Welcome to Japan Week 2026! This is our 10th annual JAPAN WEEK @ Bellevue College, presented by the BC Japanese Culture Exchange Club. Japan Week aims to introduce and nurture multiple facets of Japanese culture, including its rich history.
Weekdays (Oct. 5 – 9): For Bellevue College Students
Saturday Festival (Oct. 10): Open to the Public
Please support Japan Week!
- Donate Japanese items and Manga books to be sold at Japan Week’s Flea Market, Japan Market, and Manga Swap!
- Aug. 22 (Sat), 10am-2pm. Bellevue College, Parking Lot 10
- Aug. 23 (Sun), 1-5pm. Bellevue College, Parking Lot 10
- For manga donations, you’ll receive a Manga Swap Voucher redeemable Oct. 10 (Sat. Festival). We accept manga in Japanese, English, and other languages (no adult content).
- We are also looking to recruit 200 volunteers for the festival on Oct. 10 (Sat)! Click here for the Volunteer Registration Link.
This Year’s Highlights
- Celebrating:
- Super Mario Brothers: 40th Anniversary in global markets
- Dragon Ball: 40th Anniversary of the TV anime series
- Pokémon: 30th Anniversary
- Kazuma Jinnouchi, Film/Game Composer
- “Little Red Riding Hood: Another Story”, Japanese musical performed at the Carlson Theater
- Omikoshi Parade: Sakuraki from Vancouver, Canada
- Kids Omikoshi by Pikake School students
- Yosakoi Dance led by Mai Yuasa Suratos
- Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibit
Other Activities (to be announced)
Weekday Schedule
| TIME | TOPIC / SPEAKER | ROOM |
| Oct. 5 (Mon) 2:30–3:20pm | Onigiri Workshop Chef Nobuto Uruma, I Love Sushi Bellevue | TBD |
| Oct. 6 (Tues) 2:30–3:20pm | Manga Drawing Workshop Arisa Nakamura | TBD |
| Oct. 7 (Wed) 2:30–3:20pm | Within the Silence Japanese American Incarceration Camp Experiences Living Voices | TBD |
| Oct. 8 (Thurs) 2:30–3:20pm | Sumie Calligraphy Painting Hiroko Nagatomo | TBD |
| Oct. 9 (Fri) | Setup Day Volunteer Signup Form | Across Campus |
This year’s kanji is 幸 (“sachi”), which means happiness.
It represents our hope for happiness in every moment we share together. It reflects our wish that everyone finds their own moments of joy and that, together, we can create an environment where everyone feels happy and supported.
All website managers are Bellevue College students.
2026 Website Managers:
Lukas Tomita (lead manager), Toshiki Loi, Hengmeng Ly, Joel Samuel
Past Website Managers:
2017 – Chitalu Mumba (original website developer)
2018 – Devon Rice, Meili Hsu
2019 – Alex Horn, Devon Rice, Meili Hsu
2020 – Alex Horn, Devon Rice, Carlos A. Márquez Arce
2021 – Nik Weisend, Mariko S. Borcan, Sascha West
2022 – Alex Richey, Mariko S. Borcan, Alexandria Terayama
2023 – Declan Boyle, Anhthien Nguyen, Danbi Kim, Ansh Chavda
2024 – Lukas Tomita (lead manager), Declan Boyle, Eitan Grebnev, Elsie Nakaone, Derek Nguyen
2025 – Lukas Tomita (lead manager), Bharat Biju, Toshiki Loi, Hengmeng Ly