On Friday, October 17th, the Japanese classes collaborated to host their annual Japanese Fall Festival in the MPR. The event took place during periods two, three, and four, offering Amador students a chance to socialize and enhance their understanding of Japanese culture.
“[The Festival] just shares so much insight into Japanese culture… and Japanese food and games that you don’t really get to see from a classroom door,” said Japanese two student Cadence Yang (‘28).
Long Time in the Making
The festival requires involvement across all Japanese classes to run smoothly. Months in advance, students form groups and begin preparing their chosen activities—whether it’s cooking food, teaching origami, or showcasing other cultural activities.
“This is a project that started from the beginning of the year. We sporadically did it, and we planned it for about two months. [The Festival] is supposed to teach us about Japanese culture, teamwork, and also to just have fun,” said Japanese student Nichole Wang (‘28).
Generally, students engage in projects aligned to the content they cover in their specific class. The Japanese Fall Festival was unique in how it unified students across all Japanese classes.
“I teach Japanese one, two, three, and honors five. This festival is different because students across all my classes get together and work [on] the festival. And then also all the volunteers, the parent volunteers come and help out. Then we have one Japanese community now,” said AV Japanese teacher Rieko Murphy.
Fundraising While Celebrating
The Japanese Fall Festival is an annual festival that has been held since 2008. Not only does the festival educate students and celebrate Japanese culture, but it also serves as a fundraiser for the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.
“Some of the students wanted to raise money for the Oakland Children’s Hospital because [a student] got hospitalized. Students realized that there are so many sick children in the hospital. And then they wanted to help out,” said Murphy.
A Large Audience Base
The event has every aspect thoughtfully planned. Some students dress in Japanese attire and greet visitors with brochures, while others handcraft and sell goods or prepare food on-site in real time. With a wide range of attractions, the Japanese Fall Festival draws students in from across the campus, as well as city government leaders from Pleasanton.
“I myself have kids who took Japanese in high school…Plus, I know a lot of people who have Japanese heritage. So it’s just wonderful. Events like these just exhibit the tremendous amount of diversity we have in our community. And, you know, the more exposure people have to the different cultures, the better,” said Vice Mayor Jeff Nibert.
