Japanese Culture Society

About Us:

The Japanese Culture Society is a student-led organization at ETSU dedicated to exploring and celebrating Japanese culture. Our mission is to foster an appreciation for Japan’s rich traditions, modern influences, and language through engaging activities and events.

For more information about ETSU's Literature and Language department, check out the ETSU Literature and Language Home Page.

What We Do:

We have weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 6:30PM in Sam Wilson Hall Room 322. Those meetings will be held on one of these topics:

Cultural Events – Experience traditional and modern Japanese festivities, including seasonal celebrations and cultural showcases.
Language & Learning – Participate in Japanese language practice sessions and discussions about Japan’s history, customs, and etiquette.
Food & Cooking – Learn about and try Japanese cuisine through cooking events and food tastings.
Community & Networking – Meet fellow enthusiasts, collaborate on fun projects, and make lasting friendships with those who share an interest in Japanese culture.

Image of participants engaging in activities at the Japanese Sports Day Festival at ETSU.

Cultural Event - Japanese Sports Day Festival at ETSU!

Image of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony with Miku-san demonstrating proper etiquette.

Learning Proper Etiquette for Tea Ceremony Featuring Miku-san

Image of dancers performing the Soran Bushi dance at the Nashville Sakura Festival 2024, with a link to watch the performance on YouTube.

ETSU Demonstrates Soran Bushi Dance at Nashville Sakura Festival 2024. Click Here to Watch.

Membership:

Throughout the semester, we host a variety of events that allow members and guests to experience Japanese culture firsthand. From hands-on food-making workshops to cultural celebrations and guest speaker sessions, our events provide a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and immerse yourself in Japan’s rich traditions.

To help fund these experiences, we offer club memberships. While many events are open to everyone, some require an admission fee for non-members. By becoming a member, you gain free access to all paid events, making it a cost-effective way to participate while supporting the club. Additionally, members have the option to purchase an exclusive Japanese Culture Society T-shirt with their membership.

Membership Pricing:

$20 – Includes a club membership and a Japanese Culture Society T-shirt for the Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 semesters.
$15 – Membership only (no T-shirt) for both semesters.
Non-members can still attend paid events by paying an admission fee of $2–$5, depending on the event.

Members will also receive priority access to events if materials or food supplies are limited.

Some of our paid events include:

Mochi Making – Learn how to prepare and enjoy this beloved Japanese rice cake.
Sushi Making – Discover the art of crafting sushi and nigiri.
Snack Tastings – Sample a variety of traditional and modern Japanese snacks.
Guest Speaker Sessions – Engage with experts on Japanese language, culture, and history.

Key Figures:

Junko Tezuka-Arnold - Faculty member in charge of the club
Miku Kubota - Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinator at ETSU
Alex Gray - President
Adam Miller - Vice President
Rebecca Story - Secretary
Jade Shelton - Treasurer

Event Schedule:

This is a list of the current scheduled events: (Be advised, some may change depending on the circumstances)

Japanese Ninjago Post Cards (01/29)
Japanese Board Game Night (02/05)
Japanese Snack Tastings/Crafts (02/12)
Sushi/Nigiri (Paid Event) (02/26)
Cosplay101 feat. Guest Speaker - KuronaHearts (03/01) Saturday event
Animation/Manga (03/05)
Japanese Movie (03/12)

Spring Break (No event) (03/19)
Kimono/Yukata Try-on and Learning (03/26)
Origami/Mizuhiki Knotting (04/02)
Undokai Sports Day (04/05) Saturday event
Movie Night (04/09)
Omikuji Fortune Making (04/16)
Movie/Japanese Potluck (04/23)
End of Year Party (04/30)

This Week's Event:

This week's meeting (04/5/2025), we will be having Japanese Sports Day Festival. This event will be held next to the CPA between 11-2.

Next Week's Event:

Next week's meeting (04/09/2025), will be a movie night. This will be held in Sam Wilson Hall, room 322.

Our Sponsors:

We greatly appreciate the businesses and individuals who support our club. Their generosity helps us host cultural events, provide materials, and enhance our community’s experience.

Interested in sponsoring our club?
Contact us to learn how you can contribute and have your name featured here.

Special Guest Speakers:

We are honored to host guest speakers who share their knowledge and experiences about Japanese culture, history, language, and more.

KuronaHearts – Special Guest Speaker on Cosplay 101: Preparing for ETSUCON (03/01)

Are you interested in speaking at one of our events?
Reach out to us, and let’s collaborate!

Welcome to the ETSU Japanese Culture Society!

ETSU日本文化会へようこそ！