The BYU Japanese Student Association (JSA) hosted a spring festival open to students and the general public on March 7.
The spring festival was reminiscent of festivals held in Japan, giving attendees the opportunity to learn and participate in Japanese culture.
The name of the festival is Harumatsuri. “Haru” meaning spring and “matsuri” meaning festival.
The event is loosely based on festivals held throughout Japan, namely the summer festivals known as Natsumatsuri.
In Japan, Natsumatsuri are held nationwide and feature many different booths. The Harumatsuri hosted by JSA included some of the more common booths found at festivals across Japan.
Some festival booths featured traditional food, games, and other activities. Attendees purchased tickets at the door and could choose which activities to participate in.
Booths included food, fan decorating, and love fortune-telling, known as koimikuji. Students and community members, some wearing traditional cultural attire, gathered to take part in the festival.
An important part of the experience was sharing the Japanese language. Signs at each booth were written in Japanese, and a calligraphy booth allowed attendees to try Japanese lettering themselves.
MacKenzie Brown, an event attendee and aspiring Japanese minor, said the calligraphy booth was her favorite.
“We went to the calligraphy stand, which was awesome … I went to Japan on my mission and that’s something I never got to do on my mission, so it was super cool to be able to do that here,” Brown said.
Harumatsuri offers an opportunity to learn new things, experience aspects of Japanese culture, and share those experiences with others.
Ella Jorgensen, JSA president and a senior majoring in Japanese, shared what Harumatsuri meant to her.
“Our main goal is to celebrate Japanese culture. Our main goal is to bring people together. Again, no matter what the background is, it’s also to show support and community for Japanese community,” Jorgensen said.
The event allows JSA and the wider campus community to show support for the Japanese community through cultural sharing and celebration.
Harumatsuri is the only annual fundraising event JSA holds, with proceeds helping maintain the club as a cultural exchange program.
Brigham Graham, president of JSA’s Culture Division and a senior majoring in Japanese, shared his thoughts on the purpose of the club.
“One of our goals in the club is to connect the Japanese community with BYU,” Graham said.
JSA provides a place where many students feel a sense of belonging. Harumatsuri extends that same sense of belonging outward, inviting all to celebrate Japanese culture.