BVU Japanese culture class hosts Scholarly ACES event

Buena Vista University Japanese culture class students performed yosakoi, an energetic dance that involves the use of wooden clappers, during a Scholarly ACES event on Tuesday night. A tea ceremony and flower arranging, as well as other songs and dances, were performed during the event. / Photo by Ashley Miller

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"The students in my Japanese culture class have practiced a lot for tonight," said Yuriko Togashi, adjunct Japanese language instructor.

Togashi and several of her students were dressed in elegant kimono during the performance.

Two students performed a complicated tea ceremony, known as chanoyu or chado, which culminates religious thought and social interchange as tea is ceremonially prepared and presented.

Flower arranging, or ikebana, was demonstrated. As flowers were cut and carefully arranged, significance of the flowers' height and placement was explained.

Musical performances were a major part of the event. Accompanied by a koto, a stringed instrument, students sang "Sakura, Sakura," a folk song depicting spring, the season of cherry blossoms. "Sukiyaki," a popular song from the 1960s, was also sung.

Dances included an algorithm performance and yosakoi, a unique, energetic dance performed with wooden clappers during summer festivals.

During the Japanese culture course, students also had the chance to learn calligraphy and watch Japanese films, as well as perform a karate demonstration.

"For an interim course, it's a lot of different culture. It's something different and very challenging, but my students enjoyed it very much," Togashi said.