BUNKASAI AN EDUCATIONAL ARENA: A Case Study at Mahasaraswati University Denpasar

Abstract

This study examines the practice of the Japanese cultural festival (Bunkasai) as an educational arena at Mahasaraswati University Denpasar. The festival, which has been regularly held by the Japanese Literature Study Program, is not only a medium for celebrating Japanese culture but also a space for learning, interaction, and knowledge exchange among students, lecturers, and the wider community. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through interviews, observations, and document studies to reveal how various forms of practice, such as Shodo workshops, Yukata booths, Kana contests, cosplay and coswalk competitions, Aikido demonstrations, and Bon Odori dances function as educational practices. The theoretical framework is based on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of social practice, Michel Foucault’s concept of power/knowledge, and constructivist learning theory. The findings show that Bunkasai not only serves as a cultural celebration but also creates implications in the social, cultural, and educational spheres, while simultaneously raising challenges related to cultural commodification.

Keywords: Bunkasai, Japanese culture, educational arena, globalization, hybridity