Foreign Languages and Literatures - Colorado State University

Japanese Activities 2008-2009

1.) A Midsummer Night's Dream - Directed by Sensei Mako Beecken - Click here

2.) World Unity Fair - November 8, 2008. Click here to see pictures of the Japanese Activities

3.) This year's Gateway to Asia program took place March 7th and 8th at the Lory Student Center.

Click here to see some photos of the event.

Also, March 11 th (Tue), we were very fortunate to have a Noh specialist and performer, Richard Emmert from Japan to give us a lecture-demonstration.

Please email Masako (Mako) Beecken if you have any questions.

2) Mikoshi

Mindy Varner worked for three weeks with a group of 25 students to create an o-mikoshi. What, you may well ask, IS a mikoshi? It's a traditional palanquin used during Shinto matsuri, or festivals, in Japan. It's thought that the kami (Shinto god or goddess) enters and occupies this portable shrine as it travels through the streets of the city, bringing good fortune to the residents. The group intended the mikoshi to become a part of the World Unity Stage Show, which included a traditional Japanese festival dance called Tanko Bushi. After researching the traditional symbolism and design of festival mikoshi, we created our own special CSU design which drew on those cultural models.
Over 40 hours of labor went into the final project, which was roughly five feet tall, three feet wide and over 9 feet long once the poles were in place.
Students who worked on the mikoshi project included many Japanese language students, students from the JLPN250 Japanese culture and literature class, and also many outside students who just heard about the project from friends.
Thanks to all the terrific students who contributed to this fun and educational project! Mindy also wants to extend her thanks to her officemates in Clark C110 who patiently maneuvered around the growing mikoshi over the three weeks of construction, and to all the people in the department who stopped by to see the finished product on November 9th. We have been unable to find a permanent home for the mikoshi, so for the time being, it is occupying Mindy's basement.

Performers in the Japanese portion of the November 10th

World Unity Stage Show at LoryStudent Center take

a bow with the mikoshi in the background.

. Students Arlet Schmidt, Brian Pottberg,

Deidre Casey and Tiffany Lenhard put some

final touches on the mikoshi November 9th.

Some of the people who worked on the

mikoshi pose with the final product.

From left to right (back) Mohammed Aghilimas,

Brian Pottberg, Deidre Casey, Natascha Michalski,

Tiffany Lenhard. Front, Audrey Kirkland, Mindy Varner,

Arlet Schmidt and Mako Beecken.


	Japanese Activities 2008-2009 1.) A Midsummer Night's Dream - Directed by Sensei Mako Beecken - Click here 2.) World Unity Fair - November 8, 2008. Click here to see pictures of the Japanese Activities 3.) This year's Gateway to Asia program took place March 7th and 8th at the Lory Student Center. Click here to see some photos of the event. Also, March 11 th (Tue), we were very fortunate to have a Noh specialist and performer, Richard Emmert from Japan to give us a lecture-demonstration. Please email Masako (Mako) Beecken if you have any questions. 2) Mikoshi Mindy Varner worked for three weeks with a group of 25 students to create an o-mikoshi. What, you may well ask, IS a mikoshi? It's a traditional palanquin used during Shinto matsuri, or festivals, in Japan. It's thought that the kami (Shinto god or goddess) enters and occupies this portable shrine as it travels through the streets of the city, bringing good fortune to the residents. The group intended the mikoshi to become a part of the World Unity Stage Show, which included a traditional Japanese festival dance called Tanko Bushi. After researching the traditional symbolism and design of festival mikoshi, we created our own special CSU design which drew on those cultural models. Over 40 hours of labor went into the final project, which was roughly five feet tall, three feet wide and over 9 feet long once the poles were in place. Students who worked on the mikoshi project included many Japanese language students, students from the JLPN250 Japanese culture and literature class, and also many outside students who just heard about the project from friends. Thanks to all the terrific students who contributed to this fun and educational project! Mindy also wants to extend her thanks to her officemates in Clark C110 who patiently maneuvered around the growing mikoshi over the three weeks of construction, and to all the people in the department who stopped by to see the finished product on November 9th. We have been unable to find a permanent home for the mikoshi, so for the time being, it is occupying Mindy's basement. Performers in the Japanese portion of the November 10th World Unity Stage Show at LoryStudent Center take a bow with the mikoshi in the background. . Students Arlet Schmidt, Brian Pottberg, Deidre Casey and Tiffany Lenhard put some final touches on the mikoshi November 9th. Some of the people who worked on the mikoshi pose with the final product. From left to right (back) Mohammed Aghilimas, Brian Pottberg, Deidre Casey, Natascha Michalski, Tiffany Lenhard. Front, Audrey Kirkland, Mindy Varner, Arlet Schmidt and Mako Beecken.