Kids’ Festival” at Konan University, planned mainly by staff members and neighborhood residents

　On March 10, Konan University’s Okamoto Campus (8 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe) held a Kids’ Festival.

Japanese drum performance (photo courtesy of Konan University)

　The event was held for the first time in fiscal year 2017 (Heisei 29) at the KONAN INFINITY COMMONS (a.k.a. iCommons), a facility established in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the university’s founding. This will be the fourth time the event has been held after the Corona disaster. Since last year, when the event resumed after the Corona disaster, it has been planned as an opportunity for local residents to “get more in touch” with the university.

　The theme of this year’s event, which is managed by university staff members across departmental boundaries, is “Declaration of Egao in Full Bloom! ～A Day of Color with Everyone’s Smile”. The planning members, mostly young people, not only provided a venue for cultural clubs and circles to present their activities, but also called upon local businesses and the fire department to create a program that would create an atmosphere of excitement for the entire community.

　The number of visitors to the event, according to the reception tally, was approximately 2,700, an increase of approximately 600 from last year, and approximately 80% of the visitors were residents of the Higashinada and Nada wards of the neighborhood.

　Mr. Shun Iemura of the Social Cooperation Organization Office, who served as the planning leader, said, “It is also a rewarding experience for the staff themselves. I hope this event will be an opportunity for people to get to know the various people at the university. I hope these events will be a good opportunity for our staff to get to know the various people at the university. Mariko Sakai of the Career Center, who served as sub-leader of the event, said, “More students came to the Center after the event. It was also a good opportunity for students to get to know our staff. She also said, “It was a good opportunity for students to get to know our staff.