The Embassy of Japan and the Japan Studies Department of the Humanities Faculty of the University of Iceland bring you an afternoon filled with Japanese food, culture, and activities on Saturday the 21st of January 2006 from 14:00 – 18: 00 in and around the Function Room of the main university building.

Guests will be invited to experience Japan through activities and presentations such as Budo demonstrations (Judo, Karate and Kendo) and student presentations on anime and manga, obake (Japanese ghosts) and Sumo (a national Japanese sport).

Guests will also be invited to sample different tastes of Japan at the food booth, or they can try maccha tea and sweets at the tea ceremony booth. In the Japanese calligraphy booth guests can have their names written in kanji and katakana characters, or they can visit the Origami paper folding booth.

The festival will feature a photo gallery, geography, and literature. Selections of different genres of modern Japanese music will be available; the chance to learn and play Igo, a Japanese version of chess, and a non-alcoholic karaoke bar will be open. All booths will be on a first come, first serve basis.

The Japan Studies course, which commenced in September 2003 at the University of Iceland, was the first course in Iceland to offer an Asia language and social study program. Now in its third year, the course has become well established, with a great variety of options for the students. General information about the course and different scholarship programs to Japanese Universities will be available.

The Japan festival has been brought together by the efforts of not only the students and their enthusiasm for Japanese language and culture, but also individuals in the Japanese community here in Iceland.

Admission is free and open to the public. Check out a schedule of events here.