Yogyakarta, January 24, 2026 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), hosted the 2026 The 1st CAUGM Korean Festival, a cultural event that offered the general public a hands-on experience of Korean culture. The festival was held on Friday (January 24) at the Margono Corridor, FIB UGM, and was open to anyone with an interest in Korea.

Korean Festival 2026 was a collaborative initiative between students of Universitas Gadjah Mada and Chung-Ang University (CAU), South Korea. The event aimed to strengthen cross-national cultural relations while serving as a platform for cultural exchange between Indonesia and Korea through an educational and entertaining approach.

A wide range of programs was featured during the festival, including Taste Korean Cuisines, which allowed visitors to sample Korean traditional foods in limited portions, as well as cultural experience booths that offered direct exposure to Korean culture. Visitors had the opportunity to try on Hanbok, traditional Korean attire, and to learn about traditional Korean musical instruments through interactive booths provided at the venue.

In addition, the event was enlivened by special performances from UGM and CAU students, as well as a Random Play Dance session that was open to visitors and became a major attraction, particularly for fans of Korean pop culture. The entire series of events began at 10:00 a.m. (WIB) and was open to the public without any mandatory registration.

The implementation of Korean Festival 2026 aligns with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education through the provision of cross-cultural learning spaces beyond the classroom, and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through international collaboration between educational institutions in Indonesia and South Korea. The festival also reflects the spirit of SDG 11, which focuses on building inclusive communities by providing safe and open public spaces for cultural interaction.

Through Korean Festival 2026, FIB UGM reaffirmed its commitment as an academic space that supports cultural diplomacy, global exchange, and the strengthening of cross-cultural understanding among students and the wider community.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

The Studio Ghibli anime film Kiki’s Delivery Service, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, presents a story that remains relevant to the realities of young migrants, particularly university students. Through a simple yet meaningful narrative, the film invites audiences to reflect on the process of growing up, independence, and the importance of maintaining mental well-being during the transition into adulthood.

Kiki’s Delivery Service follows the journey of Kiki, a 13-year-old young witch who decides to leave home and live away from her family in order to learn independence. In an unfamiliar city, Kiki struggles to survive by running a delivery service using her ability to fly. At the beginning of her journey, she is portrayed as enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic about her new life.

However, as time passes, Kiki begins to face various challenges. Feelings of exhaustion, self-doubt, and the tendency to compare herself with others lead her into an identity crisis. This condition even affects her magical abilities, causing her to lose her power. Through this conflict, Kiki’s Delivery Service illustrates that the process of growing up does not always run smoothly and is not solely about achievements, but also about failure, uncertainty, and learning to accept oneself.

Kiki’s experiences closely resonate with the lives of young migrants, especially students who live far from their families. The initial excitement of gaining freedom often turns into the realization that independent living comes with great responsibility. Academic pressure, demands for productivity, and constant exposure to others’ achievements frequently generate feelings of insecurity and stagnation. In such circumstances, a supportive environment and a strong support system play a crucial role in maintaining emotional balance.

More than mere entertainment, the anime film Kiki’s Delivery Service conveys an important message about giving oneself space to rest. The film emphasizes that feeling tired is not a sign of failure, but a natural part of the growth process. This message aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, which highlights the importance of mental health as a component of individual well-being. In addition, the film also reflects SDG Goal 4 on Quality Education, especially learning through life experiences, as well as SDG Goal 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, as seen in Kiki’s efforts to work independently and adapt to a new environment.

Through Kiki’s story, the film encourages students and young migrants to recognize that everyone grows at their own pace. Taking time to breathe, understand oneself, and accept the process are essential steps in the journey toward adulthood.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Source: Studio Ghibli anime film Kiki’s Delivery Service directed by Hayao Miyazaki (released in 1989)

Photo source: Kiki’s Delivery Service Original 1989 Japanese B5 Chirashi Handbill – Posteritati Movie Poster Gallery

Yogyakarta, January 2026 – January marks a moment to commemorate Eyang Sapardi Djoko Damono, an Indonesian poet born on January 20, 1940. His works are widely known for their closeness to everyday life and their use of simple language that nonetheless carries profound meaning. Through his poetry, Sapardi invited readers to become more sensitive to language, emotions, and the realities surrounding them.

Sapardi’s poems, including “Hujan Bulan Juni” (June Rain), often feel closely connected to the experiences of university students and younger generations. His light yet reflective choice of words makes his works accessible to read while simultaneously opening space for thought and interpretation. In this way, literature no longer feels distant or complicated, but instead becomes an integral part of daily life.

This spirit aligns with the values upheld by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, which positions language and literature as essential elements in fostering a culture of literacy. Through the works of Sapardi Djoko Damono, literature is understood as a medium capable of recording human experiences and portraying the social realities of its time.

The commemoration of Sapardi’s birthday also serves as a reminder of the importance of cultivating reading and writing habits among students. Amid the rapid flow of information today, literary literacy helps sharpen critical thinking, empathy, and the ability to understand meaning beyond surface-level reading.

The literacy values inherited from Sapardi Djoko Damono also contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through the strengthening of literacy culture and humanities-based learning, as well as SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by preserving and nurturing intangible cultural heritage through literary works.

Through the momentum of remembering Sapardi Djoko Damono, students are encouraged to continue nurturing literacy and to embrace literature as a space for reflection, dialogue, and the reinforcement of humanistic values in everyday life.

[FIB UGM Public Relations, Alma Syahwalani]30

Photo source: https://sl.bing.net/d8Hga0uT8Ka

Javanese script is one of the traditional writing systems in Indonesia that is still known and used today. This script is classified as an abugida or syllabic script and is part of the Kawi script family (Maulana, 2020). Since ancient times, Javanese script has played an important role in documenting various knowledge, cultural values, and literary works recorded in Javanese manuscripts.

Technological developments and globalization have had a significant impact on patterns of communication within society. The increasingly dominant use of the Latin alphabet, particularly among the younger generation, has led to the Javanese script and other regional scripts being marginalized. The lack of use in everyday life has the potential to result in a decline in the ability to read and write Javanese script among future generations.

This situation calls for revitalization efforts that can adapt regional scripts to the changing times. This revitalization is an effort to introduce the script symbolically and encourage its active use today.

One form of Javanese script revitalization that is relevant to technological developments is through the provision of Javanese fonts. Fonts are digital representations of scripts that enable their use on various platforms, such as computers, devices, digital documents, and online media.

The existence of Javanese fonts facilitates the learning and teaching process, as the script can be written, read, and studied in a practical manner. In addition, Javanese fonts also open up opportunities for the use of script as an aesthetic element in graphic design and creative works. 

To date, various Javanese fonts are available and accessible through various media. However, in order for their use to be sustainable, both for writing and aesthetic purposes, the use of license-free Javanese fonts is a more appropriate choice.

License-free fonts allow for widespread use without legal barriers or licensing fees. This greatly supports the use of Javanese script by educational institutions, cultural communities, designers, and the general public. 

As a form of support for the preservation of Javanese script, in 2020 the Yogyakarta Special Region Cultural Office released a Javanese font developed by Apri Nugroho. There are two types of fonts introduced, namely nyk Ngayogyan and nyk Ngayogyan Jejeg. Both fonts can be downloaded via the following links:

• Fon nyk Ngayogyan

https://aksaradinusantara.com/fonta/nyk-ngayogyan.font

• Fon nyk Ngayogyan Jejeg

https://aksaradinusantara.com/fonta/nyk-ngayogyan-jejeg.font

In addition to providing fonts, the developers also provide installation guidelines, typing instructions, and keyboard layouts. These guidelines are intended to make it easier for users to install and use Javanese fonts correctly and consistently.

The use of Javanese script is also linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 17. In the context of SDG 4 on quality education, the existence of Javanese script supports the provision of inclusive, contextual, and locally-based teaching materials, thereby facilitating the learning process and improving students’ cultural literacy. Meanwhile, the achievement of these goals cannot be separated from SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals, because the development and utilization of Javanese phonetic script requires collaboration between the government, academics, technology developers, cultural communities, and the wider community.

Author : Haryo Untoro

Editor : Haryo Untoro

Bibliography

Maulana, R. (2020). Aksara-Aksara di Nusatara: Seri Ensiklopedia. Writing Tradition Project

Students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Class of 2025, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, staged a drama titled Weton Waton on Tuesday (12/16/2025). The performance took place at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, FIB UGM, at 6:00 p.m.

This activity was organized as part of the final exam assignment for the Communicative Spoken Javanese Language course taught by Dr. R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A. The performance of Weton Waton was directed by Safa Rahmatul H. as the production manager.

The drama Weton Waton tells the story of a domestic conflict between a husband and wife triggered by financial problems. The root of the problem lies in the husband’s decision to quit his job and get involved in cockfighting gambling. The ongoing conflict then prompts the wife’s parents to take the matter to a shaman. In the story, the shaman says that the couple’s domestic quarrels are caused by an incompatibility in their weton, which is called tiba pegat.

Through this performance, students sought to convey the message that problems should not be automatically attributed to a person’s character or nature based on their weton. In addition, this performance also presented knowledge about the concepts of dina, pasaran, and wuku, which are still believed by some Javanese people to be part of their tradition.

Based on an online interview with Yogi Setiyawan on December 28, 2025, the Weton Waton performance was a final exam assignment that required all students enrolled in the course to be directly involved in the performance. The theme of weton was chosen as an effort to highlight the tradition of calculating weton, dina, pasaran, and wuku that has developed in Javanese society.

“In preparing for the Weton Waton performance, our preparations can be said to still have a number of limitations. The challenges faced include script writing, group division, and funding constraints. From this process, we learned that good and open communication between members is very important in a performance,” said Yogi.

Yogi also expressed his pride in being involved in the premiere performance of the 2025 batch of students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. He hopes that this activity can be a first step towards producing better works in the future.

The performance of the Weton Waton drama was not only a means of practicing Javanese language skills orally, but also a platform for students to create and apply their language skills in the form of a performance. In line with the teachings of KGPAA Mangkunegara IV in Serat Wedhatama, which states that ngelmu iku kalakone kanthi laku or knowledge must be implemented through practice, this performance is a tangible manifestation of reviving enthusiasm for the Javanese language while honing students’ creativity. Through activities such as this, students are expected to continue to preserve and revive Javanese culture through concrete efforts that benefit the community.

[Javanese Literature and Culture Studies, Haryo Untoro]