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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University will host Japanese Night '99 on Saturday, Feb. 27, a free community celebration designed to give Oregonians a glimpse of Japanese culture.

Festivities start at 6:30 p.m. in OSU's Milam Auditorium and include a dramatic play, a tea ceremony, dance, origami and calligraphy, said Denise Hirata, of OSU's Japanese Student Association, which is sponsoring the event.

There will also be a kendo demonstration, Hirata said. Kendo is the martial art of Japanese fencing. The name comes from the two words Ken (sword), and Do (way), meaning, the way of the sword. Kendo is practiced in order to promote self-improvement, as well as health.

All demonstrations will be performed by members of the Japanese Student Association. The Japanese Student Association is one of nearly 30 student cultural organizations on the OSU campus.