The Japan Club is a place for anyone interested in Japanese culture or zombies.

Members of the club teach each other about aspects of the Japanese culture; it also hosts events celebrating the culture.

The club meets each Monday from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Lobby Suite in the University Union. A typical club meeting usually consists of an icebreaker game and announcements, said treasurer Josh Navarra.

He said members could introduce something of Japanese culture that they want to share with the club.

Club Vice President Brandon Han said the club has been around for about seven years. He has personally been involved with the club for two and a half years. Han became vice president in fall 2010 and was previously a general officer. Navarra has been with the club for one year and this is his first semester as treasurer.

Recently the club has been giving Japanese mini-lessons as well. Han also said many of the club’s members are learning to speak Japanese, himself included. Han is Chinese and Navarra is Filipino.

Though some members are trying to learn Japanese, Navarra is not one of them. Japanese is Han’s minor. Members took a survey and the majority wants to learn Japanese, which is why the club has started the mini-lessons.

Han said anyone could be involved with the club, even non-students. The club has started an older sibling program this year, where the current members would help new members by showing them around campus and studying Japanese as well.

Han said the more people attending club meetings, the better. Each meeting has about a dozen or so members to show up, Han said. He has noticed more people come at the beginning of semesters; over the course of the semester, attendance tends to be lower. He said, however, he appreciates that many people like to attend the events.

Previous members of the club have gone on to live in Japan, Han said.

“I think most of our alumni are either in Japan working as teachers or translators, or going to graduate school there,” Han said.

The Japan Club is holding a Zombie Invasion from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Union’s Redwood Room. The Zombie Invasion is a game involving Nerf guns, humans and zombies. The humans use the Nerf guns to fight off the zombies. It is $3 to play and groups will play 10-minute intervals. Students can play as many times as they want, as long as time allows.

The club puts on other events as well. The club holds a Japan culture night each spring semester. The culture night holds performances such as dances and songs pertaining to Japanese culture.

Navarra said he is excited for the Zombie Invasion game, which he said he would probably be a referee.

Han said he will be in class during the game, but he knows what he wants to be.

“Next year I will be a zombie,” Han said.

Courtney Owen can be reached at [email protected].