Contributed by Keisetsu Nakamura
On Friday March 22, CARP NY hosted their very first Japanese Culture Day at the Harlem Youth Center in the soul of NYC. More than 30 participants within the tri-state area attended this event eager to immerse themselves in Japanese culture. What makes Japan amazing compared to other countries in the world is their dedication to preserving a beautiful culture and craft. A lot of young people may know Japan for their delicious sushi or entertaining anime or manga, but Japan holds a strong reputation for showing a deeper practice of respect for elders and hospitality towards all people domestic and international.
Japanese Culture Day featured traditional and modern Japanese activities: Japanese foods, games, calligraphy, Kahoot trivia, My Neighbor Totoro (Studio Ghibli) movie viewing, and lessons about Japanese language and culture. Most people would say that it was a celebration of Japan, but it was more than that. This event exemplified the potential of a culture of unity and support to foster global peace, particularly in the context of a divided country like North and South Korea.
Mika Uokawa, a student leader from Queens College, expressed a similar sentiment when she shared her experience being an integral part of the team that brought this event to life: “Knowing that we have our Japanese community, we could create an awesome Japanese Culture Day. Just by the first week of announcing it, many of our peers were interested. As CARP NY, we’re just three core members but we also received incredible support from our local family church communities in Manhattan and Queens. As everything was coming together; the decorations, food, and welcoming, I felt like this is what an ideal environment looks like for people of all generations.”
Mother Moon, the co-founder of CARP, beautifully captures the essence of culture through her wise words: “People often think that politics moves the world, but that is not the case. It is culture and art that move the world. It is emotion, not reason, that touches people in their innermost being. When hearts become receptive, ideologies and political regimes can change.”
“Everyone should work together with the one goal of taking care of God’s children no matter who they are,” says Michael Bartsevich, a student leader from the City College of NY.
Everyone deserves to be taken care of and embraced regardless of what they’ve done in the past. This is the heart of a family and especially the heart of a mother. With this kind of attitude, the next generation of young people can take the lead in creating a culture of living for the sake of others. CARP NY is looking forward to hosting more events like Japanese Culture Day in the near future so stay tuned!
