Kodaira Festival

Hitotsubashi University's spring festival in Kunitachi

Meg Sing Jun 06, 2016 - 1 min read

Windows inside the campus buildings are decorated to the effect of stained glass

A telling festival banner hangs across the entrance to the university's main campus

Students perform in pairs in something of a stand-up comedy session

A group of girls in the street dance social club perform a hip-hop number

A hybrid waffle I bought from one of the food stalls. It is made from glutinous rice powder, the ingredient used to make mochi and dango sweets

On the outside stage, the university's local rock band strum some tunes to a crowd of current and prospective students and parents

Handicrafts displayed by the woodwork club

A poster advertising for a class-run french fries stall

In the UNPLUGGED classroom, where first-year students in the acoustic club perform songs in groups

The calligraphy club displays recent pieces by students

The 20th Kodaira Festival was a college festival held at Hitotsubashi University's Kunitachi campus. The entire event is wholly organised and produced by freshmen students. It is a chance for first-year students to get socialised into college life and for prospective high-school students to get exposure to the feel of the prestigious institution and its range of club activities. However, the festival is open to all members of the public, so I dropped by to get a peek into the life of Japanese university students. There are many events and activities, from music cafes and gymnastic performances to zero-yen book shops and student photography exhibitions. The festival is held every year around late March.

Meg Sing @meg.sing

The language intrigues me and as well as Japan's personality, vividly different in each season in the year. Having previously lived in Tokyo for a year, I've developed a weakness for onsen, Mt. Fuji, autumn leaves, the festivals and Japanese stationery. More than trying my hand at photography, I...