Thursday, March 26, 2026
Hilltoppers behold the beauty of Ohanami
Consulate-Genral of Japan in Nashville Cultural Programs Coordinator Johnathan Contrades speaks with students about the Japan Exchange and teaching Program during WKU Global’s second annual Ohanami Festival at Centennial Park on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The JET Program offers cultural exchange opportunities to work in schools, boards of education, and government offices in Japan.(Sam Huffman)
Light pink cherry blossom petals danced in the spring breeze, decorating the sidewalk of Centennial Mall while students mingled and ate free Japanese cuisine served by WKU Catering. Bella Johnson, sophomore animation and Chinese double-major, stood with her food and watched the petals as sunlight shone through the branches of the cherry blossom trees. “The cherry blossoms are all falling,” Johnson said as she looked up to the sky. “It’s just so scenic and beautiful.” Read more by Abigail Vickers