Takoyaki Day

On 4 September 2025, the International Relations Office (IRO) transformed into a lively culinary kitchen for Takoyaki Day—a warm cultural exchange gathering centered around cooking, conversation, and delicious street food.

The special highlight of the afternoon was having Deny Willy Junaidy, S.Sn., M.T, Ph.D., lecturer from the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD), take on the role of head chef! Together with Japanese exchange students, peers from FSRD, and team members from the Directorate of Partnerships, everyone gathered to prepare and cook authentic Japanese takoyaki from scratch.

Pak Deny Willy Junaidy alongside Japanese students and participants sharing smiles during the event setup.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement as participants gathered around the takoyaki pans, taking turns pouring batter, flipping the golden octopus balls, and topping them off with savory sauces, bonito flakes, and seaweed.

Under the guidance of Pak Deny and Japanese students who shared their native tips and techniques, everyone mastered the art of flipping the batter to achieve that perfect spherical shape.

Cooperative cooking: Pak Deny and Japanese students flipping takoyaki and carefully plating the finished dish.

Once all the batches were ready, everyone sat down together to enjoy the delicious results of their collective effort. More than just a cooking session, Takoyaki Day provided a casual space for international students and ITB staff to share cultural stories, connect across disciplines, and build lasting friendships over good food.