PRAESIDIUM 2022-2023

Vice-Praeses – Hobbes Carnewal

Hey everyone! My name is Hobbes I’m 20 years old and I’m the vice-praeses for this year.

Some of the things I like to do as a pastime are sports and working in my backyard. During holidays I often go on places and going sightseeing with friends. Whilst travelling or when I want to relax at home I also like reading science fiction novels.

When I’m in between classes in Ghent I’m either eating or hanging out in the cafeteria of the Blandijn campus. If anyone needs to reach me they can send me something through any of my socials and I’ll try to respond as quick as possible. 

Treasurer – Sander Willaert

Hello! I’m Sander and am the treasurer for Tomo no Kai 🙂

I’ve finished my last semester of Bachelor Japanese studies with a wonderful exchange at Hitotsubashi University in Kunitachi. It’s an experience I’ll never forget and I will never stop missing but there’s lot’s more ahead.

I’m technically not a Japanese Studies student anymore, as I’ve started focusing on EU-Studies but you’ll still see me around. I enjoy playing old school CRPG style games, besides weird strategy games. I thoroughly enjoy seals as they are the greatest animals around. Me and lovely Asma also have the cutest seal plushie in the world.

生きて、笑って、愛す

Webmaster – Ekaterina Buggenhout (Katja)

Hey! I’m this years Webmaster Katja. I’ll cut to the chase and say already that I may not always seem as approachable, but just walk up to me, say hi and introduce yourself and who knows maybe you’ll end up liking me as a friend (or not, that’s all up to you). I’m quite a bit blunt and may have an interesting humour so it’s fine if you don’t always understand it.

Besides all my seriousness and bluntness, I also know how to have fun in my own way (which may seem like I’m not having fun but like trust me, I am having fun just in a quieter way usually). Well, I’m sure you’ll find out more about me when you get to know me.

That aside, I think the most common places to find me on campus is inside of the cafeteria or the coffee corner or the Japanese garden. And if the weather is a little colder, a green or orange hoodie is what I usually wear. I know it’s flashy but not really. Also of course on our events. If you see me, feel free to speak to me if you have any questions!

And as a finishing touch, I like poetry, gaming (not everything but yeah), music, photography, painting, writing, movies, I lost track… I may not be knowledgeable in it all but I’m trying my best. I hope to see you around!

Secretary – Anke De Koninck

I always find it hard to introduce myself, because how can I explain my entire being in just 200-250 words and how can I know if one fact about me is more important or interesting than another.

My name is Anke, 23 years old (when writing this of course). I don’t really have a special purpose in life, just getting through university first and then stressing about finding a job that fits me. Things that keep me going in this somewhat scary, exhausting, pressuring society are my cat, romance/slice of life/yuri manga and lots of series to binge watch. I live my life from day to day without much worry (except for exams, when I have to give a presentation and thinking about my future which is never a good idea)

When people first get to know me (if they give me a chance of course, because life as a ginger is hard), I can come off as a bit overwhelming and you might get offended by me, but that’s just because of my sarcasm and tactlessness which you will get used to after a while (or you immediately decide that you don’t like me and we never talk again which is really sad – for you)

PR-Intern – Asma Tal

AYO it’s your girl Asma, your PR-intern of this school year! You probably have seen me during the weekly announcements on Mondays. If you haven’t seen me there you can regularly find me in the cafeteria eating an abomination of a meal or talking to my close friends. I spend my time outside of school with working at my regular job at a curry restaurant, but I occasionally work at some random place to make some more cash. I really wanted to be the PR-intern of this year so I can interact more to with the new students. Each year interesting people join Japanology, and I want to meet them as soon as possible.

Of course, as the person who’s responsible for TNOKs social media it’s no secret that I love social media. Mostly Discord, Tiktok and Instagram. I even was able to meet up this summer with my online friends in Scandinavia and genuine had the best time of my life. Most of my online friends live in Europe.

My favorite things in life right now are my friends, Sander and my seal plushie Wilson. I’m currently watching Breaking Bad, The Boys and HBO Rome. I’m also trying to get into map games like EU4, HOI4 and such and such at the moment. But I always loved Visual Novels. I secretly had a Dangan Ronpa phase in my teenage years, but the thing is, it wasn’t a well-kept secret because I always wanted to talk about it lol.

PR-Extern – Tom Patoor

My name is Tom, I’m the PR-Extern praeses for Tomo no Kai this year. I fell in love with Japan and their culture after travelling there with my parents. We started cooking Japanese food at home like Ramen and Katsudon. My mom even started watching anime which my father had already been doing since the nineties.

That being said I don’t study Japanology. I feel like I’m not motivated or good enough at studying. So I ended up joining Tomo no Kai out of pure interest and because my best friend Nathan (party praeses) studies Japanology. I’m trying to study some basic Japanese as a hobby though but so far I haven’t gone anywhere with that.

My hobbies are mainly playing games and going on late night walks with friends. Every now and then I will also visit an art gallery or a museum. Once in a blue moon I will go to a play just to leave disappointed afterwards because of how overly abstract they usually are but that’s life I guess.

Design – Hannelore Buggenhout

I’m this year’s Design, Hannelore. Perhaps cliché for a designer, but I took on this function because I really enjoy art. Whether it be looking at other people’s work or painting it myself, I can spend hours on art. I find it fascinating how it can turn both the ugly and the beautiful in this world into something mesmerising, something you just want to keep looking at.

Other than painting, I have also been doing dance for almost as long as I can remember. This is another great way of expression, and I burn calories while doing it. The perfect win-win situation, I’d say.

To be quite honest, I’m having trouble writing this introduction. I must not be a very interesting person. However, I have two cats that are very cute. That is everything you need to know about me, really. The rest is of lesser importance.

Scriptor – Margot De Smet

Hello my lovely Tomo no Kai members, this is your scriptor and Praesidium mom-friend, Margot speaking! Sadly, I will not be meeting any of you in person during the first semester, since I am currently studying at Ryukoku University in Kyoto! I will still be fulfilling my duties all the way from sunrise land however, writing and curating our lovely little magazine for all you lovely people to enjoy.

Since we can’t meet in person, let me tell you a bit more about myself. Here are some random facts about me:

Behind this facade of a serious adult human hides an actual child. I have about the same interests as my 6 yo niece. My toy/figure collection is just proof that children should not have credit cards.

I love and live music. I was definitely the emo kid in high school (and I can say with confidence that it was not a phase). I’ve always been open to a lot of different music though, and I love to discover new things. But please keep the average, 13 in a dozen pop song far away from me. I only tolerate those at Eurovision and in The Masked Singer. I also love books, movies and stories in general (which is why I also like D&D, for example). I love sharing stories with everyone (e.g. Yokai stories)And I even convinced my professors to allow me to essentially write my thesis about Disney movies. “I’m not just watching a movie, this is research, mom!”

Party – Nathan Godecharle

Hey, hello my name is Nathan Godecharle. I’m the Tomo no kai Party praeses of this year, it is my first time but I’ll try my very very best. I’m really interested in Japanese media such as anime, manga and music but I’m in love with the Japanese kitchen. I love eating Japanese food as well as cooking it. Some of my favorite dishes are takoyaki, sushi, tempura, yakitori, okonomiyaki, ramen and so on. As for music, some of my favorite artists are Masayoshi Takanaka, Junko Ohashi, KANA-BOON, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION etc. Other than Japanese interests I also like to game and go on late night walks with my friends.

I also have a student job at an event agency called mise en place. I love working there because I get to interact with a lot of new people and learn new stuff. I also love the clothes we get to wear because it makes me feel fancy every time I work :).

I joined the Tomo no kai praesidium because I love the people here. I loved it so much in fact that I roped in my best friend Tom into it as well. I am a very social person so don’t be afraid to talk to me, I don’t bite.

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” – Mark Twain

Culture 1 – Madieke Verstraeten

My name is Madieke and this year I will be one of two (culture people idk). I’ll be less available on campus this year, but you can definitly contact me with your questions or remarks through our Discord or other social media.

Now, I’m supposed to talk about my hobbies as a way of portraying my personality but I doubt it shows much aside from me being a real homebody: I love listening to music, I regularly watch and follow streamers, I draw and paint often, I like drinking and trying tea, I love making and trying new foods (I make amazing kimchi), I like taking care of my plants, I love cosplay and I also game a lot. Just the generally cosy and creative stuff really works well for me. Perhaps it’s my tendency of getting tired easily, but I like my peace.

I’m also quite interested in traditional clothing like kimono. I wouldn’t call it a hobby necessarily but I do have a few of them and it is a dream of mine to try and get a certification one day on the topic of traditional Japanese clothing and how to wear them. Sooner or later, I’m not picky with my time, it’ll happen one day and it’ll be delightful.

I’ll wrap it up right here. I’d like to abide to the word limit and you’ll see me around anyway.

Culture 2 – Alex Mathieu

My name is Alex and I’m one of the culture representatives! I’m a second year student but studied history at Ghent University already. I am really into Japanese music (Alternative rock-Punk-Jpop, etc…) and I love reading books (Sayaka Murata, Terry Pratchett, …). I’m also a big tea fan! If you want to learn more about any of these topics feel free to ask me! You’ll find me often in book stores around Ghent, or in my kitchen at home cooking a bunch.

“Cooking has a way of giving port in a storm” -Frenchie

Sport – Samuel Sapulette

Maybe my Asian roots are the reason for my interest in the east Asian cultures, I have had this interest since I was a kid. My anime obsession also emerged when I was a kid, Dragonball Z was my life. (laughs)

I finally started watching a lot of different anime in my teenage years, but when I was 18, my world was turned upside down by the best thing that has ever happened to me: One Piece! It is the best piece of fiction ever created and my greatest source of happiness, I hold it dear to my heart. Make sure to approach me if you want to have an hours long conversation about it, if you have not seen the greatest masterpiece in human history yet, come see me so I can enlighten you. Having seen One Piece and having ascended to being the ultimate entity that is also the coolest otaku ever to set foot on this planet, my willpower was restored and I decided to chase my dream. And so after a few years of adventure, the destiny of the age ultimately brought me to this place in the present, here in Tomo no Kai.

When it comes to sports, I have always been a man who is fond of the best sport ever, namely football, but when I turned 19, I finally decided to train my body so it can be strong enough to carry out the will and wishes of my spirit with outmost precision and complete success. Alas, I have been slacking the past two years but I am now here to pick it up the grind again!

My name is Samuel Sapulette, I am currently 23 years old and will be in charge of all sport related events this year. Pleased to meet you!

Study – Katrien Vlaeminck

My name is Katrien and I am the study praeses. I am a second year student but I have studied Chinese before starting with Japanese. These days I have a slight obsession with the ‘80s, especially ‘80s music (Tears For Fears and Bryan Adams are my current favorite artists). Stranger Things is partially responsible for this obsession. Furthermore, I really like going on hikes, cooking, writing, and reading. My favorite book is and will always be ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J.R.R. Tolkien. So if you’re a fellow Stranger Things and Lord of the Rings fan you can always talk to me about it! You can always find me in the proximity of cats, in my bed at my dorm or at the Efteling.

“You are a dreamer, and that is your misfortune.” – Hans Christian Andersen

Lustrum – Brechje Schoenmaekers

I am a third year student Japanology. I combine the Lustrum position in Tomo no Kai with the Student Council of her faculty. To relax I enjoy listening to music and playing the violin in orchestra and solo.

Godfather and Headmaster of East-Asian Language and Culture studies with major in Japanese (Japanology) – Professor Andreas Niehausdfather and Headmaster of Japanology – Andreas Niehaus