Flag football may seem like an unlikely candidate for bridging a cultural divide. But that’s exactly what brought a group of 15 students from Keio University in Japan to Hawai‘i last week.
The students challenged members of a Hawai‘i Pacific University intramural team to a flag football tournament. And while there were some communication barriers, football turned out to be a universal language.
"Their students speak a little bit of English," said Justin Spanko, intramural and recreational sports coordinator at HPU. "Our students mostly can say hello and goodbye in Japanese. But everybody plays under the same rules, so you can compete on the field."
This was the second year Keio University students have visited HPU for a football game as part of a program established by the Japan-U.S. Association for Cultural Exchange through Sports. Last year, the Keio students won the game, but this year HPU prevailed.
"I thought they might be coming for vacation," Spanko said. "The only reason that they come is for the flag football. We’re really happy to have them. It looks like it will turn into an annual event."
After the main event, the groups merged into half-American, half-Japanese teams for an all-star game.
Who killed the prof?
Chemistry professor David Harwell is going to die at 3 p.m. Sunday.
If you can figure out why, how and whodunit, you’ll be the winner of this year’s "CheMystery," a murder-mystery competition sponsored by the chemistry club at the University of Hawai‘i-Manoa. Harwell will die of an apparent massive heart attack. Or will it be foul play? He has enemies in the pharmaceutical industry and a wife expecting a big life insurance check.
Participants will hear the plot, collect evidence and can interview seven of the characters about their relationship with the professor and what they might have known. Halfway through, lab results from the medical examiner will arrive to give more clues to Harwell’s death.
While the student organizers had to use complex chemistry to design "CheMystery," no knowledge of the subject is necessary to play, Harwell said. "It’s challenging, but we make the plot as straightforward as we can," he said. "If there’s anything technical there will be someone there to answer questions."
The cost for a team of two to three members is $10 at the door, $8 if you register ahead.
For more information and registration, visit www.chem.hawaii.edu/acssa.
Let Jennifer Hiller know what’s going on at your college or university. You can reach her by phone, 525-8084, or e-mail jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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