More than 250 students, community members, volunteers and workers experienced a small slice of Japanese culture at the Japan House Open House on Saturday.

The day featured demonstrations from five martial arts groups, continuous tea ceremonies and a presentation from University alumnus and author Greg Harvey.    

Nancy Lockmiller, assistant director of Japan House, was in charge of contacting the local martial arts groups and helped publicize the event.

"The open house gives a chance for people from the community and people visiting the campus to learn a little about Japanese art and culture and hopefully spark their interest in learning about different cultures than their own," Lockmiller said.

The speakers and artists are different every year although both Japanese and local artists have participated in the past, said Kimiko Gunji, Japan House director. This year's speaker, Greg Harvey, spoke about the spirit of Zen in his presentation "Zen and Tea are One Taste."

There is a quiet, natural place inside each person from which we can understand Zen, Harvey said. This is the same place from which, when he writes, the words simply write themselves, he said.

John Moore, sensei, or teacher, at Ryuseikan Dojo, brought six people to perform samples of Isshin Ryu Karate and Kobudo, two of the many forms of martial arts, at the open house.

"A big concept in the U.S. and the world is diversity and learning to relate to others, and the Japan House brings forth that concept," Moore said.

Graduate student Chris McDowell said he appreciated the explanation of the cultural significance of the events at the open house.

He learned that while "martial arts are for self-defense…overcoming and understanding the self is more important than everything else," he said.

The open house also addressed broader themes, such as tolerance and peace.

Gunji said the objective of the open house was to "introduce not only Japanese art and culture, but Asian culture as a whole," she said.

If people visit the Japan House, they will acquire a peace of mind and hopefully share that with others, and eventually those feelings will contribute to a better world, Gunji said.

Harvey said teaching the Asian perspective opens new possibilities to learning and listening, where a person has the benefit of not seeing things in absolute good or bad, light or dark terms.

The values of tolerance can't be overestimated in a world that has grown so small, Harvey said.

Japan House offers a variety of services, including three University courses per year.

Lyanne Lau, a volunteer at the open house and senior in business, takes a tea ceremony class from Japan House.

Lau said the course explains Zen and its relationship to the tea ceremony, as well as other aspects of Japanese religion and culture.

She said she likes the Japan House because it provides a peaceful environment and gives people a chance to learn about cultures around the area.

Other courses at Japan House include Japanese culture and aesthetics and Japanese flower arranging.

The new Japan House opened in 1998 and includes three tea rooms, gardens, and various walkways throughout the grounds.