PanAsia 2004, a 10-day series of events celebrating Asian culture, kicks off Wednesday with an opening ceremony at the I-House. Following a banquet from 5 to 7 p.m., the ceremony will feature a keynote address from the curator and director of the Asian Pacific American Program at the Smithsonian Institute, Franklin Odo, and a performance by the nationally renowned Mango Tribe. Also on Wednesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., there will be a martial arts display on Bartlett Quad.

Odo will speak about his life at a brown-bag lunch Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Bartlett Lounge. Also on Thursday, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Judd 111, there will be an exploratory panel on Japan’s troop involvement in Iraq. “Food, Film and Fusion,” a three-day film series, will begin Thursday as well.

Other events to be held over the 10 days will include political conferences, a sushi-rolling seminar, workshops, and comedy. PanAsia 2004 will culminate with an Asian-American indie rock concert from 8-10 p.m. at Hutch Commons. MirrorAmerica, Jenny Choi and the Third Shift, and Triple Whip will perform.

For more information, please see the PanAsia 2004 website at panasia.uchicago.edu.