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Food House

As the name suggests, the Food House aims to help students explore and understand diverse cultures through food. Beyond simply eating together, the entire process—from cooking to washing dishes—offers a unique opportunity to learn about different values and unfamiliar customs from around the world. It is a house where students truly experience food as a universal language.

Here are some of the events hosted by the Food House this semester:

Monthly Cooking Event (April): Dinner Night

For this event, assigned house members prepared two distinct types of pasta: an authentic Italian pasta cooked by an Italian member, and a Japanese-style pasta made by a Japanese member. By tasting and comparing the two, participants learned in a very practical and delicious way how different food cultures have developed.

Participant Comment: Above all, the food was absolutely delicious! Gathering around a meal and sharing delicious food with everyone allowed us to deeply strengthen our bonds.

Monthly Cooking Event (May): Buffet Party

Four members hailing from Ishikawa prefecture, Okinawa prefecture, France, and Thailand treated everyone to a buffet of home-cooked dishes from their respective regions.

Buffet Party Menu:

• Ishikawa: Kuruma-fu (wheel-shaped wheat gluten) cooked with egg, and Kaga-bocha (roasted green tea) pudding
• Okinawa: Tofu Chanpuru (stir-fry), Somen Chanpuru, and two types of Sata Andagi (Okinawan sweet deep-fried dough: plain and purple sweet potato)
• France: Quiche
• Thailand: Green Curry and Thai Tea

It was a warm and engaging time of exchange. Beyond the joy of learning about the members’ hometown cuisines, the shared meal naturally sparked lively conversations, reminding everyone of the wonderful power of food to bring people together.

Biblio House

People often assume reading is a solitary activity. However, books frequently lead us to discover new cultures, values, people, and even hidden aspects of ourselves. At the Biblio House, each resident takes on the role of planning and managing activities, building a community that connects people with one another—and with books.

Trip to Shiwa Shopping Street & Miyazawa Kenji Fairytale Village

Activities:

First, we took a bus to the Hizume Shopping Street in Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, to attend an event called “Hon to Shotengai 2026” (Books and Shopping Streets 2026). (“Hon to Shotengai” is a book festival set across an entire shopping district, where unique bookstores and authors gather, allowing visitors to enjoy encounters with both books and people while exploring the town.) Upon arrival, everyone explored their favorite spots, including bookstores, record shops, and eateries. We also had the pleasure of chatting with people involved in the book world in various ways—such as authors, bookstore owners, cafe managers, editors, and book event organizers.

After leaving the Hizume Shopping Street, our next stop was the Miyazawa Kenji Fairyland (Dowa Mura). Although it unfortunately turned into a heavy downpour, we fully enjoyed the interactive exhibits and displays showcasing the very environment and places where Kenji Miyazawa lived and drew inspiration for his works. Upon returning, we held a brief meeting to share and reflect on the items everyone had purchased at the Hizume Shopping Street.

Participant Comment:
Coming across self-published zines and essays sold at the book event allowed each of us to broaden our reading choices across different genres. It was also wonderful to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime encounters with special books that could only be found there.

A Journey to Sweden Through Books: Fika Experience Event

*Fika: A traditional Swedish coffee break culture where people gather over coffee and sweets to relax and enjoy conversations with family, colleagues, or friends.

Activities:

The Biblio House organized the event “A Journey to Sweden Through Books: Fika Experience Event,” which was attended by 15 students.

The event opened with the “Kafferep” chapter from Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking. By unpacking how Pippi breaks almost every rule of formal coffee party etiquette—a moment that served as a precursor to modern fika culture—participants experienced how a single book can open the door to a living culture.

Alexander Nyberg, a student from Link?ping University in Sweden and former representative of the East Asian Association (EAA), joined online. He shared genuine insights into what fika actually looks like in Swedish schools, workplaces, and daily life. During the Q&A session, participants actively asked questions about studying abroad and Nordic culture.

During the Fika time, participants enjoyed homemade Kolakakor (caramel cookies) and Pannkakor (thin pancakes), prepared based on authentic recipes from Swedish supermarket chain ICA. They were served with traditional Swedish toppings such as lingonberry jam, rhubarb compote, and apple cinnamon. Samtalskort (“conversation cards” in Swedish) were placed on each table, sparking lively conversations that bridged different academic years.

According to the post-event survey, 100% of respondents (15 out of 15) rated their satisfaction as 5 out of 5, and 93% reported that they had gained a deeper understanding of fika. The event allowed students to experience Sweden’s cultural philosophy through literature, helping them appreciate the value of slowing down and enjoying unhurried conversations.

Participant Comment:
“It was fascinating to hear directly about Sweden, and the Swedish cookies and pancakes were delicious! I had a great time relaxing and chatting with everyone!”

“I really enjoyed learning about Sweden, experiencing an authentic fika, and taking time for a relaxed cultural exchange!”

“Learning about the origins of fika and talking with upperclassmen was a great experience. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity!”

“I got to learn about fika and actually experience it firsthand. Thank you!”