Thank you for attending this year’s Japan Week 2025! Please take our survey to help us improve in the future!
Welcome to Japan Week 2025! This will be our 9th 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.
Japan Week takes place between October 6 – October 11:
- Weekdays (Oct. 6–9)
Lectures & Demonstrations for BC students only. - Friday (Oct. 10) – Setup Day (click here to sign up!)
- Saturday (Oct. 11)
Matsuri (Festival) Day open to the general public!
Special Guests and Events
Katsura Sunshine – Rakugo (Japanese Comic) Storyteller
桂三輝（サンシャイン）師匠落語講演会
Saturday Festival (Oct. 11)
More information: click here!
Omikoshi is coming from Canada!
カナダから「おみこし」がやってくる！
Saturday Festival (Oct. 11)
More information: click here!
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibit and Films
Mon–Sat (Oct. 6–11)
More information: click here!
This Year’s Highlights (October 11th, Sat.)
Katsura Sunshine Rakugo Show, Onigiri Workshop, Omikoshi, Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition*, Shōwa-era Hit Songs, Contests with Prizes (Beyblade, Cosplay, Paper Airplane, Japan Trivia, Kendama)
*Courtesy of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Nuclear Weapons Awareness
Other Activities:
Anime Café, Calligraphy, Flea Market, Flower Arranging, Japan Market, Kamishibai, Karaoke, Manga Swap, Martial Arts, Okinawa Music, Origami, Puppet Theater, Shakuhachi, Storytime in the Planetarium, Taiko Drumming, Tea Ceremony, The Board Game of Go, Yukata Photo Booth, and much more!
Weekday Schedule
| TIME | TOPIC / SPEAKER | ROOM |
| Oct. 6 (Mon) 2:30–3:20pm | Onigiri Making Workshop Limited to 30 BC students Nobuto Uruma | D Building, Room 106 |
| Oct. 7 (Tues) 2:30–3:20pm | 80 Years Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Legacy of Fear and Visions of Hope Stan Shikuma, Tsuru for Solidarity | D Building, Room 106 |
| Oct. 8 (Wed) 2:30–3:20pm | Never Again Is Now: Lessons of Japanese American Incarceration Stan Shikuma, Tsuru for Solidarity | D Building, Room 106 |
| Oct. 9 (Thur) 2:30–3:20pm | Hands-on Taiko Workshop Ringtaro Tateishi, Japan Creative Arts Limited to 30 BC students – click here to sign up! | Carlson Theater |
| Oct. 10 (Fri) | Set-up Day Volunteer Signup Form | Across Campus |
This year’s kanji is 志（こころざし）, “kokorozashi.”
Our logo features a Daruma with the kanji 志 (kokorozashi), meaning “will, aspiration, or ambition.” It reflects perseverance, focus, and the drive to succeed. The 9th Annual Japan Week celebrates Japanese culture and encourages everyone to pursue their goals with determination. 志 represents a strong sense of purpose and commitment to meaningful achievements. This kanji serves as a reminder to stay focused and keep pushing forward. Let it inspire you to chase your dreams with passion and resilience!
All website managers are Bellevue College students.
2025 Website Managers:
Lukas Tomita (lead manager), Bharat Biju, Toshiki Loi, Hengmeng Ly
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