🎊2024 Japan Day was very successful! 

We're pleased to share that we had a robust turnout (with around 500 participants) throughout the day, including 130 dedicated volunteers and 80 talented performers. A heartfelt thank you to the Japan Club for their year-long dedication, which was crucial to our success. We also enjoyed fruitful collaborations with other student groups such as the Soran Bushi (dance) Club, Go Club, and Anime and Manga Club. Thanks to the support from local high school teachers, we were also fortunate to welcome over fifty high school volunteers. This community engagement was instrumental in making the event successful. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful day.

Media Coverage

• KCRA covered our participation in the Festival of Arts on April 21 https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-state-festival-of-arts-2024/60561494

• Prior to the event, two of our students were featured on Studio 40, promoting the event. https://fox40.com/studio-40/japan-day-at-sac-state/

2024 Japan Day Photos by Sean Hidalgo. Click the photo link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1xJWmrWSrwxnQBgR6

Japan Club (Sac State) facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/150411051997

Japan Club (Sac State) instagram  https://www.instagram.com/japanclubcsus/

Interested in becoming Volunteers?  Link to Sign Up

Every spring, we celebrate Japanese language and culture during “Japan Day.” This year marks the 17th anniversary of Japan Day, which is hosted by the Sac State Japanese Program and Japan Club as part of the Festival of Arts’ Sunday Funday. The theme for this year is “Omotenashi - Japanese hospitality," and the event features a variety of traditional and modern performances, including a Taiko drumming performance at 1:00pm, martial arts demonstrations, cosplay, Sac State’s Soran Bushi dance, and more. In addition, there are many hands-on learning activities available, such as origami, calligraphy, board games, drawing, and dancing.

• Free Event

• Open to Public

• Free parking is available in Structure 3, floors 1-2 (see map for location)!  Parking PDF Map

J-Day 2017 ;  J-Day 2016 ;  J-Day 2015 (Photos/Videos by Emma Stewart);  J-Day 2022: Link to Photos & Videos 

J-Day 2023:  Link to photos;   More photo: https://www.facebook.com/groups/150411051997

Japan Day 2024 Brochure 

Japan Day’s Zen Garden Fountain, made of Paper and Ropes Explanation

2024 Stage Performances

10:00 AM Introductions & "Welcome to the 17th annual Japan Day"

10:15 AM Opening Act - Soran Bushi Dance Performance by Sac State's Japan Club

Led by Paolo Hidalgo and Jacob Ma

10:20 AM Samurai Demonstration

Led by Tip Sayamnath and Isaac Cortez

10:30 AM Radio Taiso

Led by Joshua Opada

10:35 AM Open Mic🎤 Act/Performance

11:05 AM Rakugo Performance

By Michael Gery

11:30 AM Kagura Dance and Taiko by Rieko Kotoku

12:00 PM Shouting Contest (Sign up at Staff Table near the Main Stage)

12:15 PM Bun-Eating Contest (pankui kyousou パン食い競走）

12:30 PM Open Mic🎤 Act/Performance

1:00 PM Koyasan Taiko Performance

By Koyasan Spirit of Children Taiko  We also have a priest from Koyasan temple: https://nckoyasan.org

1:50 PM  Jiu Jitsu Performance 

By  Eliot Kelly Sensei

In recent times, Ju-Jutsu has become known as an effective form of self-defense, an international sport, and an integral component of mixed martial arts. While Ju-Jutsu was a battlefield martial art practiced by the Samurai in Japan, the art was brought to Brazil after the immigration of Japanese people to the Americas began in 1908. In Brazil, the martial art of Ju-Jutsu became known as a hand to hand combat art. As the art was practiced in Brazil, the martial art gradually became to be practiced as a sport. With a new sounding name, Jiu-Jitsu, the sport and martial art was presented to the world through UFC 1 in 1993, and the world championships in 1996. At Japan Day, practitioners of Jiu-Jitsu will demonstrate some of the different strangles, joint locks, throws and positional holds. 

2:20 PM Alumni Guest Performance - Passion Fruit

By Kris Hidalgo and Vicky Tran

2:35 PM  Open 🎤 Act/Performance + Cosplay Showcase

Sign up for the Cosplay Showcase through the volunteer form

2:55 PM Soran Bushi Dance Performance by Sac State's Japan Club

Led by Paolo Hidalgo and Jacob Ma

3:00 PM Closing Remarks

By Japan Club

2024 Japan Day Learning Tables

Quick Overview (PDF)

More Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1-J9tpPOPEgOGH6R4hCqzdNcnddxdhM1C

Quadrant 1 Leader: Eric Lekvichitthada

Welcome Table    

Lead: Prof. Vassil

Snack Sales Table  

Lead: Audrey Lee

Pin-making Table 

Lead: Addison Baylor

Create your own custom pins inspired by Japanese designs.

Card-making Table 

Lead: Kaylene Ly

Design unique cards using Japanese motifs and techniques.

Hashi - Chopsticks Table

Picking beans using chopsticks  

Lead: Connor Dominik

Master the art of using chopsticks by participating in our bean-picking challenge.

Hanafuda Table - Card Game

Lead: Emma Ketsavong

video instruction

Learn to play Hanafuda and enjoy this classic Japanese card game.

Go Table - Board Game

Lead: Julian Roldan

Engage in the ancient board game of Go, a test of tactics and foresight.

Shogi Table - Japanese Chess

Lead: Alexander Kinney

How to Video

Challenge yourself with Shogi, the Japanese variant of chess.

Kendama Table - Cup and Ball

Lead: Kyle Palado

Try your hand at Kendama, a traditional cup-and-ball skill game.

Calligraphy Table  

Lead: Justin Huang

Experience the grace and discipline of Japanese calligraphy.

Quadrant 2 Leader: Thomas Lang

Origami and Paper Crane

Lead: Brayden O'Donnell

Paper Crane for World Peace 

Learn about a story of Sadako and the relationship between paper crane and peace. Let's learn how to fold a paper crane, pray for world peace, and write a message in various languages. For more information, click the link. '

Artist Alley

Lead: Karena Chiu

Meet local artists, watch them create, and receive personalized caricature drawings.

Nigaoe Drawing Booth

Lead: Karena Chiu

Koyasan Temple   (Northern California) 

Lead: Kanboo Priest (community member)

Gain spiritual insights directly from a Buddhist priest from Northern California's Koyasan Temple.

"Hello,  This is Northern California Koyasan Buddhist Temple located at 1400 U St. Our temple was established about 100 years ago by the first generation of Japanese immigrants and moved to its current location in 1970. In one of the Japanese traditions, people would go to Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines to get some charm talismans to minimize their misfortune or to give them to someone as souvenirs.  We will pray for you!

More information about us, here is the link. Koyasan and other temples

WAKAMATSU Farm Table

Lead: Cynthia Chaponot (community member)
Learn about the first Japanese colony in the U.S. and its legacy with the American River Conservancy.
Historical site (1st Japanese colony in US by delegation from Aizu, Japan), American River Conservancy

Matsuyama Table – Sacramento’s Sister City   

Lead: Gloria Esepjo (community member)
Visit Matsuyama and other places in Ehime
Explore Sacramento’s sister city, Matsuyama, and other locations in Ehime prefecture.

Davis Senior High School Kakehashi Project: Cultural Experiences in Tokyo & Okinawa

Lead: Naoko McHale (teacher), Ronin Cook; Kai Leonard; Wayn Liao; Will Messner; Amelia Thacker
Discover cultural experiences from Tokyo and Okinawa through local student stories.

Sakura Gakuen Table

Lead: Tomomi Flesuras
https://www.buddhistchurch.org/sakura-gakuen
Engage with Japanese language and culture in a community setting.

Quadrant 3 Leader: Jacob Ma

DJ/MC Table

Lead: Kris Hidalgo, DJ

Omikuji  (Link) & Teru Teru Bozu (How to Video)

Lead: Austin Quaintance

Explore your future with Japanese-style fortune telling.

Tanabata 

Lead: Austin Quaintance

Make a wish under our Tanabata tree, a charming festival tradition.

Samurai / Sumo 

Lead: Isaac Cortez & Tip Sayamnath

Witness the power and precision of samurai swordplay and putting on Sumo Costume.　

Anime and Manga Table

Lead: Anime and Manga Club

Cosplay: showcase with various cosplay props and advice on how to get into cosplay for any newcomers without the need for it to be expensive whilst maintaining quality.

Games/Art: Showcase of various arts and crafts based items as well as game related hobbies which include model kits, clay figures, trading card games (yugioh and digimon). Also, we will be giving beginner friendly advice on how to enter these hobbies.

Fundraising Table (Japan's Earthquake] 

Lead: Yuji Deai

Learn vital earthquake preparedness tips and support ongoing relief efforts in Japan. See below  - what  this group made!
Useful Website for Earthquake Tips: Link 1; Link 2; Link 3

Thank you Kiyo's Floral Design for their donation of Ikebana. What does it mean? Click HERE for explanation.

Quadrant 4 Leader: Gage Clark

Omotenashi with Ikebana 

Ikebana flower was donated by Kiyo's  Floral Design Link

Special thanks to Kiyo's  Floral Design.

Tea Ceremony by Shiori Kobayashi sensee - Tea Presentation LINK (Tea)

Kimono and Photo Booth

Lead: Miskow sensee
Try on kimonos and capture the moment in our themed photo booth.

Japan Jeopardy / Culture Table

Lead: Miskow sensee

Test your knowledge about Japanese culture at our interactive quiz station.

Ohajiki (How to play)

Lead: Miskow sensee

Manzai / Rakugo 

Lead: Geri Michael and Andrew

"We will provide a brief overview of Japanese traditional comedy arts Rakugo and Manzai. We will do so by summarizing popular stories like Jugemu, comparing/contrasting Manzai with Western comedy (such as “Who’s on First”), and introducing popular performers for guests who wish to learn more. Additionally, we will have rakugo props at the table for display."

Laugh and learn with demonstrations of Rakugo and Manzai, forms of Japanese comedic storytelling. 

Japanese Language Learning

Lead: Winston Cardozo

We will teach you Japanese. We can also write your name in Katakana!

Tongue Twister in Japanese 

Lead: Lance  Saltzen & Taqua Al Dabbagh

Have fun twisting your tongue with tricky Japanese phrases

Special Activities

Open Mic Act 

We welcome everyone!  (Sign up on the day of the event)

Tobiiri Karaoke *tobiiri - participating without registering beforehand - if you want to join, bring your own music. Let MCs know you want to sing! Talk to people at Welcome Table. 

Radio Exercise 

Let's exercise! Led by Josha Opada

Shouting Contest in Japanese

Shouting in Japanese! Led by Masuyama sensee

Bun-Eating  Contest 

Get a donut without using your hands! Led by Kelly sensee

Singing

🎵Song for Everyone - Sing in Japanese!🎵🎶 

"Ue wo Muite Aruko (I look up when I walk", known as "sukiyaki song"
Lead: 

Other Fun Activities

• Wanage - Ring Toss

• Origami Plane Flying Contest

Virtual trips to Japan (Watch out QR Code Posting!)

https://www.japan.travel/brochures/eng/index.php

Tokyo: https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/1032.pdf

Tochigi - North of Tokyo: https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/896.pdf

Kyoto: https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/1487.pdf

　　　https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/1485.pdf

Kyoto: https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/1487.pdf

Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, etc.) https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/1607.pdf

　　　https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/1630.pdf

Virtual Trip to Aomori Nebuta and other activities in Tohoku: https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/353.pdf

Virtual Trip to Sendai Tanabata: https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/1367.pdf

Virtual Trip to Aizu Wakamatsu and other places in Fukushima: https://partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp/simg/pamph/1484.pdf

Japan Day Organizers

Paolo Hidalgo — Japan Club president

Michael Forman — treasurer

Eric Lekvichitthada — secretary

Nobumasa Masubuchi — event / outreach

Jacob Ma — event / outreach

Thomas Lang — event / outreach

Gage Clark — event / outreach

Yuji Deai — event / outreach

Tip Sayamnath — cultural ambassador

Nathan Piedad — social media

Ryan Abulencia & Jay Hilario — historians

Audrey Lee & Mika Harris — graphic designers

Karena Chiu — advisor

Check out Japan Club's Official Facebook and Instagram

Japan Club Adviser - Prof. Kazue Masuyama (masuyama@csus.edu)

サクラメントとは？日本語でサクラメント州立大学やサクラメントについて説明しています。

https://sites.google.com/view/japn150classproject/home