The Japan Studies Program and the Japan and Entertainment Club are co-hosting an event to celebrate New Year Day on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. The event is scheduled to take place from 9am to 1pm on Wednesday, January 17, 2023 at LaGuardia Community College (Poolside Cafe).

• Title: Japan Club’s New Year Celebrations in Asia 2024
• Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
• Time: 10:0am – 1:00pm
• Place: Poolside Cafe of LaGuardia Community College (31-10 Thomson Ave, Queens, NY 11101)
• URL: https://chrysanthemum.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2023/11/new-year-celebration-event-in-2024-1-17-2024/
• Description: The New Year Celebration in Asia 2024 aims to introduce the traditions and customs of East Asian countries to the college community. The event will feature various activities representing Japan, China, and Korea. In Japan, New Year Day (正月) is celebrated with activities like mochi-pounding (餅つき), Japanese traditional cuisine (おせち料理), and calligraphy (かきぞめ). China’s traditions of Lunar New Year (春節) include Lion Dance, the lantern festival (元宵节), and sweet rice cake (红糖年糕). In Korea, Lunar New Year (설날) is celebrated with the bowing ceremony (세배), rice cake soup (떡국), and a memorial service held to honor ancestors (제사). Many of these activities will be showcased during the event, providing hands-on experiences, giveaways, and information for those interested in learning more about Asian traditions. Food samples, such as sushi, sweet rice cake, and rice cake soup, will be served. This event is open to both LaGuardia students and the LIC local community, especially those with Asian heritage and an interest in Asian language and culture. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, sign up at https://bit.ly/lagccEventReg. Here is the link to the photos of the same event in 2020: https://www.flickr.com/photos/laguardiaccollege/albums/72157712801132801. Here is an example of the class assignment if anyone is planning to bring their class to the event: Assignment sample. For more information about the event, contact Prof. Tomonori Nagano at tnagano@lagcc.cuny.edu / 718-482-5484.

We are currently looking for volunteers to run various booths and introduce new year traditions in Japan (as well as in other Asian countries such as China and Korea). If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up at https://bit.ly/lagccEventReg.

For inquiries, contact Tomonori Nagano at tnagano@lagcc.cuny.edu or 718-482-5484.