CAL POLY JSA PROJECT: TORII

WHY ARE WE BUILDING A TORII?

We of the JSA organization have a few reasons to build a torii. Simply put, we want to celebrate Japanese culture.

JSA acknowledges that minorities are few in Cal Poly, and that sometimes, it can seem like Japanese culture is an entire ocean away. We want to reject this! By building the torii, we want the torii to speak for the voice in our hearts: Japanese culture is present at Cal Poly, it exists in all of us, and we stand proud and tall for it.

One thing should be noted: It is not our intention to create a place of worship or mimic a sacred site. Instead, we are building a torii to share a part of JSA with the surrounding community. It will be an inclusive space for everyone to enjoy, and to appreciate the beauty of nature that the torii will complement.  At the same time, we do not want to muddle the religious significance of a torii, which is why JSA intends to honor the original meaning as well.

We would like to build the torii in honor of the Japanese American families who have settled here on the central coast as well. Many of us JSA are nisei (二世) or sansei (三世), which are the second and third generations of Japanese immigrants who have moved to America. More of us are also the children of immigrants from other countries. The hardships of moving to a new country for a new life for prospects of a better future are recognized by us, and we want to honor it.