Japanese Pop Culture B – Final Preparations for the Kasahara Shrine Rice Planting & Summer Festival (Wednesday, July 9)

As part of the international collaborative class, Japanese Pop Culture B, offered by the Center for Global Engagement, students will participate in the Kasahara Shrine Summer Festival on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Held just behind the Mito Campus of Ibaraki University, this event offers students a chance to experience traditional Japanese culture firsthand while exploring ideas for regional revitalization through community engagement.

In the class held on Wednesday, July 9, students worked in groups to finalize activities for children attending the festival. They prepared a variety of fun games such as stencil cutting, can knockdown, ping-pong toss, and watermelon splitting. As prizes, snacks from around the world will be handed out, and creative ideas have been incorporated to encourage natural interaction between local children and international students.

With student-led planning and a vibrant international atmosphere, this summer festival promises to be a lively and memorable event. Stay tuned for highlights from the day!