This past Saturday, I made the trip out to Bellevue College for Japan Week 2025ās Matsuri Festival Day, and it was a full immersion into Japanese culture. From the beat of taiko drums echoing across the campus to the colorful floats of omikoshi, the energy was electric ā even with overcast skies hovering overhead.
I strolled through booths offering origami, calligraphy, manga art, food, and more. I watched Katsura Sunshine perform Rakugo storytelling, sampled onigiri, and paused at exhibits that told stories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The cosplay contest and martial arts demos were a highlight ā seeing tradition and creativity meld in real-time. It was a day to savor culture, craft, and connection. If Japan Week returns next year, Iām already in.
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