MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Mississippi State University School of Human Sciences will host local community leaders at an informational meeting to gauge interest in its Japan Outreach Initiative.

The meeting will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 17 in room 210 of the Lloyd-Ricks-Watson Building on MSU’s Starkville campus.

School representatives, business professionals and other individuals interested in introducing Japanese culture through classes and activities are invited to attend the session presented by Mari Maruyama of the Laurasian Institution.

Maruyama will provide details about the Japanese coordinator who will volunteer for two years at MSU, should MSU be selected to host the program. The coordinator will be available to share information about Japanese culture, society, daily living and language. Examples of activities include calligraphy, brush ink painting, paper cutting, tea ceremony rituals, fashion, martial arts, business etiquette and making sushi.

“With the arrival of the Yokohama Tire plant in West Point next year, we anticipate heightened interest in Japanese culture,” said Juyoung Lee, assistant professor of apparel, textiles and merchandising at MSU. “This program will also build bridges between the local community and Japanese expatriates.”

Lee, Michael Newman, director of the School of Human Sciences, and Maruyama will be available immediately after the meeting to answer questions about the program.

The Japan Outreach Initiative program is funded by the Laurasian Institution and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership.

For more information, contact Lee at jlee@humansci.msstate.edu or 662-325-7697.