The International Student Cultural Organization (ISCO) and Japan Club collaborated to showcase elements of Japanese culture to a wide audience. The turnout at HAL Hall was large, as students from many different backgrounds filed in to watch and learn. The vice president of the Japan club, Brooks Stephenson, read the PowerPoint before Japanese students demonstrated for the audience.
“Everyone has their own ideas, but they’re not really challenged until they have to deal with differing cultures,” said Stephenson, a senior history major from Brantley, Alabama. “I think witnessing how other cultures live their own lives is important for understanding our own culture as well.”
The three demonstrations included the Sado Tea Ceremony, Kendo and Kendama. The Sado Tea Ceremony is an ancient ceremony dating back to the 16th century. Students wore Kimonos, and the ceremony was in complete silence to represent the ideals of ‘wabi-sabi,’ which is an ideology centered on the beauty of imperfections.
Performed next was Kendo, a martial art utilizing a wooden bamboo sword; it is used to help train the muscles. The student performed a basic training exercise, as Kendo is usually done with an opponent.
Lastly, the game Kendama was presented. Kendama is played with a wooden handle with cup-like platforms on the side; players must toss the ball and try to land it on the platform. Multiple Kendama toys were available for attendees to play with after the presentation.
One aspect of the presentation was to encourage students to travel and study abroad. The Japan club president, James Allen, spent a few weeks studying in Japan.
“I wouldn’t change anything about the trip, everything went so smoothly,” said Allen, who is a senior physics major from Troy, Alabama. “I made friends there, who I still talk to. I plan to go back and visit my friends and soak in the environment.”
“When you’re going to a job interview, and you talk about your overseas experience, it automatically sets you apart from other candidates,” said Lance Noe, the director of the English as a Second Language program. “It shows that you’re self-motivated and a problem solver; it shows that you’re willing to try new ideas.
“To companies and businesses, that is such a strength to have.”
Students interested in learning more about ISCO can find more information at @isco_troyu on Instagram. For more events organized by the Japan Club, visit @troy.japan.club on Instagram.
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