The Furusato Festival is an annual festival that allows city-goers to experience Hokkaido and Okinawa culture for themselves. It features food, dance, music, and merchandise from local areas that sprout curiosity in all that partake in and observe the festival in person. Like St. Mary’s, the festival strives to tie together different cultures, uniting them in an amicable and hospitable environment.
Serving as a peek into the more rural, farther provinces, the Furusato Festival brings many local goods with it. Featuring snacks like Hokkaido jingisukan, a cultural lamb dish, and traditional Okinawa kimonos, there is something that will surely grasp the attention of any onlooker. Michael Jang, a Class of ’28 St. Mary’s sophomore, states that the festival was one of the “most memorable moments” that he’s experienced in Japan. “It’s really amazing, what you can find in Tokyo. There was lots of cool stuff and some really good food,” he stated.
Jang continues, “It was like getting to experience different parts of Japan with my mouth, eating different dishes and sweets.” Jang’s account is only one of many that have nothing but praise for the culturally unique festival; it goes to show just how captivating this experience was for the diverse demographics of the Tokyo population that the city harbors.
The Furusato Festival is not just an event, but a web of interconnected ideas, people, and cultures. This kind of colorful blend of cultures, no matter the event, is always something to look forward too — an aspect of life that St. Mary’s embodies.
