By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

SAIPAN Mayor Juan B. Tudela says local students who participated in a one-week winter cultural exchange program enjoyed their stay in Japan.
The mayor arrived on Wednesday morning from Nagoya City with the students — Francisco Roberto Babauta, John Babauta, David John Cepeda, Joel DLG. Evangelista, Angela Edlyn Pinaula, Daniel Quitugua, Andrew David Roberto, Raymond H. Santos, John James Tudela Labausa, John Francisco T. Villagomez all of Saipan Southern High School, Johnny Tudela Aldan Jr., Dinalet Jones, of Grace Christian Academy; Soo Young Lee and Jamie Fejeran of Northern Marianas Academy and Deborah Lee of Marianas Baptist Academy.
Tudela said he and the high school students visited the cities of Nantan, Kyoto, Otsu and Nagano.
At Nantan they were welcomed by Mayor Toshimori Sasaki, other city officials and the four Japanese students who visited Saipan in August last year.
The CNMI students performed cultural songs and dances which were a “hit” among the Japanese audience, the mayor said. Afterward, the students were taken to the Sonobe Observatory.
They were also able to see exotic and domestic animals at the Kyoto Zoo before they visited Mayor Makoto Mekata in Otsu where they also saw the 1,250-year old Enrayku Temple.
The students shopped at the Kyoto City Mall before they were given a welcome party by the Sanpo-En high priest, Kansho Kayaki.
According to the mayor, the high priest assured him that the exchange program will be held annually and Sanpo-en students will continue to visit Saipan every summer.
The CNMI students were able to learn about fresh water marine life and the transformation of a lake when they visited Biwa, the largest fresh water lake in Japan. The lake is approximately five times the size of Saipan.
In Nagano City, the Saipan students stayed with their Japanese host families and, in the process, learned something of Japanese culture, tradition and contemporary life styles.
The host families took most of the students to the mountain so they could enjoy the snow.
Tudela said he, Joyama Elementary School vice principal and the Nagano City school superintendent “verbally committed to continue the cultural exchange program.”
After performing traditional Chamorro songs and dances for the second time, the Saipan students participated in a final “sayonara” exchange at Joyama Elementary School.