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March 24th marked JSO’s biggest event of the
year. Encased within the tiny throws of SAC Ballroom B, the
Japanese Student Organization held their first-ever “Japan
Night,” the first major Japanese student festival since
Bunkesai in 1996. The theme was befitting of a date
precluding the Spring season –
祭 (MAHT-su-ree), or “Festival”
in Japanese.
Hundreds of eager Stony Brook students waited outside the
doors, hoping to get into the already-packed room of food,
friends, and entertainment. From live performances
(captivatingly sectioned next to the entrance) to food from
Miller Place’s own Benten (which I wish I had more of) to
matsuri-themed games like Shateki (the Japanese-equivalent
to those games where you shoot a target to win your
girlfriend a gigantic stuffed elephant), JSO was able to
give our campus a taste of Japanese culture and a pleasant
distraction from midterms and the like.
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Students fishing Japanese yo-yos out of the
water. Photo by M Tiongson |
The
entertainment was impeccable. The stage was opened up with a
light-hearted and familiar performance of “Moonlight Densetsu” – or
what we here in America commonly know as “the Sailor Moon theme
song” – and was followed by an equally prominent and recognizable
song, the classic “First Love” by Utada Hikaru. “First Love”
signaled a change of pace as the ambiance around the ballroom subtly
slipped from silly to serious (and maybe a little solemn) as a slew
of ballads like “Good-bye Days” by YUI and “Let Go” by m-flo ft.
Yoshika permeated the ears of those watching. Slowly, people began
to raise their hands one by one and sway gently into the music
until…
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…The night was
brought back to life by JSO’s own E-board member, Maro (pictured
left), and his band! The dynamism instilled by the quintet of men
was kept afloat for the bulk of the night by performances from both
JSO and CASB’s (Chinese Association at Stony Brook) dance teams.
Though early in their infancy as well-known crews (…and I’m saying
this as someone who is unintentionally biased and inclined towards
PUSO Dance Crew – woops!), the two teams showed great amounts of
promise and charisma as they amped up the excitement in the eyes of
their audience.
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And although
many performances after these certainly kept the crowd pumped
throughout the night (precluding JSO Dance team were several solos
and duets, all of which can be viewed
here, in AA E-Zine’s photo gallery), audiences were not
restricted to their seats once the opening act came on stage. Part
of the night’s Matsuri-atmosphere was a sense of casual intimacy as
people could mingle with one another and bond amongst games and
performances at their own leisure. Even JSO’s own president, Mitsuru
Kakuda, could be heard throughout the event enticing the crowds with
the potential prospects of winning iPod speakers through a raffle,
as well as smaller prizes like chopsticks and pink pinwheels.
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Students playing with prizes won at Japan
Night. Photo by M. Tiongson |
However, like
all good times, Japan Night, too, came to an end by 10 PM – but not
without a (literal) bang from the Taiko Tides traditional drumming
team. Led by Stony Brook’s own Eva Nagase, students showcased the
discipline and tenacity of Japan through their rigorous pounds and
beats – all in perfect synchronization. I could hear the accolades
coming from those around me as I excitedly shot picture after
picture, from one-word praises of “Amazing…” and “Wow!” to the girl
next to me who asked, “What times do they meet? I need to do this.”
If piquing
students’ interests in Japanese culture was one of the main goals
for JSO’s E-Board – and even just the club in general – then I think
Japan Night 2010 was a job well done.
おつかれさまでした、JSO!
Thanks for your hard work, JSO!
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