'Sushi Night' gives students a taste of Japanese culture

Where could you have gone Sunday night to experience one of the best Japanese cuisines, enrich your cultural perspectives and socialize with friends? You could have visited Harrison College House, also known as High Rise South, and attended the Penn Nihon Club's "All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Night." The third-annual Sushi Night attracted nearly 100 students of all ethnic backgrounds. Engineering junior Mark Yoshitake, internal vice president of the Nihon Club, said it "organized the event to give students a little taste of the Japanese culture." "[The event] is not necessarily for Japanese students, but for anyone with an interest in the culture," he added. Members of the club were admitted for $5, non-members for $8. Those who paid for tickets in advance received a $1 discount. College junior Jun Ishidoya, the club's social events chairperson, said a great deal of preparation went into making the evening a success. From 10 a.m. until the dinner at 6 p.m., 15 students prepared a variety of sushi, including mackerel, smoked salmon, sweet fried egg roll, crab meat, eel and shrimp. "Not only did we learn how to make sushi, but we also bonded with the other members," Ishidoya said. Students of many backgrounds said they appreciated the event. "I think it's really important for clubs like this to share their cultures with the community. I wish that more events like this were held," Wharton sophomore Nikhil Da Victoria Lobo said. Engineering sophomore Hai Ton added: "I had three plates of sushi. That's 36 pieces. I'm about to pass out." The 120-member Nihon Club -- formerly recognized as the Japan Cultural Society -- was established in February 1996 in an effort to heighten the awareness of Japanese heritage on the campus. According to Yoshitake, the organization is making strides to open its vision and scope to non-Japanese students who have an interest in Japanese culture and society. Sushi Night is only one of several cultural functions that the club is planning for the year. The club is working with the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Department to provide students at the University with tutoring opportunities. The Nihon Club also hosts bi-weekly video nights for those who desire to broaden their understanding of Japanese history. In addition, the club organizes conversation partners -- Japanese-speaking students who introduce other Penn students to the language. The club prides itself not only in providing learning opportunities for students of Japanese descent but also in enhancing the awareness of cultural diversity at the University. Club President Yusuke Saito, a College and Wharton junior, looks forward to planning a Sushi Night every semester, instead of just once per year. "It's great that so many people from different ethnic groups came," he said.