock-print artist from Taiwan. Born in Taipei, she graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, and after that, she changed her nationality from taiwanese into Japanese. Her career has spanned more than four decades.Judy made her film debut in...
  1987	Miho Nakayama
  1988	Yū Hayami Yu Hayami is a J-pop singer and TV actress in Japan.- Childhood and education:Hayami was born in Atami, Shizuoka on 2 September 1966. Her real name was . After her parents divorced, her family name changed to ....
  1989	Noriko Sakai Noriko Sakai is a Japanese pop singer and actress. She was born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. She married in 1998, and divorced on July 31, 2010. She and Yūichi have one son, born in 1999. She is particularly popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan...
  1990	Tomomi Nishimura
  1991	Fuyumi Sakamoto Fuyumi Sakamoto is a Japanese female enka singer under EMI Music Japan.-Career:On March 4, 1987, Sakamoto debuted as a recording singer with the single "Abare Daiko". In 1988, she took part in the 39th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time...
  1992	Eriko Tamura Eriko Tamura is a Japanese actress and singer. The animated television show Idol Densetsu Eriko was created as a result of her popularity. The show has been syndicated world-wide, airing in such countries as Spain, Italy, and France...
  1993	Reiko Kato
  1994	Oyunaa
  1995	Marcia Marcia Marcia Aurelia Ceionia Demetrias, better known as Marcia, was the mistress and one of the assassins of 2nd century AD Roman Emperor Commodus from 182–93...
  1996	Ranran Suzuki Ranran Suzuki is a Japanese actress. She was an idol and singer in the 1990s. She began her career as an idol in the early 1990s, in commercials, then got her first role in a drama in 1992. In 1994, she performed in rabbit-cosplay in duet with future J-pop star Namie Amuro in the children TV show Ponkikies,...
  1997	Yoshie Hayasaka Yoshie Hayasaka is a Japanese actress and singer. Along with the ranking in the top 100 in the Oricon Singles Chart for several of her songs, her single "Zettai! Part 2" reached number 42. In 2003, she married the Japanese pro wrestler known as Super Delfin.-References:...
  1998	Kim Yeon-ja
  1999	Hikaru Nishida Hikaru Nishida is a Japanese J-pop singer and actress. She was born in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and made her singing debut with the release of the single Fifteen on April 6, 1988, named after her age at the time....
  2000	Kumiko Endo
  2001	Miki Sakai Miki Sakai Miki Sakai , born 21 February 1978 in Shizuoka, Japan is an actress and J-pop idol singer.As a teenager she made her feature film debut in the 1995 Shunji Iwai film Love Letter playing the role of Itsuki Fujii as a young girl...
  2002	Wakako Shimazaki
  2003	Hitomi Shimatani Hitomi Shimatani , is a female pop singer signed to the Avex Trax label.Shimatani started her career as an Enka singer with the release of her debut single in 1999, but later decided to get into the dance/pop style for her music. Shimatani's music has also appeared in video games and also anime series.- Early life...
  2004	Sonim Sonim (singer) is a Zainichi Korean J-pop singer.-Career and biography:She was a former member of the Tsunku-produced duo EE Jump along with Yuki Goto . Yuki was caught underage in a bar, which got him suspended from EE Jump...
  2005	Sayaka Kamizono
  Year	FF special guests	Other guests
  2006	MAX MAX (band) MAX whose name is an acronym for "Musical Active eXperience" is an Okinawan vocal group popular in Japan. The original members of MAX made their musical debut as members of the Super Monkey's along with lead vocalist, Namie Amuro... , Koriki Choshu Koriki Choshu is a Japanese comedian. He is most famous for his act in which he mocks a famous Japanese professional wrestler Riki Chōshū due to his resemblance... , Hinoi Team Hinoi Team was a Japanese female pop group formed around Asuka Hinoi with supporting members Keika Matsuoka, Hikaru Koyama, and Rina Takenaka. Most of their releases are covers of Eurobeat songs.- Ike Ike :...
  2007	Masashi Akiyama, Takako Uehara Takako Uehara is a Jpop singer, actress, and former radio host. She is a member of the group Speed. Uehara was born in Okinawa, Japan.Her highly anticipated first solo single 'My First Love' was released in January 1999, and was produced by legendary pop/rock superstar Ryuichi Kawamura ."My First Love" was the... , Younha Younha Younha , is a South Korean pop singer who first got her start in Japan, and continues to have success today in both countries....
  2008	Ai Kawashima Ai Kawashima , born February 21, 1986 in Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist.- Profile :Kawashima dreamed of becoming a singer from a young age. Her father vanished before she was born, and she was raised by her mother. She first began learning to play the piano at the age of 3.... , Kousuke Atari Kousuke Atari Kousuke Atari is a J-Pop artist, born July 13, 1980, on Amami island, Japan. Hailing from Amami-Oshima in southern Japan, Atari Kousuke is a folk singer currently signed to Epic Records Japan... , TDR characters Tokyo Disney Resort is a theme park and vacation resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just east of Tokyo. It is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company with a license from The Walt Disney Company. The resort opened on April 15, 1983, as a single theme park , but developed into a resort with two theme...
  2009	Jero Jero Jerome Charles White, Jr. , better known by his stage name , is an enka singer of African-American and Japanese descent. He is the first black enka singer in Japanese music history.- Biography :... , Kaori Mizumori Kaori Mizumori ' is a Japanese female enka singer. Her real name is .Her songs are usually titled after Japanese landmarks and Japanese nature. Thus Kaori gained her popularity as an Enka singer in Japan.- External links :*... , Yokota-Kaguradan	Aki-Gakudan, Osedo Chishima, Takashi & Chiharu, Sayaka Kamizono, Katsuhiko & Maco, Kentaro Kihara, Takahiro Miyazaki, CNA CNA - Organizations :*California Nurses Association*Canadian Nuclear Association*Canadian Nurses Association*CNA Institute for Public Research and Center for Naval Analyses*Center for Transportation and Logistics Neuer Adler*Royal Canadian Numismatic Association... , DSC DSC -in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah... , Tomonari Takano, Takarabune, Chiharu Tamaki, trunk Trunk Trunk may refer to:In biology:*Trunk, an elephant's proboscis or nose*Trunk, torso*Trunk , a tree's central superstructureIn containers:*Trunk , a large storage compartment*Trunk... , Shoji Narita, Mebius, Kenta Morimoto, Anri Kumaki Anri Kumaki is a Japanese pop female singer-songwriter.- Biography :Anri Kumaki started writing songs when she was 17 years old and won the audition of a TV program which was broadcasted by Nippon Television in 2001.She debuted with her Single "Madoe" arranged by .... , The generous The generous The Generous is a Japanese musical duo consisting of yoko on vocals and Katsumi Ohnishi on guitar. The song "Dream Star" from their mini-album released October 29, 2008 is featured as the first opening theme for the anime Skip Beat!.-Albums:... , Scandal, Miho Fukuhara Miho Fukuhara is a Japanese pop star who made an indies debut in 2006, releasing a single titled "The Roots" and mini-album titled Step Out. In early 2008, she made her major-label debuted under Sony Music Entertainment Japan . Her debut single, "Change", was the number ninety-two yearly song on the Billboard... , Lil'B Lil'B Lil'B is a Japanese female two-member pop group, featuring vocalist Mie and rapper Aila. They debuted in 2008 with "Orange," the 15th ending theme song for the anime Bleach. They are best known for their song "Kimi ni Utatta Love Song," which topped the RIAJ's monthly ringtone chart in 2008...