The Japanese Club will look to continue tradition while also building student and faculty participation at this year’s 26th annual Japan Day.
Japan Day started when Japanese professor Kazuko Ikeda built the Japanese Department from the ground up in an attempt to share and expose the people of Pacific to Japanese culture through education, food and performances.
“We are trying to get more community involvement this year for Japan Day,” said senior and Japan Club vice president Hana Hsu. “This year we have done a lot more advertising for the event and have also invited Japanese Clubs from other colleges in the area to come out and experience the day.”
Students who come to Japan Day can visit a number of booths, featuring the art of calligraphy, the traditional Japanese game poi and origami making.
“We have a sister city in Japan and together we are trying to make 1,000 origami cranes so that we can send them to Hiroshima to pray for peace,” said Hsu.
Students can also enjoy a variety of shows during Japan Day as students from Japan Club, as well as trained professionals from martial art schools around Oregon take the stage together to perform traditional Japanese sword fighting, martial arts and taiko drumming.
“I hope people who come to Japan Day will realize that there is more depth to Japan instead of just what you see on the television,” said Hsu. “Japanese culture is something you can experience right here on campus.”
Traditional Japanese cuisine will be offered and served at Japan Day and no tickets are required for the event.
Japan Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 7 in the Multipurpose Room in the lower level of the University Center.
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