BHSU hosted a calligraphy workshop Jan. 31 that would determine the future of the university’s International Studies program.

Currently, there is only one International Admission student from Japan in the BHSU student body, Mirei Ukaji, a Psychology major in her junior year.

“I’ve been [organizing the Japanese culture events] all on my own for three years,” Ukaji said.  “The materials are really expensive to buy on my own, but the JOI program can provide resources to [BHSU] to make it easier for operating these events.”

The workshop was a traditional Shodo calligraphy class taught by Shunsuke Aoki, a Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) coordinator based at Dickinson State University in Dickinson, N.D.

“It’s really nice to [teach and] practice calligraphy,” Aoki said. “It has many benefits like improving your concentration… and helping your mental health. I think it’s good to teach this to people.”

This workshop was funded by the JOI, the same program that BHSU is looking to expand into the university. 

“We hope to expand this program into [BHSU] for cultural exchange opportunities for our [BHSU] students, staff and faculty, and for the spearfish community.

Such opportunities lead to cultural exchanges that leave lasting memories on those involved.

“One of my [Japanese language] students wrote a message completely in Japanese and gave it to me, and I thought that was a really impressive moment,” Aoki said.

The overarching goal for JOI is to allow for areas that haven’t had a lot of exchange with Japan to start engaging with the culture.

“The reason for [the workshop] was also as a site visit for the JOI program so that they could decide if we can have a site coordinator in the future,” said Kaitlin Palmer, the BHSU International Admissions Coordinator.

One of the noted benefits of the workshop, other than as a professional evaluation, was to get more BHSU students involved with the International Studies program.

“It’s not like a formal education setting, it’s very relaxing,” Palmer said. “I think after [students go] to class all day, and are then able to come [into the International Admissions office] to learn something new in a relaxed setting amongst old and new friends, [workshops like this are] very special opportunities for our students to benefit from.”

The evaluation was a success, to the excitement of all involved.

“[The JOI program] said that Black Hills State University is a really good fit for the type of program that they put on and that they’re very excited to work with us,” Palmer said.

If no obstacles present themselves during the process, there should be an active JOI coordinator on campus by the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester.