NCS Ikigomi
NCS IKIGOMI: THE ENTHUSIASTIC
Who We Are: NCS Ikigomi was newly formed in May of 2023 and is part of the Nikkei Cultural Society. Our mission is to host youth-led activities open to all in the community with the goal to promote Japanese/Japanese Canadian culture in collaboration with the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta. We aim to create an intergenerational community that promotes education and appreciation of Japanese and Japanese Canadian culture while also creating leadership opportunities for youth.
What We’ve Done: In the past we’ve hosted Ghibli movie nights open to the public where we served food like ramen and katsu curry at the Temple. We hosted a community Pancake Breakfast during Whoop-Up days where we put a little Japanese Canadian spin on it, serving red bean pancakes and tamagoyaki. We were at the Bunka Hashi Festival in September of 2023 running the Ikigomi Canteen where we sold skewered Mochi, Jappa dogs, and beverages.
Volunteering through Ikigomi Toban: NCS Ikigomi connects members with volunteering opportunities through our scheduled monthly events, but we also help create community connections and volunteering opportunities through our Toban. Tobans assist with the setup of services at the
Buddhist Temple as well as prepare refreshments and tea. Each Toban does this for one month of services before rotating. As the BTSA has graciously allowed us to use their space for meetings and events, this is a way for NCS Ikigomi to give back. Additionally we’re occasionally provided with other opportunities to volunteer in the larger Lethbridge community like at the Soup Kitchen.
But we’re not all work no play! NCS Ikigomi also does group-only focused activities such as cultural workshops, where we learn and practice things such as Japanese cooking, Tea Ceremony, and Taiko drumming. We also look forward to our and boardgame, videogame, and karaoke nights!
What We’re Going to Do:
NCS Ikigomi looks forward to hosting our next Ikigomi and Friends videogame party on March 24th, volunteering at the Temple for Hanamatsuri in April, introducing the kiddos to some Japanese culture in May on Kodomo no Hi, and participating in a Taiko Drumming Workshop on June 2nd!
And of course more is coming in the future! Karaoke Nights! More Japanese Cultural Workshops! Movie Nights! Bunka Hashi! Halloween Events! And whatever else we can dream up!
