Students and staff gathered Thursday to learn about Japanese culture from UW-Madison Japanese students in an event sponsored by the International Student Services.
ISS teamed with Restaurant Muramoto to provide knowledge on Japanese culture, politics, economics and food.
ISS members Aoiko Akida and Kai Kanagawa led presentations about different facts of Japanese culture.
Akida said Japanese culture stresses cooperation, and Japanese people do not stand alone. The Japanese symbol for one person actually resembles two.
""The bigger person is supported by the smaller person,"" Akida said. ""Even though it means ‘single person,' we are not standing alone, we are not living alone, we are living with someone's support.""
Kanagawa said the Japanese economy is the third largest in the world, and is self sufficient to some degree, but in times of crisis Japan looks for help from others.
Kanagawa showed pictures of the present-day city of Kobe and pictures from the earthquake in 1995. Kobe was able to revive itself and overcome damages with the help and support of people from outside of Japan.
The damage from the current earthquake is more tremendous and severe than those of the past.
ISS is collecting money for American Red Cross, which will send money to Japan Red Cross. Students who wish to help can participate by donating, Akida said. The group has also made buttons and the Muramoto family has made wristbands which can be bought for a $5 donation.
In addition, ISS is participating in a nationwide project collecting paper cranes.
Graduate student Jae Takeuchi said profits of the cranes will go to Architects for Humanity.
Architects for Humanity builds houses after disasters, and supports both the construction and the materials.
""There are people here teaching how to fold the cranes,"" Takeuchi said. ""It's all been a community effort.""
