The Colgate University Japanese Cultural Club (CJCC) and Japanese Intern celebrated Akimatsuri, a traditional Japanese festival, on Nov. 8. The event was cosponsored by the Organization of Asian Sisters in Solidarity (OASIS) and the Colgate Anime Society and featured food, games and music. Many students joined to celebrate Japanese culture.
Akimatsuri is a traditional Shintō celebration held in the fall to thank the gods for the harvest. It typically takes place in late October or early November, when the dead are believed to return to their birthplaces. Akimatsuri festivals might feature community dances and paper lanterns being lit to welcome the dead. It is one of the biggest festivals before the winter and new year festivals.
“We decided to bring a little bit of the festival and the traditional games to Colgate,” sophomore and leader of CJCC Koko Nagatomo said.
The event, held in the ALANA Cultural Center, featured traditional Japanese street foods, snacks and games, with a prize table for those who won. One of the games resembled fishing, while others included ring toss and another in which balloons were tied to a string. The food consisted of squid balls — known as takoyaki — as well as shrimp, fried spaghetti and bananas with chocolate, also known as choco banana. Attendees enjoyed Japanese music from popular bands and listened to anime themed songs. Organizer of the activities, sophomore Kyle Groves, stressed their motivation to recreate the Japanese festival theme.
“The whole setup was intended to recreate what a festival atmosphere would be like in Japan,” Groves said.
The CJCC sought to work more in collaboration with the Japanese department as student groups often tend to function independently from academic departments. Nagatomo discussed the importance of holding this event and highlighting Japanese culture.
“I feel like a lot of people’s perception of Japan tends to be rooted in anime and things you see online, so it’s important for our club to show a little bit more of the everyday traditions that we have back in Japan,” Nagatomo said. “It’s a way for students to get involved.”
Many students attended not only because of personal cultural ties but also to learn more about new cultures. First-year Ruby Garcia Cisneros attended due to her personal interest, noting her intent to get to know the surrounding community at Colgate.
“I’m starting to immerse myself in different cultures and I feel like this is the way to do it. I think it’s nice to learn about other cultures even if it’s not my own,” Garcia Cisneros said.
Through hosting events like these, the CJCC and OASIS are able to spread awareness about Asian culture and popular traditions while allowing students to share in traditional celebrations.
