Yogyakarta, January, 7, 2026 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a Farewell and Welcome Ceremony for Faculty Officials, which was accompanied by the signing of the official handover documents for Heads of Departments and Heads of Study Programs. This event marked an important moment in ensuring leadership continuity and strengthening institutional governance oriented toward improving educational quality and sustainable institutional development.

The event commenced with the signing of the official handover documents, symbolically represented by the outgoing and incoming Heads of Departments. The handover and signing were carried out by the Heads of the Departments of Anthropology, Archaeology, Language and Literature, and History, reflecting a shared commitment to continuing the academic leadership relay within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences.

In his remarks, Drs. Sudibyo, M.Hum., expressed his gratitude for the cooperation and support of the entire academic community during his previous term of office. He conveyed his hope that the new leadership would further enhance the faculty’s performance and strengthen FIB’s role in delivering high-quality higher education. On the same occasion, Drs. Sudibyo congratulated the newly appointed officials and offered his apologies for any shortcomings that may have occurred during his tenure.

Remarks on behalf of the Heads of Departments and Heads of Study Programs were delivered by Dr. Fahmi Prihantoro, S.S., S.H., M.A. He stated that the new Heads of Departments had been officially inaugurated at the university level earlier that morning. According to him, the mandate entrusted to the new leadership carries significant responsibility, considering the achievements attained by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences to date. He affirmed the commitment of the new management to continue the leadership responsibly while fostering collaboration and the sharing of experiences to sustain academic and institutional excellence.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., expressed his appreciation to the former Heads of Departments and Heads of Study Programs for their dedication and contributions over the past five years. He emphasized that a number of strategic achievements had been accomplished, ranging from the strengthening of faculty management systems and improvements in academic performance to progress toward international accreditation for all study programs. These achievements, he noted, reflect sound institutional management and a strong orientation toward building resilient institutional capacity.

Furthermore, Prof. Setiadi expressed optimism regarding the future development of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, including plans for the utilization of a new building scheduled to begin operation in July 2026. The new facility is expected to support the development of language and linguistic studies, as well as the downstreaming and contextualization of humanities scholarship to ensure its continued relevance in addressing contemporary challenges. This initiative forms part of FIB’s commitment to fostering academic innovation, expanding access to quality education, and strengthening the role of cultural studies in sustainable development.

Through this farewell and welcome ceremony, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, accountable, and sustainable leadership. The orderly and transparent transition of leadership is expected to further strengthen FIB’s contribution to producing high-quality human resources, building robust institutional foundations, and promoting innovation and the application of knowledge for the benefit of society at large.

[FIB UGM Public Relations, Alma Syahwalani]

The Kazoku Division of the Japanese Language and Culture Student Association (HIMAJE), Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held its Undoukai program on 27–28 September 2025. This event was organized as a series of sports competitions within the Japanese Language and Culture Program (BKJ) to strengthen connections among students from different cohorts and to foster closer interaction between students and faculty members. In addition, Undoukai served as a space to promote sportsmanship and create a healthy, fun, and exciting competitive atmosphere.

The first day of activities, held on Saturday, 27 September 2025, focused on a badminton tournament involving students from all cohorts as well as lecturers. The matches were conducted with high enthusiasm and provided an opportunity for students and faculty to interact more closely in a supportive setting. Through this sport, participants not only competed but also reinforced a sense of togetherness within the BKJ UGM community.

The event continued on Sunday, 28 September 2025, featuring competitions based on games and strategy, including Mobile Legends, chess, and FIFA. This variety of events encouraged participation from students with diverse interests. The competitions were lively and demonstrated that strong bonds can be built through different forms of activities—whether physical sports or games that rely on teamwork, focus, and strategic thinking.

Undoukai became one of the activities that strengthened the family-like atmosphere within the BKJ UGM community. Through this program, the Kazoku Division of HIMAJE BKJ UGM hopes that the spirit of sportsmanship and solidarity will continue to grow, while also fostering warmer interaction between students across cohorts and faculty members.

[Japanese Literature, Barra Taura Nursaid]

The Japanese Language and Culture Program (BKJ) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, through its student association HIMAJE, held Bunkasai 2025 under the theme “Natsu no Bunkasai.” Inspired by Japanese school culture festivals, the two-day event offered an immersive cultural experience through stage performances, competitions, interactive booths, karaoke, and a lively bazaar, allowing visitors to enjoy a festive and engaging atmosphere.

Bunkasai took place on Friday and Saturday, 14–15 November 2025, across several key venues at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, including Plaza Margono, the Auditorium, and Greenland. On the first day, activities began as the gates opened at Greenland, followed by an opening session and welcoming remarks. The day concluded with stage performances that set the festive tone of the event. One of the highlights was a performance by HIKARI, which energized the audience and marked the beginning of the entertainment program leading up to the opening of the bazaar.

On the second day, the event started with the opening of competitions at the Soegondo Building, followed by contests such as a quiz competition, Mobile Legends, and chess. Visitors were also invited to participate in other competitions, including speech, dokkai (Japanese reading), and presentations, emphasizing that the festival served not only as a space for entertainment but also as a platform for showcasing Japanese language skills.

In the afternoon and evening, the festival returned to Greenland with an even more vibrant atmosphere. The bazaar reopened alongside the announcement of competition results, followed by performances from internal BKJ communities such as HIGAKU and DAIJI. After an exhibition session and mini games, the event continued with a highly anticipated group karaoke session, reinforcing the spirit of expression and togetherness that Bunkasai aimed to create.

Overall, Bunkasai 2025 demonstrated how BKJ UGM students do not only study Japanese language and culture in the classroom, but also bring it to life through an open, interactive, and collaborative cultural festival. Through a combination of performances, competitions, bazaar activities, and creative programs, Bunkasai became one of the events that reflects the strong and dynamic student community within BKJ UGM, while also serving as an enjoyable medium for introducing Japanese culture to a broader audience.

[Japanese Literature, Barra Taura Nursaid]

The Japanese Language and Culture Student Association (HIMAJE), Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, through its culinary community Hiryou Aikai, held a group cooking session to celebrate the completion of the End-of-Semester Final Exams. The activity took place on 20 November 2025, from 13:00 to 15:00 WIB, at the Soegondo Building corridor area, and was designed in a relaxed, picnic-style setting as a refreshing moment of togetherness after the exam period.

Hiryou Aikai serves as a platform for HIMAJE members who have an interest and talent in cooking. Through this community, members can channel their culinary creativity while improving their cooking skills in a collaborative and enjoyable atmosphere. Activities like this also help strengthen connections among students through simple yet meaningful shared experiences.

In this session, participants cooked gyudon, a popular Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of warm rice topped with thinly sliced beef and onions simmered in a sweet and savory sauce. The cooking process was carried out together—from ingredient preparation to plating—creating a warm, lively, and enthusiastic atmosphere throughout the event.

This cooking activity not only provided a fun way to unwind after final exams but also encouraged students to learn through hands-on experience while fostering a supportive community environment. Through similar initiatives, Hiryou Aikai is expected to continue serving as a creative space that enriches students’ organizational experience and promotes positive activities that support well-being and personal development within HIMAJE UGM.

Author: Barra Taura Nursaid

The Japanese Language and Culture Program (BKJ), Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a public lecture titled “Concepts and Scope of Japanese Language and History” on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, from 08:00 to 12:00 WIB, at Soegondo Building, 7th Floor, Room 709. The event featured two speakers: Dr. Mulyadi, M.A., a lecturer in Japanese linguistics at BKJ UGM and an alumnus of Chiba University, and Meta Sekar Pujiastuti, M.A., Ph.D., a Japanese Literature lecturer at Hasanuddin University and an alumna of Ohio University and Keio University. With strong academic and research backgrounds, both speakers delivered presentations that enriched students’ understanding of Japanese language studies and historical perspectives.

The first session was delivered by Dr. Mulyadi through a research presentation titled “Politeness Strategies in Persuasive Discourse on Japanese Home Shopping TV Broadcasts: QVC Japan for Fashion Products.” He opened the session with an analogy drawn from Indonesian traditional markets to highlight the importance of linguistic comfort in communication. The discussion then focused on QVC Japan, a home shopping channel used as the main object of analysis. Using data collected from QVC broadcasts available on YouTube, he demonstrated how linguistic strategies—such as pragmatic particles (ne, yo), keigo (honorific speech), indirect invitations, and expressive intonation—are employed to create persuasive discourse while maintaining politeness. The presentation showed that marketing communication in Japan emphasizes social harmony (wa) without reducing the effectiveness of its message.

The second session was delivered by Meta Sekar Pujiastuti through a talk titled “Revisiting the History of Indonesia–Japan Relations: Nusantara Identity in a Global Context.” Her discussion highlighted that Indonesia–Japan relations extend far beyond the 1942–1945 period. She presented historical findings that trace long-standing interactions between the two regions, including the appearance of batik motifs in seventeenth-century ukiyo-e artifacts, VOC activities in Dejima, and records of slavery involving people from Bugis and Batavia. She also shared visual materials and archaeological evidence related to the lives of Nusantara groups in Dejima, including culinary activities and cultural markers such as lurik fabric and udeng headwear. These examples underscored the strong contributions of Nusantara culture within the historical trajectory of Japan, although such contributions often remain overlooked in dominant historical narratives.

Overall, the public lecture offered a comprehensive view of the relationship between language and history as an essential foundation for understanding Japan. The insights gained from the sessions are expected to strengthen students’ analytical skills and encourage a more meaningful and high-quality learning process within the Japanese Language and Culture Program at UGM.

Author: Barra Taura Nursaid