Japan Day

The Asian Lenses Forum (TALF) is a passionate collective devoted to appreciating and understanding diverse Asian perspectives under the mentorship of Dr. Ratika Kaushik. On the 11th and 12th of August, TALF hosted Japan Day, which was enthusiastically spearheaded by Dr. Poonam Dey, a beloved member of the NU family and professor of Japanese language at NU. With great honor and gratitude, TALFers welcomed their esteemed guests of honor, Yuri Narimatsu sensei, a Japanese language instructor at the Japan Foundation, and Chiaki Suzuki sensei, a Japanese language advisor at the Japan Foundation New Delhi who supports the teaching of the Japanese language in India’s primary and secondary educational institutions. Her colleagues include Hiroko Nagahama, known affectionately as Nagahama Sensei, a renowned Japanese Calligraphy teacher, and Muskan Praveen San, the Japan Foundation’s coordinator for Japanese language programs. In numerous Tokyo schools and colleges, she has been instructing the art of calligraphy. On the evening of the 11th, a cultural program was held in the auditorium where NUtons from Impetus, Kavishala, the music club, and Prism Society showcased their various talents, such as classical dances, poetry, folk songs, and modeling, respectively, to end the evening on a high note. The following day, TALF had several exciting events planned, including calligraphy, a presentation by our very own Japanese students on interesting facts about Japan, and the wearing of traditional Japanese attire, the Yukata, a Japanese Summer Kimono. Pupils flocked to Nagahama Sensei to master the intricate craft of calligraphy and learn how to write words in Kanji script such as believe, happiness, spirit, dream, and so forth. A quiz on ‘Japan’ was also held to engage the audience, with exciting prizes awarded to the winners. Everyone was ecstatic to try on traditional Japanese attire because it allowed them to feel more Japanese and learn more about their rich Asian heritage. Overall, the event was a huge success because TALF was able to shed light on rich South Asian history and culture as well as present Japan’s diverse cultural landscape.