October 31st sees the Kyushu University Kokusai Kouryuu Kaikan hold its annual festival for the 11th year running. The event begun in 1985, one year after the kaikan was opened, and was co-ordinated by the then resident advisor Professor Shiratsuchi. However, the first festival was a one-off event, and it wasn't until 1995 when Professor Moriyama returned to the Kaikan (having been the resident advisor in its very first 3 months) that the event was resurrected. That was back in 1994, and the festival has been held every year since. The festival is held in the grounds of the Kaikan (with a contingency plan to move it inside in the event of rain) and attractions include stalls selling foods (at very reasonable prices) from a plethora of countries, performances of the traditional music and dance of numerous ryugakusei and games which involve the audience.

The festival serves a number of purposes. The overriding theme is one of International Interaction, particularly between the residents of the Kashii-hama area in which the kaikan is located and residents of the Kaikan. It is also an opportunity for students residing in the Kaikan to introduce their culture to both their hosts and fellow international students. According to Professor Moriyama, while the event has been successful in the past, something he would like to see more of is the development of more long-lasting friendships which may be made at the festival.

With the Hakozaki Campus due to close in 2015, the Kokusai Kouryuu Kaikan is also scheduled for closure. The new campus in Moto-oka will not have an International House built exclusively for foreign students. Rather, students will be housed in accommodation housing both international and foreign students. When asked what implications this was likely to have for the annual festival, Professor Moriyama responded by saying that he foresaw an evolution of the festival whereby it would likely fuse activities seen at exclusively Japanese dormitories, such as that in Tajima , with the existing activities of the International House's festival. Thus, while this year may be one of the final festivals to be held at the Kashii-hama International House, the future of the festival remains alive and well.

To all those associated with Kyushu University we appeal to you to come and join this event, which will we hope be even more successful this year than it has been in previous years. For more information, please refer to http://www.kkk.kyushu-u.ac.jp/festival/