Pacific Index

Don’t miss the Japan club’s event of the year:

“秋祭り(Akimatsuri) means fall festival in Japanese,” senior Gabe Kalama explains. “Japan is well known for their seasonal festivals,” he adds, explaining that the fall festival is an ancient traditional celebration that originated as a way to thank the gods for a successful harvest season. 

Kalama goes on, saying that the festival also is believed to bring good health and prosperity to the community–and here on campus, the Japan Club on campus honors this tradition annually as a way to share culture, bring people together, and educate the Pacific community of Japanese traditions. 

“It will be a good opportunity for students to learn about a culture they may be interested in,” says Kalama, the culture representative of the Japan club. “As well as a place to meet new people.” 

The Japan Club has a goal to educate students about Japanese culture.. “We want to ensure that students feel welcome to come and enjoy our activities and have some fun while learning a little about the culture,” Kalama shares. 

A lot of hard-work has gone into this event, with the executive board of the Japan Club managing a number of tasks to ensure the night is a success. “We’ve been out buying supplies, sending emails to performers and Bon Appetite for the event’s meal, and asking volunteers to help make the event run smoothly,” Kalama lists off. “We’re excited to see how everyone enjoys what we have in-store, and for the delicious food that will be served.” 

“Students should look forward to all the cool prizes we have in stock that will be available to win via raffle, and all the little booths and games we’ll have in store,” raves Kalma, painting a picture of plenty of activities and friendly competition. He also mentions that there will be performances such as kendo, a Japanese martial art, and a dancing dragon. 

With the delicate planning the Japan club has done, the event is sure to be a lively representation of Japanese culture, right here on Pacific’s campus. “We hope for a good turnout as this is our biggest event of the year,” Kalama conveys. “Our expectation is that everyone will come ready to have a good time and watch our hard-work pay off!” 

Join the celebration at 5 – 8 pm on Friday, November 14 in the University center.