The Japanese American Cultural Club is planning on going in a new direction this semester that club president Raymond Feliciano hopes will illustrate the club’s commitment to a more comprehensive understanding of Japanese culture, history and society.

In the past, the club’s main focus has revolved around Japanese media, including anime, video games and other Japanese popular culture.

“We want to bring to light different aspects of Japanese culture. We’ve started straying away from just media culture,” said Feliciano.

Recently, the club has strived to present a more comprehensive look at Japanese culture through panel discussions, forums, Q&A sessions with Japanese students and educational trips. Feliciano and treasurer Chelsey McGovern hope that this new direction will also shed some light on CCSU’s East Asian Studies major and study abroad opportunities.

“We really want to make the East Asian Studies major more visible,” said McGovern, who recently returned from a year abroad at Kansai Gaidai, CCSU’s partner school in Japan.

Feliciano emphasized that while the focus of the club is Japanese culture,  the main goal is to promote a cross-cultural understanding.

“It’s open to all students,” said Feliciano. “The only thing you need is an open mind”.

The club’s first major event will be a Japanese game show night on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. in Torp Theatere. The game show night is open to anyone who wishes to participate.

The Japanese American Cultural Club meets on Thursdays from 7 p.m to 10 p.m. in the Student Center in the Philbrick Camp Room.

For more information e-mail the club at [email protected].