UIN Jakarta International KKN Team in Japan Celebrates Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day in Nagano, Showcasing Nusantara Culture
Nagano, UIN News Online – The Nagano Group of the Kokusai no Kizuna International KKN Program at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held a flag-raising ceremony and a series of Independence Day celebrations on Monday (August 17, 2026), at the Ueda City Citizens Forest Gymnasium in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, to commemorate the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence.
The event was attended by members of the Indonesian Muslim Community in Ueda (MINU) Mosque and students participating in UIN Jakarta’s International KKN Program in Japan. The celebration was held in collaboration with the Special Branch of Nahdlatul Ulama in Japan (PCINU Japan), the Special Branch Representative Council of Nahdlatul Ulama in Nagano (MWCINU Nagano), and the Nahdlatul Ulama Da'wah Institute in Japan (LDNU Japan).
Mahdavia Arya, Coordinator of the 2026 Kokusai no Kizuna International KKN Program in the Nagano region, said the activities reflected the students’ commitment to fostering collaboration and promoting Indonesian culture in Japan.
The Kokusai no Kizuna International KKN activities organized by UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta in Ueda-Nagano are part of our students’ efforts to promote Indonesia while strengthening ties with the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in Japan. As we commemorate the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence, we hope these activities will provide a space to foster togetherness, strengthen Indonesian cultural identity, and nurture a spirit of nationalism among Indonesian youth and the Muslim diaspora in Japan,” she said.
In addition to the Independence Day ceremony, the students promoted and preserved Nusantara culture through a variety of traditional Indonesian Independence Day games. Participants enthusiastically took part in cracker-eating contests, marble relay races, sack races, and a national-themed quiz competition.
The traditional games not only provided entertainment but also introduced local wisdom and the festive spirit of Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations, known as 17-an, to the local community in Nagano.
The participation of UIN Jakarta’s KKN students was warmly welcomed by local residents. One of the congregants at the MINU Mosque expressed her appreciation for the students’ initiative. She said this year’s Independence Day celebration was particularly special because it brought the familiar sense of togetherness and festive atmosphere of home to the Land of the Rising Sun.
The 2026 International KKN Program in Japan at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta involved 18 students from various faculties. The students were assigned to three locations: nine at the MINU Mosque in Nagano, four at the At-Taqwa Mosque in Koga, Ibaraki, and five at an Islamic boarding school in Ibaraki.
For more information about the International KKN Program in Japan and its activities, visit its official Instagram account @kknjepanguinjkt