Celebrating Tanabata! The Star Festival

On Wednesday, June 19, we celebrated the Japanese summer festival "Tanabata" at the SAC. It was a chance for international students to experience this traditional Japanese event. This time, 30 international students and 11 Japanese students joined in.

The event kicked off with a presentation in English by a student from the International Studies faculty, who explained the history and customs of Tanabata. They also shared a presentation showcasing the three major Tanabata festivals in Japan and the fireworks in Aichi Prefecture. International students took notes on the festival dates and locations they plan to visit this summer!

Afterward, everyone got creative by making bamboo branch decorations with origami and writing their wishes on colorful "tanzaku" strips. Wishes were written in Japanese, English, and the languages of the students' home countries, creating a lively, multicultural display of bamboo branches—a characteristic scene at NUCB, which boasts a diverse student body.

International students were also treated to the opportunity to try on yukata. One student, experiencing wearing a yukata for the first time, shared, "I was really looking forward to this event because it was my first time wearing a yukata. It was so much fun!" Another student remarked, "After learning about the summer festival, I want to buy my own yukata."

With over 100 exchange students from partner schools worldwide visiting the university each year, numerous on-campus and off-campus events provide Japanese and international students with opportunities to interact. These experiences in student life expose students to diverse cultures and traditions, fostering cross-cultural understanding and cultivating an international perspective.