Japanese students host event to showcase their culture beyond STU

With good organization and attention to detail, Japanese students delivered a cultural event at James Dunn Hall. (Credit: Sabrina Zabatiero). 

On March 13, students Aiko Kiribuchi, Mebae Yamamoto, Haruto Sawada and Yuki Umakakeba, along with other Japanese exchange students, hosted Roll & Sip, an event that invited people to make their own temaki, prepare matcha and learn the Japanese art of origami.

The event attracted both students and community members curious about Japanese culture, connecting more than 70 people.  

Tables were filled with ingredients, tea bowls and colorful sheets of paper, creating an interactive environment where people could try something new while learning directly from the students. 

With the support of Saa Andrew Gbongbor, international student coordinator at STU, the students contacted the Japanese Association of Fredericton, which helped the event reach people both on and off campus.

“They did it all and they came with a plan. It's like they've been doing this stuff for years,” said Gbongbor.

Preparation started at the beginning of the winter semester. With paperwork, budgeting and planning, the project became what Gbongbor described as a true “entrepreneurship event.”

It involved several stages, from developing the idea to hosting the event itself.

Kiribuchi listed “making a poster, making a budget and booking a room” as some of the tasks involved in organizing the event.

The hard work demanded time, energy and combined effort that later was translated into smiling faces and satisfied guests.

John Chijioke, a guest at the event, was already “asking for the next one.”

Yuki Umakakeba demonstrated how to do the traditional Matcha. (Credit: Sabrina Zabatiero).  

“Omotenashi” is the Japanese philosophy of a wholehearted hospitality, focused on anticipating guests’ needs with attention to detail, respect and sincerity, without expecting anything in return. It was a small glimpse of this cultural value that guests experienced during the evening.

Although the event charged a $10 entrance fee, the money helped cover the cost of ingredients and materials purchased by the students.

According to Gbongbor, the work behind the initiative was entirely “voluntary." He said that the dedication shown by the students created something meaningful for the campus community.

“This kind of initiative leaves a legacy,” he said. “Even when they go back home, they’ll carry this same zeal and strength.”

By the end of the evening, as guests slowly made their way home, the students gathered together to celebrate the success of the event.

Surrounded by empty tea bowls, origami paper and the leftover food, they took a moment to enjoy what they had created together.