Outreach Activities

JAASC 25th Annual Bon Dance Festival

In 2023, I volunteered for a Bon Dance festival that took place in Greenville, South Carolina. The event was hosted by the JAASC, the Japan - America Association of South Carolina, as a cross-cultural experience for both Japanese and Americans. I volunteered at the request of my Japanese professor at the time, and participated alongside a number of my peers.

Volunteer Work

I worked in the games area during this event. In this area, stands were set up featuring games that one would find at a Bon Dance festival in Japan. These games included a ring toss, shooting at prizes, and mini-golf. I mostly managed the counter, taking attendees tickets and guiding them towards the game of their choice. I would also hand out prizes to anyone who won at the games.

Reflection

I had a lot of fun at this event, as it was m first time experiencing a Japanese festival. Being able to take part in the culture that I am studying was a lot of fun, and gave me a lot of insight into aspects that I would never get by simply attending classes. It was also a good way to get to know members of the JAASC, a good organization that is making efforts to bridge the gap between Japan and the United States, an effort that I intend to take part in throughout my future careers.

To learn more about the JAASC, follow this link: https://jaasc.org/

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