KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 – The Japan Language and Cultural Centre (JLCC) of the Malaysia–Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully organised its inaugural Mini Nihon Holiday Program on 19 September, a special initiative designed to introduce Japanese language and culture to children in the UTM Kuala Lumpur community.
This half-day program welcomed 16 enthusiastic children aged 7 to 12, all from UTM Kuala Lumpur staff families. They were guided and supported by six passionate MJIIT student volunteers, who shared their knowledge and brought energy and creativity to every session. Over the course of three fun-filled hours, the children immersed themselves in four interactive, hands-on activities designed to showcase both Japanese language and traditional cultural practices in an enjoyable way.
The event began with the Japanese Language Experience, where participants learned the basics of hiragana, one of the Japanese writing systems. Each child created a personalised name plate using hiragana characters, an exercise that combined art and language learning. The excitement continued with hiragana karuta, a traditional Japanese card game that sharpens listening and quick-reaction skills. The room was filled with laughter and friendly competition as the children eagerly reached for the correct cards while volunteers called out characters and sounds.
The second half of the program focused on the Japanese Culture Experience, which introduced the children to two well-loved traditional pastimes: origami and kendama. Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, allowed participants to transform colourful sheets into elegant cranes while learning the values of patience, focus and precision. The session concluded with kendama, a classic Japanese cup-and-ball game. Many children challenged themselves to master the skillful catches, encouraging one another and celebrating each small success.
Beyond the enjoyable activities, the Mini Nihon Holiday Program reflects JLCC and MJIIT’s ongoing commitment to engage not only current students but also families and informal learners across the wider UTM community. By providing children with an early and positive introduction to Japanese culture, the program supports the MJIIT 2.0 initiative, which seeks to create innovative and inclusive programs that spark interest in Japanese language, culture, science, and technology among future generations.
Through this successful first edition, JLCC hopes to inspire these young participants to continue exploring Japanese language and culture and perhaps one day to pursue their higher education at MJIIT, strengthening the bonds between Malaysia and Japan while nurturing the next generation of globally minded learners.
