The East Asian Language and Culture Festival 2026

Discover East Asia through Language, Culture, and Community

When
11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Feb. 18, 2026

Join the Department of East Asian Studies and the Center for East Asian Studies to celebrate the languages and cultures of East Asia! This event is free and open to the public and will feature fun cultural activities and live performances, including:

  • Chinese Fan Dance
  • Chinese Lion Dance
  • Japanese Karaoke
  • K-Pop Dance Covers
  • Taekwondo
  • And so much more!

Connect with our community and learn more about our classes, majors, minors, and study abroad opportunities! If you're interested in studying East Asian Studies, please get in touch with Dr. Camp at eas-advising@arizona.edu.

Learn more about our yearly festival here!

Movie Screening: Tokyo Godfathers

A compassionate and compelling winter tale by Satoshi Kon.

When
4 – 6 p.m., Dec. 18, 2025

Join us for a screening of Tokyo Godfathers, the acclaimed animated film that follows three homeless companions who find an abandoned infant and embark on an emotional journey across Tokyo. Blending humor, humanity, and holiday spirit, this film offers a powerful look at hope and community.

Movie Screening: Belle

From acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda

When
4 – 6 p.m., Nov. 13, 2025

Join us for a free screening of Belle, the visually breathtaking animated film by Studio Chizu and director Mamoru Hosoda (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars). The story follows Suzu, a shy high school student whose life transforms when she enters “U,” a vast virtual world where she becomes a beloved singer known as Belle. As her two worlds begin to collide, Suzu must find the courage to reveal her true self. 

© 2021 Studio Chizu / GKIDS. Used under fair use for educational and promotional purposes.

 

Korean Halloween Night 2025

K-Pop, Culture, and Community

Nov. 7, 2025
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On October 24, 2025, the Korean Language Program hosted Korean Halloween Night at the Main Library, room 112, turning the space into a lively celebration of language and culture.

The evening opened with a bustling array of interactive cultural stations, each offering a glimpse into a different facet of Korean tradition. Students lined up to learn their 사주 (saju - Four Pillars of Destiny) and make 부적 (bujeok) charms for good luck, while others gathered around tables to craft delicate 청사초롱 (cheongsachorong) lanterns, their soft colors glowing against the autumn dusk. Nearby, students took time to write their names and wishes, drawing inspiration from Korea’s full-moon folklore. Another corner buzzed with creativity as students designed their own K-inspired pins with their names written in Korean, while others stopped by to learn about opportunities to study Korean language and culture at the University of Arizona. 

Following the cultural activities, students gathered for a raffle of 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) and 식혜 (sikhye), generously sponsored by Oh My Chicken (Campbell & Glenn).

The evening concluded with a special screening of K-Pop Demon Hunters for students enrolled in Korean language courses. Before the film, Dr. Sandra Park and Dr. Sunyoung Yang offered a critical introduction, guiding students to notice cultural themes and symbolic elements within the story. As they watched, students drew connections between their classroom lessons and authentic, contemporary media.

The event was organized by Dr. Jieun Ryu, Professor Sojung Chun, Subin Oh, Nena Choi, and Eunsil Cho, with performances and support from student clubs Korean American Student Association, Heart ’n’ Seoul, and UnderSkore. Together, they created an unforgettable night of learning, creativity, and community spirit, celebrating the fusion of K-Culture, language, and Halloween fun.

Check out highlights of the event!

Arizona in Kyoto Summer 2026 Information Session

Study abroad in Kyoto, Japan next summer!

When
4 – 5 p.m., Nov. 20, 2025

Interested in studying abroad in Japan? The Department of East Asian Studies will be leading the Arizona in Kyoto Study Abroad program next summer 2026! Learn more about Arizona in Kyoto, course offerings, program costs, cultural experiences, and more at our information session. Please bring any questions you may have—we look forward to helping you plan your journey to Japan!
 

Kyoto, the former capital of Japan for over a millennium, is the heart and soul of the nation’s cultural traditions. Students will explore a variety of aspects of the city, delve into the rich culture of Kyoto, and discover how Japan’s enormously influential culture took root and flourished. Past program excursions have included visits to the International Manga Museum, a Hanshin Tigers baseball game, and one of Osaka’s famous fish markets. This is a can’t-miss opportunity to immerse yourself in Japan’s history and culture!

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Tibetan Sand Mandala by Lama Losang Samten

Presented in collaboration with the College of Humanities, Center for Buddhist Studies, Health Humanities Hub, Department of Religious Studies & Classics, and the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine

When
11 a.m., Oct. 12, 2025
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Oct. 13, 2025
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Oct. 14, 2025
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Oct. 15, 2025
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Oct. 16, 2025
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Oct. 17, 2025
11 a.m., Oct. 18, 2025

Opening Ceremony: October 12 @ 11AM
Public Viewings: October 13 – 17 @ 9AM – 12PM and 3–6PM
Dissolution Ritual: October 18 @ 2PM

The Arizona Friends of Tibet invite you to witness the creation of a sand mandala on the U of A campus. The mandala is a Tibetan Buddhist ritual artform that helps viewers to envision enlightenment. Venerable Lama Losang Samten will create the intricate and colorful patterns of the mandala over the course of several days. When he is done, he will conduct a dissolution ritual at which the mandala will be destroyed as a meditation upon impermanence. The particular mandala to be created at U of A is the Kalachakra or “Wheel of Time,” regarded as an especially powerful tool for healing and transformation and transmitted to Buddhist practitioners across the world.

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Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration

Sponsored by the Huayu BEST Funding from the Taipei Economic & Culture Office, Los Angeles

When
3:30 – 5 p.m., Oct. 3, 2025

中秋节快乐!Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with the Chinese Language Program! Join us for fun cultural activities such as paper folding (折纸), ring tossing (套圈), arts and crafts, and more. Don't miss out! 

For more information, contact east-asian-studies@arizona.edu

 

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Korean Halloween Night: Folklore, Talismans, & Spirits of Korea

Experience Korean Halloween Traditions!

When
5 – 6 p.m., Oct. 24, 2025

Join us for a cultural night where Korean folk beliefs meet Halloween traditions! Immerse yourself in Korean cultural activities such as making lotus flower lanterns, talisman making, fortune telling, and more. Create, explore, and celebrate together!

For more information, contact east-asian-studies@arizona.edu.

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Kieran Lee

Intern
B.A.
East Asian Studies
2025

I plan to go to Hong Kong for an internship with a language school. The College of Humanities and my East Asian Studies degree has prepared me with the skills to live in a different country and a different culture, and specifically learning Chinese will help me a lot to explore my prospects in East Asia!

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Arizona

Shu-Chien Yang

Mandarin Chinese Instructor
M.A.
East Asian Studies
2022

I applied OPT and I plan to seek a teaching position in the US as a Chinese lecturer.

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Arizona