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]

Yogyakarta, December, 8 2025 – The Surakarta Style Javanese Arts Unit (UKJGS) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is collaborating with the Student Association of the Department of Puppetry (HMJ Pedhalangan) of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta to hold a collaborative Wayang Gedhog performance in commemoration of National Puppetry Day. The performance will take place on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. WIB at the Pendapa Tari ISI Yogyakarta. This event is a collaborative synergy between young artists from UKJGS UGM and HMJ Pedalangan ISI Yogyakarta in preserving this rare performing art.

The Wayang Gedhog performance to commemorate National Wayang Day was organized by HMJ Pedalangan ISI Yogyakarta, inviting UKJGS UGM to participate. As the coordinator of the Pedhalangan division at UKJGS UGM and a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program at UGM, Muhammad Rafi Nur Fauzy explained that this is a great opportunity to introduce UKJGS’s work in the field of pedalangan, while also enlivening the National Wayang Day celebration. 

The role of puppeteer in this Wayang Gedhog performance was entrusted to Rafi, accompanied by music from other UKJGS members. This performance featured Wayang Gedhog because Wayang Gedhog performances are rarely staged. This type of puppet show had been dormant for a long time and was revived several decades ago. Wayang Gedhog performances are actually considered stiff because they are constrained by the palace hierarchy in their content. Wayang Gedhog was also featured as an introduction to the rich heritage of puppetry to the general public.

The story of Panji Laleyan Duta (Sayembara Keris Jaka Piturun) was chosen to be performed because it was relevant to the current situation and information that was happening and becoming a hot topic of discussion in society, namely the polemic over the change of king in the Surakarta (Solo) Palace. According to Rafi, we need to question how this Javanese monarchy can survive in the midst of a democratic situation. Not only in the Surakarta Palace, but also in Yogyakarta.

As a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program at UGM, Rafi expressed his joy and pride at having the opportunity to perform Wayang Gedhog. Currently, not many puppeteers are willing to perform Wayang Gedhog because the performance is considered difficult due to its fixed accompaniment. Only a few puppeteers understand the performance. With the guidance of Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., a lecturer in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program, Rafi was able to successfully perform Wayang Gedhog, which is considered difficult.

The Wayang Gedhog performance supports the achievement of SDG point 4 Quality Education and point 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, namely as a medium of education and introduction to the treasure trove of wayang and enriching knowledge about cultural heritage in the academic environment, as well as an opportunity for the regeneration of performing arts and livelihoods for young artists. Not only that, this performance contributes to the achievement of SDG point 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions by using the role of art as a means to voice constructive criticism of the leadership polemic in the Surakarta Palace. The participatory collaboration between UKJGS UGM and HMJ Pedhalangan ISI Yogyakarta supports the achievement of SDGs and point 17 Partnerships for the Goals.

[ Javanese Literature & Culture, Maysa Putri Fatihah]

Yogyakarta, December, 8, 2025 – The Grand Meeting of the Student Association of the Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture (HMJ Kamastawa) was held on Sunday, November 30, 2025, in the Auditorium of the Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. During this General Meeting, a report on the activities of the 2025 management was presented, followed by a session on the Articles of Association/Bylaws (AD/ART), and concluded with a deliberation to elect the chairperson of HMJ Kamastawa for the 2026 term.

The General Assembly of HMJ Kamastawa is an annual mandatory event aimed at creating a forum for discussion among students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program. This forum was created as a platform for aspirations, opinions, and openness of HMJ Kamastawa as a special member organization under the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program. The General Meeting was attended by offline participants present at the forum and online participants via Google Meet.

This Grand Meeting was opened by the Master of Ceremony (MC). This was followed by a speech by the Chairman of HMJ Kamastawa for the 2025 period, Dwiyan Teguh Darmawan, and a speech by the Head of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Dr. Daru Winarti, M.Hum. After the speeches, the election of chairpersons I and II was held with the approval of the participants of the Grand Meeting. The chair of session I began the first session of the Grand Meeting with a report on the activities of the 2025 management. The first session of the Grand Meeting went well and quickly, with a few evaluations and suggestions from the participants of the Grand Meeting adding to the report.

The second session was marked by the handover from chairperson I to chairperson II. The second session was a hearing on the Articles of Association/Bylaws (AD/ART) of HMJ Kamastawa for the 2026 management period. The majority of participants in the second session of the Grand Meeting actively debated crucial points in the AD/ART that required adjustments to the situation and conditions. The decisions of the meeting were made through deliberation, voting, and unanimous approval by the participants of the Grand Meeting.

The final session of the HMJ Kamastawa Grand Meeting was the election of the chairperson of HMJ Kamastawa for the 2026 term. This election was carried out in the following stages.

1. Reading of the requirements for the chairperson of HMJ Kamastawa,
2. Nomination of chairperson candidates by participants of the Grand Meeting present at the forum,
3. Verification of the eligibility of chairperson candidates,
4. Presentation of personal statements by each chairperson candidate,
5. Question and answer session by participants of the Grand Meeting present at the forum with the chairperson candidates,
6. Deliberation on the election of the chairperson,
7. Announcement of the elected chairperson, and
8. Remarks by the elected chairperson.

The candidates for chairperson of HMJ Kamastawa nominated by the participants of the Grand Meeting were Wreksi Awinanggya Pinandhita, Bayu Seta Ardiansyah, Nurcholish Ramadhan, Inoora Putri Haliza, Muhammad Jundy Ashiddiqie, and Zahra Nova Putri. During the verification of the requirements for chairperson candidates, candidate Nurcholish Ramadhan was disqualified because he did not meet one of the requirements for chairperson candidates, namely not serving as chairperson in a student organization at Gadjah Mada University. After going through the deliberation stage for the election of the chairperson, a unanimous vote resulted in the election of Wreksi Awinanggya Pinandhita as the chairperson of HMJ Kamastawa for the 2026 period.

Wreksi Pinandhita stated that his election as chairman of HMJ Kamastawa would be a new challenge and must be carried out as well as possible as a mandate from the students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. Wreksi hopes that the management he will lead in the next year will run smoothly and better than the previous period with the support of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture student family.

The HMJ Kamastawa Grand Meeting directly contributes to the achievement of SDG point 4, Quality Education, which supports and develops students’ leadership and soft skills. Not only that, the Grand Meeting also supports the achievement of SDG point 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, by practicing the grand meeting as the highest democratic and transparent forum. Finally, this activity is also in line with SDG point 17, Partnerships for the Goals. The presence of the HMJ Kamastawa Grand Deliberation is also a form of commitment by students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program to nguri-uri ‘preserve’ and ngurip-urip ‘revitalize’ the culture of the archipelago, especially Javanese culture.

[Javanase Literature & Culture , Maysa Putri Fatihah]

Yogyakarta, 18 November 2025 — As part of its ongoing effort to expand creative dialogue within the academic community, the Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a public lecture titled “Tracing Self-Identity Through Fiction” on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, in Room 204 of the Soegondo Building, FIB UGM. The event featured California-based writer of Vietnamese–Indonesian descent, Mazdo, as the keynote speaker, with Naria Nur Iftitah serving as moderator. Her presence drew enthusiastic attention from students, alumni, and literary researchers eager to explore how fiction can serve as a medium for reflecting identity, personal experience, and socio-cultural dynamics.

In her presentation, Mazdo explained that writing, for her, is a deep dialogue between personal experience, imagination, and the internal questions that continually shape her creative process. She introduced three of her short stories as examples of how she navigates identity through fiction. The first piece she discussed, When the Moths Came (2023), stems from her personal experience. “This story began from my experience living in an apartment where moths were flying everywhere— in the kitchen, around the living room, everywhere. I felt disturbed, but I thought it would be interesting to turn it into a short story,” she explained. From this simple experience, Mazdo crafted a narrative about a married couple dealing with the constant presence of moths, which disrupt their daily life and create emotional distance between them.

Her second story, The Collector (2024), is rooted in her time studying at the Southeast Asia Program building at Cornell University, which was filled with cultural artifacts. She invited the audience to examine how such objects hold long historical traces, including power relations between the United States and Southeast Asian nations. Through the perspective of two curious and innocent children, she demonstrates how Orientalism and colonial traces can be reimagined in fictional space.

Meanwhile, her story Cut Blooms (2025) highlights the relationship between two sisters—shaped by affection, misunderstanding, and an unbreakable emotional bond. Mazdo shared that the inspiration for this work came from her closeness to her own sisters. “When I write, inspiration can come from anywhere, even from my own life experiences. For example, Cut Blooms comes from my personal experience, but I do not write it literally as it happened. Since I write fiction, only small details that truly happened in my life are adapted into the story,” she explained. This statement helped the audience understand that fiction does not require literal adherence to real events, but instead transforms lived experience into a broader emotional structure.

The public lecture also aligned with values of social and cultural sustainability. Through her stories, Mazdo demonstrated that literature can serve as a tool for cultivating empathy, honoring diverse identities, and encouraging reflection on one’s place within larger historical contexts.

The question-and-answer session unfolded warmly and thoughtfully. The first question came from Marisa Santi (Kagama UGM), who asked about the narrative approach Mazdo most frequently uses, whether she prefers the author as an omniscient narrator or allows the characters full autonomy. Responding to this, Mazdo said, “I tend to use the first approach, where the writer serves as the narrator.” She added that this position allows her to guide the fictional world while still giving her characters space to move freely.

The next question was posed by Marsya Kamila, a student of UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature, who asked whether Mazdo plans to write fiction that explicitly addresses migration or identity exploration in the United States, given that her parents migrated there. Mazdo responded enthusiastically: “Yes, because both of my parents come from Vietnam and Indonesia, I think it would be interesting to write fiction that gives voice to our origins and experiences.” Her answer indicates that family history and migration remain enduring sources of inspiration in her creative journey.

The event concluded with great appreciation from participants, who felt they gained new insights into how fiction operates as a tool for self-exploration, historical reading, and reinterpreting lived experience. The Master’s Program in Literature hopes that similar public lectures will continue to provide creative spaces that strengthen literary literacy while fostering cultural awareness and sustainability in society.

[Master’s Program in Literature, Marsya Kamila]