Chinese and Japanese House
The Elf House is the Chinese and Japanese cultural immersion house. It serves as a residence for up to 12 students interested in Chinese and Japanese languages and cultures (for which Colorado College has language programs). Besides serving as a student residence, the house also provides a space for gatherings and events hosted primarily by Cultural Program Coordinators from China and Japan, in liaison with the Chinese and Japanese language programs, as well as the Asian Studies Program.
The Elf House is an inclusive space that also welcomes gatherings and events in the CC community that share and celebrate other Asian and Asian diasporic cultures (broadly conceived). The first-floor common area has a shared full kitchen and a raised platform with tatami mats, which provide a comfortable area for students to rest, study, and build community, all while looking out at the beautiful Japanese garden!
Learn more about the Chinese and Japanese House.The Garden
In 2003, Master Gardener Takashi Hayashi came from Tokyo, Japan, to spend five weeks in the garden.
He designed the garden and worked with groundskeeper Jerry Switzer and Horticulturist Cecelia Gonzales on a variety of stages of the project, including securing the materials from around the United States. Colorado College grounds people worked with Mr. Hayashi in the mornings. Students in the FYE Japanese Language and Culture course, taught by Joan Ericson, applied their classroom readings and discussion to this project; they interacted with Mr. Hayashi as they helped to create the garden in the afternoons and on some weekends.
Cultural Program Coordinators
Chinese CPC 2026-27 - Yini Zheng
Yini Zheng is a second-year graduate student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Fudan University. She holds a B.A. in Advertising from Zhejiang University of Technology. Her research interests include cross-cultural communication and digital publishing.
Japanese CPC 2026-27 Ayano Masuda
I grew up in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. You might picture skyscrapers and a bustling city, but I’m actually from a suburban area. Tokyo also has a lot of beautiful nature. In my free time, I enjoy crafting, watching TV, listening to podcasts, and chatting with friends. I also love cooking, so I’m really looking forward to hosting events and making Japanese dishes with all of you!
Japanese is a beautiful language that is deeply connected to its culture. I hope I can inspire you to learn more about both the language and culture. I’m excited to share my experiences and knowledge, and I look forward to learning a lot from you as well!