Students can experience the differences of modern and traditional Japan through a series of Japanese performances at the annual Japanese Cultural event Saturday night.

The event will be at 6 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium in Oklahoma Memorial Union. The cost is $6.

The title of this year's event, hosted by the Japanese Student Association, is Japan Night Past and Present.

Yukie Otsu, president of the JSA, said the evening will consist of five performances.

The first performance, a display of martial arts, will demonstrate the traditional side of Japan as well as performances on the koto, a Japanese harp.

The fashion will consist of two sections; one reflecting traditional Japan and the other reflecting Japan as it is today.

Kingari Daiko, a Japanese drum ensemble, will also perform. The ensemble consists of five students from Japan who moved to Dallas to conduct their studies. The students then established the group in Dallas.

A modern Japanese dance will conclude the series of performances. The 25 Japanese students from the Ritsumeikan International Program will help with the dance, Otsu said.

"I hope the crowd will enjoy the performances," she said. "I hope this will help them learn of how Japan has changed over the years."

Yoshiko Fukushima, JSA advisor, said a home style dinner will follow the performances in the Armory. This will give students the opportunity to experience food as it is in Japanese restaurants, she said.

"This is something we do every year," Otsu said. "This year we wanted to make it different. That is why we added the food."

Otsu said the JSA began planning the event in early November.

Matt McCorkell, vice president of the JSA, said they scouted sponsors from various sushi bars and Asian supermarkets in the Oklahoma City area.

McCorkell said they are expecting a variety of people to show up. Along with students and faculty members, JSA is expecting a few Japanese Companies to come such as TDK and Shack Lee, he said.

McCorkell said the evening will provide lots of fun as well as an educational experience.

"I am expecting an evening of fun," he said. "It will also be educational as far as historical music and new forms of dance."

Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today on the first floor of the union.


For information about the Japanese Student Association visit www.ou.edu/student/jsa.
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