Sakura Sunday in Portland, OR

A benefit performance among the cherry blossoms: to raise money for relief of suffering in Japan. This is Portland's Takohachi Japanese Taiko and Dance group performing in the Japanese American Historical Plaza. Portland has had record rains this year and although the cherry blossoms are at their peak and the rain let up long enough for this event to happen in only a light mist, the gray light and heavy cloud cover made for bad photographic conditions. Nonetheless, the young woman in this picture was lit by an inner fire that gave us all joy.

After their performance, a Japanese priest led a prayer ritual that included tossing flowers into the Columbia river in honor of those lost in Japan.

The event was sponsored and organized by the Japan America Society of Oregon and had been originally planned to be a celebration of Japanese culture. After the earthquake and tsunami in March, it turned into an event to raise money for relief.