Submitted by the ISU Japanese Club

POCATELLO — On Saturday night, April 13 the Idaho State University Japanese Club will present their annual Japan Night. This cultural event is the annual celebration of cherry blossom season with the sounds, sights and food of Japan.  Japan Night will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the ISU Student Union Ballroom. This year’s Japan night will observe the second anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan in March of 2011. Although two years have past, much work remains.

In 2011, the ISU Japanese Club, with the generous help of ISU students and staff as well as Pocatello residents raised more than $15,000 that was sent to the Japanese Red Cross to help victims of the devastation. In 2012, the Japanese Club sent $3,500 to the summer camp that the Japanese universities held for victims’ children.

This year's event features authentic food cooked by the ISU Japanese faculty and students and will include makizushi, inarizushi, miso soup, teriyaki chicken, potato salad,cake, fruits, and drink.

Entertainment to follow will feature an opening Mikoshi parade and Japanese song, yosakoi sooran dance, demonstrations of martial arts, origami with audience participation, magic show and Taiko (Japanese drum) performance.

During the event, Japanese goods will be available at a club shop and a silent auction of goods and services donated by local businesses will be available.

Tickets for Japan Night will be available in the ISU Pond Student Union lobby (Fridays) and Rendezvous Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They may also be purchased at the door and directly from Japanese club students. The event is open to everyone. Prices will be $9 for the public, and ISU faculty and staff, $7 for students, and children under 5 get in free.Tickets will also be available at the door on April 13, beginning at 5:30 p.m., but will be $1 more.