Delta State University’s Japan Outreach Initiative is gearing up to host the inaugural Japan Festival in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Scheduled from October 4th through the 8th at Jobe Hall, the festival promises a vibrant showcase of Japanese culture. Attendees can anticipate Japanese movie screenings, mesmerizing taiko (Japanese drumming) performances, enlightening lectures on Japanese ghost tales, interactive cultural exhibits, and more.
The Japan Festival is open to the DSU community, including staff, students, and the general public, with free admission. Mizuki Umebara, DSU’s Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinator, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “It was one of my dreams as a Japan Outreach Coordinator to make a big cultural event. I am excited that this came true thanks to many people’s support and interests.”
This event is supported by the Student Success Center, Japan Foundation New York, Mississippi Humanities Council, Cleveland Exchange Club, Delta Arts Alliance, Visit Cleveland Mississippi, Delta State University, and Japan Outreach Initiative, as well as individual sponsors and community members.