Undoukai, a traditional Japanese sports festival known for its team-based athletic events, made its Grinnell debut on Feb. 21. Meilin Hoshino `27, president of Japanese Cultural Association (JCA) and one of the event’s organizers, said the festival was designed to emphasize teamwork and cooperation and offered a fun, low-pressure way for students to get moving, meet new people and experience a central tradition of Japanese school culture.
“It’s meant to be friendly and not intimidating,” Hoshino said. “It’s a great place to get to know people and take a break from studying.”
Undoukai is commonly held annually at K-12 schools across Japan. JCA divided participants into red and white teams, and hosted several popular Undoukai activities, including Japanese-style dodgeball, an item-collecting relay, the three-legged race, tug-of-war and Typhoon’s Eye. The event also included Radio Taiso, a short Japanese warm-up and cool-down exercise routine, as well as Japanese snacks such as Hi-Chew and Pocky.
Unlike many American sports events, which often emphasize individual performance and competition, Undoukai focuses on collective effort. Events are designed so that success depends on communication and cooperation, rather than speed or strength alone. Hoshino said she wanted to introduce this new idea because it is a big part of Japanese culture.
The structure also helped make the festival more approachable for students who may not usually participate in athletic events. “We made sure to choose events that were simple enough so other people understand and not too individualistic to cultivate that bond and get to know other people there and work together,” said Reo Saito `28, the assistant treasurer of JCA and another event organizer.
During the games, teams huddled together to strategize before each event, cheering loudly as classmates sprinted across the field or struggled to stay balanced during the three-legged race. Laughter broke out when teams stumbled or dropped items mid-relay, and spectators encouraged the participants.
Music played throughout the event, including songs from popular Japanese artists such as Mrs. Green Apple, contributing to the lively and upbeat environment.
Meryem Koksal `28 said Undoukai reminded her of school sports days while also introducing her to new experiences. “It was really fun and great to go back to the school spirit. There was a bunch of Japanese music, and I did a lot of games I had never done before,” Koksal said. “I also interacted with a lot of new people.”
Minjun Kwak `29 had similar sentiments, describing the festival as a welcome break from daily routines. “It was a really good opportunity to move our bodies, and meet new people unlike the typical day. I really enjoyed it,” Kwak said.
Drilon Qerimi `27 said he enjoyed seeing how sports festivals are celebrated in Japan. “It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I liked getting to know what a Japanese sports festival is like, and I will definitely call more of my friends next time.”
Following the athletic events, organizers served homemade Japanese food, including onigiri, karaage and asparagus wrapped in bacon as well as fruit such as strawberries and blueberries. Many participants stayed after the games to eat together and socialize.
Reflecting on the event, Hoshino said she was surprised by the turnout, especially given that promotion for the Undoukai began relatively late. “Since it was pretty popular and really fun we plan to do it every year,” Hoshino said.
“I hope to have more people come,” Hoshino said. “Japanese, non-Japanese, athletic, non athletic – it’s an event for everyone.”
