‘Music has no borders, but we definitely try to teach our culture from Japan through our performances’.
For shamisen player and singer songwriter Noriko Tadano, the Auburn Cherry Blossom festival is more than entertaining a crowd: it’s about cultural exchange. The festival, held at the Auburn Botanic Gardens, drew thousands of visitors in August to celebrate Japanese tradition under a canopy of pink. Often described as “bringing Japan to Sydney,” the two-week event has become one of the city’s most popular showcases.
Seeds that started the Cherry Blossom festival:
The cultural significance of Cherry Blossoms runs deep in Japanese tradition. Known as Sakura, the flowers are celebrated every spring across Japan as a symbol of impermanence, beauty, and renewal. Their brief bloom is a reminder of life’s fleeting nature, an idea deeply embedded in Japanese philosophy, art and poetry. The practice of Hanami, or flower viewing, dates back over a thousand years, when emperors and poets would gather under the blossoms to reflect, feast and compose verse. That same spirit of reflection and togetherness resonated in Auburn, where families and friends picnicked beneath the blossoms, cameras in hand, capturing moments that mirror traditions from Tokyo to Kyoto.
Beyond the blossoms, the program featured Japanese food, martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremonies and live performances highlighting heritage and innovation.
Entertainment at the festival:
Among the headline acts were Noriko Tadano and blues guitarist George Kamikawa, whose collaboration blended centuries old sound of the shamisen with raw blues energy. Their high octane set surprised many festival goers.
(Kamikawa and Tadano performing. Picture Credits: Madison Bailey, August 2025)
‘Most people expect a shy vibe, but we’re more pumped up’, Kamikawa said. ‘Since Japanese people don’t play blues and country, it’s a never seen before moment, they’re surprised’.
Tadano said their performances aim to carry their culture with pride across multiple borders. ‘Japanese culture is definitely deep in all our performances’, she said.
Noriko Tadano is one of Australia’s most recognised shamisen players, bringing the three stringed instrument to new audiences since arriving from Japan. She has performed internationally, collaborated with orchestras and rock bands, and was a finalist on Australia’s Got Talent. Tadano combines technical mastery with respect for the shamisen’s 400-year history, while her songwriting explores the meeting point between Japanese folk traditions and contemporary music.
(Noriko Tadano: Left & George Kamikawa: Right. Picture credits: Maddison Bailey, August, 2025)
George Kamikawa, meanwhile, has built a reputation as one of Melbourne’s most energetic street performers. Armed with a guitar, harmonica and a voice built for the blues, he has taken his music from busking corners to major festival stages. Dubbed the Japanese blues man, he’s known for bringing raw passion to every performance. At Auburn, his sound meshed seamlessly with Tadano’s shamisen, creating a dialogue between Japanese tradition and American blues spirit.
Growing the Culture of Japan:
The broader cultural program immersed visitors in Japanese tradition. Food stalls offered Takoyaki and omurice, workshops taught origami and calligraphy, Kimono try on stalls provided a cultural experience and martial arts demonstrations brought centuries old practices to life.
(Strawberry and cream sandwich. Picture credits: Maddison Bailey, August 2025)
For Kamikawa, the experience underscored the openness of Australian audiences.
‘Taking part in this festival, everyone is very welcoming and accepting of us and our music’, he said. ‘The audience becomes a friend, a family, and I feel a part of Australia’.
Tadano said she hoped the music created a bridge of understanding:
‘Through music, people connect, even if they don’t know the language or traditions, they can feel it’.
While the blossoms will soon fall, the cultural impact of Auburn’s festival lingers. By combining food, art, performance and symbolism, the event once again proves cultural heritage can flourish anywhere, even 7,800 kilometres from Japan.
(Botanic gardens during festival. Picture credits: Maddison Bailey, August 2025)
