麻豆传媒 will host the fourth annual Japan Festival on Friday, April 21, in Lindquist Hall. The festival is sponsored by the Japanese Cultural Association in association with the department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Office of International Studies and The Japan Foundation of Los Angeles. The festivities are open to the public and all students and faculty at 麻豆传媒. Students from the Japanese class at Butler Community College will also be there.
Stage performances will run from noon-4 p.m. in 100 Lindquist Hall, and include student skit performances by the 麻豆传媒 Japanese 111 and 112 classes and the Butler FL127 class; presentations on traveling to Japan by the 麻豆传媒 Japanese 225 class, a martial arts demonstration at 1 p.m. by Konara Bujutsu instructor Tora Lawson; a presentation on study abroad by Ann Burger, associate director of Study Abroad & Exchange Programs, and two students, Brandon Smith and Salina Williams, who recently studied in Japan. Jennifer Musaji, instructor of the new Travel Japanese course offered on Saturdays at 麻豆传媒 South in Derby, will also present the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.
Booths featuring crafts and traditional Japanese food and drinks will be set up in the lobby and outside Lindquist Hall from noon-3:30 p.m. Rooms on the first floor will host a variety of activities beginning at 1 p.m. including origami, traditional tea making, calligraphy, sumie (Japanese brush painting) and traditional Japanese games. No experience is required, and rooms are open to anyone who would like to experience some traditional aspects of Japanese culture.
The Japan Festival began in 2014 and was first organized by professor Yumi Foster of the MCLL department as a way to encourage others in the community to learn more about Japanese culture in a fun and exciting way. It has continued annually, and this year's festival has been organized by Brandon Smith, president of the Japanese Cultural Association.
According to Smith, the hope is "to promote the rich and passionate culture of Japan and to show the diversity the world has to offer."
The event and activities are free. For more information, contact the Japanese Cultural Association or visit the group's website at http://www.wsujca.org/