Omikoshi, the Japanese Symbol of Friendship for Brawijaya University
Friendship can be symbolized by various things. Because, the most important thing is the meaning, not just the physical form.
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By
DAHLIA IRAWATI
·4 minutes read
DOKUMENTASI UB
Brawijaya University students practice lifting omikoshi, Wednesday (25/4/2024).
Wednesday (24/4/2024), a number of Brawijaya University students in Malang, cheerfully decorated "omikoshi". Before long, they took turns trying to lift the omikoshi together. What exactly is omikoshi?
Omikoshi is a mandatory icon of Japan's popular festivals, taking the form of a miniature shrine as a symbol of the best vehicle of the Shinto Gods. Omikoshi is carried and paraded around villages or from one shrine to another.
“There is a sense of pride when you are taught directly how to assemble omikoshi by a Japanese native. Moreover, not all students have the opportunity to practice directly with experts," said Ferdyan Rizal Mahlafi (22), a student at the Japanese Literature Universitas Brawijaya study program.
According to Ferdyan, he feels happy to be able to directly experience Japanese culture from the Japanese people who attended the event. There is no awkwardness between them because everyone speaks Indonesian. "They are very friendly and very helpful. The friendly atmosphere is really felt," he said.
Arranging omikoshi at Brawijaya University Malang.
That day there was indeed a guest lecture event for students of the Japanese Literature Study Program and Education Study Program Japanese Language Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Brawijaya. The guest lecture was about the history, value and meaning of omikoshi in order to prepare students to receive omikoshi grants from Mikoshiren Jakarta.
Present at the event were the Consul General of Japan in Surabaya, Takeyama Kenichi, the Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Internationalization at UB, Andi Kurniawan, the Dean of FIB UB, Hamamah, the Young Japanese Consul, Nakagome Kota, a representative of the Mikoshiren Jakarta community, Toshio Amagasa, and several officials from UB.
In this activity, the omikoshi was also handed over to Universitas Brawijaya (UB) by the Japanese Consulate General in Surabaya.
This Japanese cultural trinket is a symbol of friendship, peace and cooperation. When lifting the omikoshi, people will shout washoi, washoi! which means more or less bringing peace and harmony.
The purpose of this celebration/festival is stated to be to eliminate bad luck and bad things, as well as pray for abundant harvests, and pay attention to the wishes of the people.
Speech by the Japanese Consulate General in Surabaya Takeyama Kenichi in handing over omikoshi to Brawijaya University, Wednesday (24/4/2024).
The event took place in the meeting room of UB library and was witnessed by students of the Japanese Literature and Japanese Language Education study programs at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UB.
"UB is one of the well-known universities in Indonesia. UB is also famous for its achievements and high quality teachers. UB also has superior study programs related to Japanese culture, namely the Japanese Literature study program and the Japanese Language Education study program. The quality of this study program can also be seen from the presence of native Japanese lecturers here. "For this reason, I feel that UB is the right institution to receive omikoshi which is a symbol of friendship between Indonesia and Japan," said Consul General of Japan in Surabaya Takeyama Kenichi.
Takeyama explains the value and meaning of omikoshi in Japanese culture. "At the change of seasons, especially autumn, Japanese people will hold a matsuri (celebration) as thanksgiving for a good harvest.
Also as a plea to prevent disasters in the future. "Omikoshi is an integral part of our culture. In Japan, omikoshi has been passed down from generation to generation," he said.
Takeyama expressed his hope that the relationship between Japan and UB will become closer with the giving of omikoshi to UB. "I hope that this omikoshi will become a symbol of friendship between Japan and Indonesia, especially with UB," he said.
Brawijaya University students practice lifting omikoshi, Wednesday (24/4/2024).
As for the representative of Mikoshiren Jakarta, Toshio Amagasa, he advised that the omikoshi which was handed over should be well taken care of. "Students, please cherish this omikoshi. In this omikoshi, there is not only its physical form, but also Japanese culture. There are many universities in Indonesia, but only UB received this omikoshi," he said.
Amagasa added that if next year UB holds a festival related to Japanese culture, he hopes to be invited. "I would definitely come here," he said, greeted with applause from the students.
I hope this omikoshi will become a symbol of friendship between Japan and Indonesia, especially UB.
Deputy Chancellor for Planning, Cooperation and Internationalization Andi Kurniawan welcomed the handover of the omikoshi. "Today what is handed over to UB is not only physical (shape), but the value of friendship. "Today what is entrusted to us is not just omikoshi who will be carried together in thematsuricelebration, but a belief in the melting of cultures," he said.
Therefore, representing the academic community of UB, Andi expresses gratitude for the trust given by the Japanese community. "On behalf of all elements within UB, we happily and deeply appreciate this, with open arms, and see it as a chain linking our cultural unity," he said.
That's how the friendship between UB and Japanese society was established and manifested in the form of omikoshi. Washoi, washoi…!
