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At the heart of Myanmar’s culture lies a resilience that enables people to bounce back from any hardship. This is how May, a student from Myanmar, described her country’s spirit when we asked her about its distinctive cultural features.
In Beppu, where APU is located, there are festivals like the Yubukkake Matsuri and Beppu Onsen Splash Festival. Interestingly, Myanmar has a similar celebration called Thingyan, which marks the New Year in mid-April. During this period, people celebrate by splashing water on one another. The tradition originated as a ritual to cleanse Buddha statues, but today it symbolizes washing away the impurities of the past year.
Next, May introduced us to traditional clothing worn not only during festivals but also in everyday life. The garment in the photo is called a longyi, a cloth wrap similar to a skirt. It is also called a paso for men or a htamein for women. Comfortable and well-suited to the hot climate, longyis are beloved by many. Colors and patterns vary by region and ethnicity, and for special occasions such as weddings or ceremonies, people wear more elaborate designs. For the people of Myanmar, these garments are more than just clothing—they are symbols of pride.
Myanmar has faced numerous challenges, from coups to natural disasters. In Japan, there is a saying, “After the rain, the sky clears.” Similarly, the way Myanmar’s people find hope after hardship and continue moving forward with smiles on their faces is like a light guiding the way to the future. It is a mindset that we, and indeed people around the world, should never forget in today’s turbulent times.
Yin May Aung
Nickname:May
3rd-year student, College of International Management
(Article Source : Oita Godo Shimbun, November 25, 2025, Morning Edition)
Based on a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Oita Godo Newspaper, since January 2022, Student PR Assistants (SPA) have been contributing their interviews with international students to the life and culture section of the newspaper’s morning edition. SPA will introduce different cultures and the interesting topics they raise from an authentic, student perspective. These student writers take this opportunity to get the newspaper’s readership and students interested in the world. They also aim to improve their skills with the aid of professional editors.
I want to write articles that will help APU students love their university even more! Additionally, I aim to share the greatness of APU that only current students understand with middle and high school students interested in APU!
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