The Japanese and Korean Cultural Club turned out to be big hits among students in Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) during the PMUBD Showcase of extra-curricular clubs from 8^th to 14^th September, hosted by the UBD Student Centre.

The PMUBD Showcase was held in conjunction with the Convocation Festival or Pesta Konvo, an annual slew of events hosted across UBD, as part of its celebrations for the graduating students of this year’s 26^th Annual Convocation Ceremony. The showcase aimed to promote clubs under the PMUBD Student Council, particularly towards the new students, and to encourage all to be active in co-curricular activities.

The Brunei-Japan Friendship Association, UBD Chapter (BJFA-UBD) and the Korean Culture Club (KCC) particularly stood out during the showcase, with both clubs performing traditional dances from their respective cultures, with a Bruneian touch.

Both of these clubs play a crucial role in preparing students for their third year of their time as an undergraduate student at UBD, known as the Discovery Year. The Discovery Year is when students are – among other options - encouraged to further their studies elsewhere, such as in partner universities based in Japan and South Korea. While UBD offers Japanese and Korean language courses, the cultural knowledge they gain in attending the culture clubs are invaluable. In providing an environment where students can learn and engage in cultural activities, the clubs develop insight to both traditions and modern outlooks of Japan and South Korea.

Increased familiarity with the culture was a boon during the Discovery Year, particularly for the BJFA members, as they had shared that they experienced less culture shock upon arriving in Japan. The opportunities that they had to interact with the Japanese exchange students had also improved their skills in speaking Japanese, and had allowed them to make friends who then helped them during their stay in Japan.

The BJFA-UBD Chapter was first formed in 2004 as the youth division of the larger Brunei-Japan Friendship Association with the purpose of strengthening bonds between the youth of the two nations. The club has been actively involved in various events independently, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy and various other parties. Some of these events include the annual Japanese Speech Contest and the Haru Matsuri (Spring Festival).

Activities of BJFA in UBD include Japanese traditional games, movie showings, interactions with Japanese exchange students, cooking contests and workshops; all of which are conducted during extra-curricular hours every Wednesday beginning at 2.00pm. BJFA also has five sub-clubs which include the MAGEC (Manga, Anime, Games and Entertainment Club), Nihon Ryouri (Japanese Cooking Club), Traditional Arts Club, Sports and Games club, and the Dance club.

During the PMUBD Showcase, the association performed a fusion of the Japanese Tatsumaki(tornado) dance and the Bruneian traditional dance of “Zapin Laila Sembah”, all while clad in the traditional Japanese clothing known as “Happi”. Zapin Laila Sembah is a Bruneian traditional song used when welcoming guests, while the Tatsumaki dance, originating from Kansas State University, is a mix of traditional and modern elements with energetic movements, bringing emphasis to how the old and new can coexist in harmony. The fluid medley of the two dances symbolises the synergy that can be expected as the result of the harmony between the Bruneian and Japanese cultures, which brings emphasis to BJFA’s aim of promoting learning and understanding of both cultures.

The Korean Culture Club (KCC) was formed in 2006 under the management of a group of students in UBD who had been selected to join the first Korean Youth Camp under recommendation of Dr. Kim Ji-yeon, Head of Korean Language Studies in the Language Centre, UBD. The KCC organises various activities throughout each semester. One of its more popular and well-received activities include the celebration of important Korean events such as Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day). Responding to the rising interest in Korean culture amongst Bruneians, KCC also holds cooking activities, an annual mini concert, along with a “Running Man” event, based on the overwhelmingly popular Korean variety show of the same name.

During the PMUBD Showcase, KCC performed the Korean traditional dance known as Ganggangsullae, a 5000-year old dance that was first used to bring about a bountiful harvest and had developed into a cultural symbol for Korea. It is exclusively performed by women, and is often associated with the Chuseok celebrations. The KCC members wore traditional clothing called Hanbok, characterised by its vibrant colours, simple lines and lack of pockets. The Ganggangsullae dance originated from the Korean belief that the Sun, Moon and Earth control the universe, and people would dance under the brightest full moon of the year to bring about a good harvest. It is traditionally performed by young and old women, dancing in a circle under the moonlight. They hold hands with one another to form a circle and rotate clockwise, whilst the lead singer sings a line and the others sings the refrain “Ganggangsullae” as the tempo progressively becomes faster. The performers also sing about their personal hardships, relationships and desires.