My late father formed a connection with Cowra and me - Ken Tokura

Kenneth Tokura, president of the Australia-Japan Cultural Exchange, is one of the founders of Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival) which has been held annually for almost 30 years in Cowra, New South Wales.

Kenneth (Katsunori) Tokura with recognition shield given by councils Source: SBS

Cowra Japanese Garden during its annual Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival) Source: SBS

On the 5th of August in 1944, in Cowra, more than thousand Japanese prisoners of war attempted to escape from a prisoner of war camp.  It is called the Cowra breakout and four Australians and 231 Japanese prisoners were killed during the incident.

Kenneth's father died in Siberia during the war.  Kenneth describes that each visit to Cowra is like visiting his father's grave and connecting to him. 

Kenneth tells us how the relationship with Cowra started and how the idea of Sakura Matsuri was realised.  Also he shares his future plans in Cowra.

Cowra has a prisoner of war camp site, Japanese cemetery and a Japanese garden.   

This year's Sakura Matsuri will be held on the 22nd of September, 2018.

Cowra Japanese War Cemetary during Cowra's annual Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival) Source: SBS