A Japanese culture festival entitled Bunkasai 2025 was successfully held by the Japanese Literature Student Association (Hikari) at Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus). The event was attended by 2,450 visitors, consisting of students and the mainstream, who filled the courtyard of the G and H buildings with enthusiasm on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
As an annual agenda from Hikari, Bunkasai aimed to introduce the cultural richness of the Land of the Rising Sun to the public, particularly in Semarang. The enthusiasm from visitors sparked among the crowd who witnessed various performance arts presented by students of the Japanese Literature Department at Udinus.
The Dean of the Humanities Faculty at Udinus, Dr. Bayu Aryanto, S.S., M.Hum., was present to deliver an opening speech. On that occasion, he stated that the festival served as a platform for students to display the Japanese culture they had learned.
“Some of these cultures include Chanoyu, a traditional tea-drinking ceremony, as well as Sōran Bushi, which is a dance and song usually performed by Japanese fishermen. Additionally, students also showcase their skills in Taiko, which are traditional Japanese drums. Taiko is also a part of Hikari’s identity,” he revealed.
Bayu added that Bunkasai Udinus is a well-known Japanese cultural festival on the national level. Ever since its initial debut in 2009, this festival has always showcased something new each year.
“This year’s theme is ‘Sakura.’ The success of this festival is inseparable from every party involved. We hope that Bunkasai can always keep its commitment to informing the public about Japanese culture,” Bayu concluded.
Total Entertainment and Japanese Contests
In addition to Japanese culture, Bunkasai 2025 also featured performances from local bands, like Cosmonaut and Ape, Komorebi, and Scum. There was also a musical performance from a local idol group, namely, Eurifessa and Equivalent, as well as a special attraction from DJ Redshift from Jakarta, which captivated the visitors.
The Chief of Hikari and the person in charge of Bunkasai 2025, Sudono Ramli, explained that this event also presented a wide range of contests involving 50 participants. These contests were available for both solo and group participants, including cosplay, crosswalk, and anisong.
“Apart from cosplay, we also hosted a manga and fan art drawing contest. With Bunkasai, we hope to reach a wider audience with an interest in learning Japanese culture, “Sudono uttered. (Humas Udinus/Penulis: Haris. Editor: Nining. Foto: Humas Udinus)
