Akimatsuri brings fresh flavors to Goudy

Chicken katsu curry, a popular dish that was served during the Akimatsuri fall festival on Nov. 4. Photo courtesy of JSSL.

On Nov. 4, you might’ve noticed a line much longer than usual at Goudy Commons. Maybe you saw the Japanese-inspired decorations on all the tables and walls. That day, Japan Studies Student Leaders (JSSL) hosted Akimatsuri, a fall festival at Goudy serving Japanese foods. The festival celebrates the fall harvest season, and JSSL worked with Goudy and Bon Appetit to put together a menu of unique Japanese foods for lunch that day.

 For JSSL President Sean Olson (’26), the event is especially important to the Japanese exchange students on campus, as it both celebrates culture and connects students.

“Having accessible Japanese food really brings comfort to the study abroad students over here, especially since they've been in Goudy for a long time eating American food, pizzas, burgers, all those kinds of things,” Olson said. 

In addition to the change in Goudy’s regular food schedule, Olson said that the event brings more awareness to Japanese foods and culture as a whole, and giving the campus community a taste of a different culture can bring new perspectives. One dish in particular has been popular every year over the four years JSSL has hosted the event.

“It's been our tradition to always have chicken katsu curry because that's always been very popular,” Olson said. “It brings me a big smile when you look at all the different food tables and booths, and then just out of nowhere, there's one huge line at the chicken katsu booth. So we always make sure to keep that.”

Even though Akimatsuri only happens once a year, Olson said students welcome breaks from Goudy’s usual offerings, whether it’s from JSSL or another club. 

“Goudy tends to have pasta and pizza very consistently.… But because it keeps coming up on a rolling basis every week, it gets very monotonous. I feel like being able to have that variety … that would make the student life experience a lot better,” Olson said.

In the past, Goudy has hosted similar events celebrating different cultures. In October, the Latine Heritage Month takeover had a similar unique menu, and last March, the building hosted the Women’s History Fair. These events, and others throughout the year, create breaks from the aforementioned monotony.

For Olson, the community joining together over food or events like Akimatsuri is a meaningful reminder of what students can accomplish. By working with clubs and organizations, students are able to bring new experiences to their community, even starting with different menus at Goudy.

“Personally, I'm very glad I’m able to help represent and try to talk with the students,” Olson said.  “Being able to help voice what kind of issues as a community we want, and being able to feel that impact firsthand, by seeing a giant line at Goudy for the food, to me and for [JSSL], that brings us a huge smile.”