In April, the JICUF Japan Office hosted three events in conjunction with ICU’s Christianity Week.

JICUF Led Spring Community Events at ICU

JICUF hosts community events each semester to foster connections at ICU between students, staff and faculty. On Thursday, May 15, JICUF hosted a community event in the dining hall that brought together 40 participants who enjoyed a fun and relaxed evening together, sharing food and interacting for more than two hours.

During the event, participants gathered at various tables to introduce themselves and respond to a set of prepared discussion questions, aimed at deepening mutual understanding. Since the event was held just before Christianity Week, two thought-provoking questions were posed: “What does it mean to believe?” and “What was your first encounter with religion and how did it influence you?”

The event provided a wonderful opportunity for a diverse group of participants—including those who are religious, those who are non religious, and those curious about spirituality and some of the big mysteries in life. It was a wonderful opportunity to engage in open, lively, and meaningful conversations.

The next community event that is scheduled for the fall term will be a sports night. Stay tuned!

All community event photos by Yosuke Kobayashi

Gospel Music Workshop

This year, JICUF participated in Christianity Week for the first time by hosting two events. The first was a gospel music workshop. We welcomed gospel singer Katsuyuki Shijima, leader of The Faith Mass Choir, as the instructor for an approximately three-hour workshop.

The first song was the upbeat  “Freedom,” followed by the slightly slower “You Deserve It.” Without sheet music and relying only on lyric sheets, participants followed Mr. Shijima’s lead as they learned to sing the alto, tenor, and soprano parts while keeping rhythm. Despite the short time frame, the group gradually achieved harmony, and by the end, everyone was singing gospel with their whole bodies, resulting in a moving and powerful performance.

Above gospel workshop photos by Yu Goto

During the workshop, Mr. Shijima shared the background of gospel music, as well as his personal story of encountering gospel music and eventually being baptized, adding depth and meaning to the experience.

A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Ritsuko and Ms. Yuko Tanabe, who led the workshop with Mr. Shijima, and to the members of Clumsy Chorus (ICU’s own gospel choir) for their invaluable support in many ways.

Film Screening and Discussion: Capernaum

The second event was a film screening followed by a discussion. Capernaum is a powerful human drama directed by Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki, which explores issues of poverty and migration in the Middle East through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy named Zain.

Born into a slum, Zain is effectively invisible to society because his parents never registered his birth. As a result, he cannot attend school and spends his days selling goods on the street with his siblings. The young actor who plays the protagonist is himself a Syrian refugee, and most of the other cast members share backgrounds similar to their characters. While the film is fictional, it is often described as having an almost documentary-like quality in its portrayal.

During the post-screening discussion, many students initially found it challenging to express their thoughts due to the weight of the film’s subject matter. However, they shared sincere reflections, including how the film challenged their existing values, what actions they could take to address such social issues, and whether engaging in volunteer activities might ultimately be seen as mere self-satisfaction.