The Bellevue College Japanese Culture Exchange Club, with support from the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle, presents Japan Week. The second annual Japan Week at Bellevue College is from Oct. 1st to Oct. 5th for BC students. It is open to public from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6th as an all-day Festival Day, with free admission and parking.
The mission of Japan Week is to nurture and promote the cultural arts of Japan and expose students and the community to multiple facets of Japanese culture; extending beyond what people see in movies and TV shows. Japan Week also offers a meeting place for the community at large to learn about, observe and participate in Japan-related educational and cultural activities.
Japan Week consists of a large variety of activities this year. There are lectures and activities hosted by Wise Leadership, Japan Creative Arts, and other professionals. Elements of Japanese Interior Design, Martial Arts and many more topics throughout the entire school week will also be introduced. On the final day, Oct. 6th, a Japanese festival dedicated to celebrating Japan’s rich culture and history called, “Matsuri” will be held. Join for a day of games, music, workshops and activities. Play with traditional Japanese toys in the “kids” corner, shop at a flea market full of authentic Japanese gifts, learn the Code of Samurai, show off your karaoke talents and participate in the cosplay contest.
Besides these activities, people can enjoy popular festival food and drinks in the BC cafeteria and C-building café. Some special Japanese dishes that will be provided include: curry rice with chicken, yakisoba, salmon bento, assorted sushi, tonkatsu–pork cutlet–bento, gyoza, grilled chicken, edamame, imagawayaki, and more.
Anne Stewart, the advisor for the Bellevue College Japanese Cultural Exchange Club, commented, “The Japan Week student leaders have been working hard in planning this year’s Japan Week. They have worked tirelessly even during the summer. The Japanese Culture Exchange Club has been actively doing fundraising events selling donated Japanese items from the community. We now have about 220 volunteers signed up to support this event as well. We feel the Japan Week will be a fun and educational event for everyone.”
Japan Week support comes from the Bellevue College Foundation, Bellevue College Student Programs, Bellevue College Associated Student Government, Bellevue College Campus Activities Board, Bellevue College Arts & Humanities Department, Bellevue College Office of Equity and Pluralism, Bellevue College Food Services/Events, Bellevue College Library Media Center and other off-campus supporters.
Everyone is invited to get involved from Oct. 1st to Oct. 6th. For more information, search “Japan Week at Bellevue College” on Facebook, “japanweekbc” on Instagram, or go to http://studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu/japan-week.