PUHI — Sensei Tetsutaka Sugawara, a sword master from Japan, will be working with members of the Lihue Kendo Club and the Lihue Aiki Kai Friday at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center. The sensei’s appearance is part of
PUHI — Sensei Tetsutaka Sugawara, a sword master from Japan, will be working with members of the Lihue Kendo Club and the Lihue Aiki Kai Friday at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center.
The sensei’s appearance is part of the International Awareness month celebration which launched Monday at KCC, said Kiyoko Ikeda, KCC International Education Coordinator.
The monthlong commemoration in February will feature Japanese martial arts during its first week, including information on the University of Hawaii Community Colleges’ Study Abroad program, where students are able to obtain scholarships to study in Japan and other international locations.
Women’s issues take the limelight during the second week, Feb. 10-14, with a Red Flag Campaign to raise awareness about dating violence.
Professor Joyce Nakahara will lead a discussion on turning oppressions into opportunities for women, the subject being portrayed through the showing of “Half the Sky – Turning Oppressions into Opportunities for Women,” starting at noon at the Learning Resource Center, Room 124B at the KCC campus.
The showing will take place on Monday.
The week is highlighted on Feb. 14 with the Healing Touch offering Valentine’s Day chair massage outside the Learning Resource Center from 1 to 2 p.m., and at the One Stop Center from 2 to 3 p.m.
From 2 to 5 p.m., “1 Billion Rising” features an International Flash Mob Dance Worldwide to end violence against women and girls. The public is invited to join, release, dance and enjoy International dance performances and various booths at the One Stop Center.
Throughout the month, Ikeda said the Learning Resource Center will feature “Vessels that Connected Japan and Hawaii, Weaving Tradition Around the World,” which centers on the visits to Kauai made by the Japanese maritime training ship Kaiwo-Maru.
Ikeda said the monthlong event also coincides with student visits from the Okinawa Prefectural College as well as maritime students from Japan.