KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — The Software Engineering Society (SOF-EA), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Kuala Lumpur successfully organized their very first SOF-EA Day 2026 in conjunction with English Matsuri 2026 and SOF-EA Gameathon 2026 at Menara Razak, UTM, bringing together creativity, language, technology, and Japanese culture in one spectacular student-led event.

The programme began in the morning with opening remarks by the SOF-EA Club Advisor, Ts. Dr. Nur Farhana Hordri, who introduced the Japanese concept of ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会), which reflects the importance of cherishing once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Then the preliminary rounds for both the English Matsuri and the SOF-EA Gameathon 2026 began. English Matsuri featured three competitions: Public Speaking judged by Kain Masters and Nadhrah Redzuan, Storytelling judged by Afza Humairah Hazarudin and Dr. Ahmad Faiz Mohammad, and Spelling Bee judged by Ahmad Afif Mohd Haizam, aimed at cultivating confidence, creativity, and English communication skills among students.

Meanwhile, SOF-EA Gameathon 2026 gathered talented student developers who showcased original games inspired by the theme “日本の文化 (Nihon no Bunka)” or Japanese Culture.

Throughout the day, visitors and guests had the opportunity to experience the Gameathon showcase, where participants demonstrated their creativity through interactive game prototypes inspired by Japanese folklore, traditions, and aesthetics.

UTM Kuala Lumpur Director of the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Aminudin Hj. Abu, representing the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs Alumni), was seen engaging directly with the games and expressing admiration for the students’ innovation and cultural interpretation.

The Dean of MJIIT, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain also visited the showcase and interacted with participants alongside distinguished guests from the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL) and English Speaking Union (ESU) Malaysia.

The preliminary round of the SOF-EA Gameathon was judged by lecturers from SOF-EA, Dr. Siti Nur Khadijah Aishah Ibrahim and Dr. Neo Chin Chea, sensei from the Japanese Language Cultural Center (JLCC), Hasparina Abdul Ghafar and Maiko Okunishi and two industry experts, Dzarien Nadiera and Ir. Ts. Ahmad Fuad Ibrahim.

The Grand Finals officially commenced at Dewan Azman Hashim, UTM Kuala Lumpur, beginning with the arrival of the Dean of MJIIT, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain; SOF-EA Club Advisor Ts. Dr. Nur Farhana Hordri; and distinguished judges from ESU Malaysia, Jagdish Bhain and Jay Ishak. The Dean of MJIIT gave an officiating remark for the Grand Finals and was quoted saying “「千里の道も一歩から」Senri no michi mo ippo kara. “Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

The English Matsuri Public Speaking Finals carried the theme “Echo Through Eternity,” inspired by the Japanese concept of Ikigai, while the Storytelling Finals challenged secondary school participants with the theme “The Moment Everything Changed.”

In a unique twist, storytelling contestants had to creatively incorporate randomly displayed Japanese-related images such as sushi and Godzilla into their stories every one minute and thirty seconds, testing both spontaneity and imagination.

Halfway through the Public Speaking Finals, the event was further honoured by the arrival of the Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, His Excellency Shikata Noriyuki, who attended as Chief Judge for the SOF-EA Gameathon 2026 Grand Finals. The Ambassador was seen enjoying the performances by the English Matsuri Grand Finalist and engaging warmly with the participants.

The SOF-EA Gameathon Grand Finals featured the Top 5 finalist teams from various institutions, including teams from MJIIT and UTM Johor Bahru. Alongside H.E. Shikata, the judging panel consisted of Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dev of Culture LLC, Steven L Colon; Deputy Director of Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur, Matsunaga Kazunori; and Software Engineering Course Coordinator at UTM, Dr. Zatul Alwani Shaffiei.

During the pitching session, H.E. Shikata actively engaged with the finalists, asking insightful questions regarding Japanese culture and even expressing surprise and nostalgia upon discovering lesser-known yokai references featured within the games.

Following the judging deliberation, the event proceeded with the closing remarks delivered by SOF-EA President and Programme Director, Wan Zafirzan Wan Tarmizan, who was quoted as saying, “True champions are not remembered only by trophies, but by the courage to stand, to speak, to create, and to inspire. To every participant, volunteer, and committee member. May your efforts and voices echo through eternity”, before concluding with chief judge summaries, award presentations, token of appreciation ceremonies for judges and sponsors, and an energetic Yosakoi performance that ended the event on a high note.

As a symbolic conclusion to the programme, H.E. Shikata Noriyuki also joined the Software Engineering lecturers of MJIIT and the SOF-EA organizing committee members for a commemorative group photo session, celebrating a shared commitment towards youth innovation, cultural understanding, and Malaysia-Japan collaboration.

Big shoutout to all SOF-EAns for making this event into a reality, and shoutout to two of the SOF-EA Vice Presidents for their leadership during the event, Akina Aishah Yeap and Wan Aishah Megat Shaiful.

The organizing committee would also like to express its sincere appreciation to all sponsors and supporting organizations, namely MagicX, ELS Language Centres, IIStudy, and JFKL, for their valuable support and contribution towards the success of SOF-EA Day 2026.

In the spirit of 一期一会 (ichi-go ichi-e), SOF-EA Day 2026 was more than just a celebration of language, technology, and culture. It was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter where students, educators, industry professionals, and distinguished guests came together to create meaningful connections and unforgettable memories. Through every speech, performance, showcase, and shared laughter, the event reflected the power of youth, friendship, and Malaysia-Japan collaboration that will continue to inspire long after the curtains closed.