The Japan Fair met with positive and enthusiastic response with more than a hundred people attending the half-day event.
Among the attendees were scores of students from the different elementary and high schools in Palau. Also present were some Filipinos and Americans.
Prominent personalities who graced the affair include Japanese Ambassador to Palau Yoshiyuki Sadaoka, the ambassador’s wife Yoshiko and Palau President Johnson Toribiong.
The attendees got the chance to sample the delicious mochi dumplings and learn more about Japan and its culture by visiting the different booths set up for the occasion.
Guests and participants were also entertained by a series of cultural performances and participated in fun-filled activities featured in the event.
Activities include the embassy quiz, song performances by Japanese Language School students, Palau Community College students and JICA volunteers, other intermission numbers, a Yukata photo session, name writing in Katakana, and Origami.
Participants also got the chance to “Travel through Japan” via presentations on the country’s various prefectures and attractions by Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.
Kengo Yoshizawa presented Snowy Hokkaido; Masashi Kurita, Big City Tokyo; Saori Sakaoka, Industrial Chubu; Kyori Murao, Kuidaore Osaka; and Ami Sato, Volcanic Kyushu.
There was also the well-applauded performance of Sansin or Japanese traditional three-string instrument by Tomohiro Odai and company, as well as a three-peat performance by Michika Sekiguchi, a former performer with the Gekidan Shiki, a very famous Japanese theatrical group.
Kaipo Recheungel, graduate of Professional Training Program, and Chris Kitalong, graduate of Post Graduate Program, also shared their experiences with Japanese Government Scholarship to demonstrate to students the opportunities for higher education associated with the learning of Japanese language.
It was learned that the sharing of experiences was aimed at motivating those who are already studying Japanese to study harder and strive to be outstanding students that they may avail themselves of the opportunity to study the Japanese language and culture in Japan through the Japanese Government Scholarship.
For those who are not studying the language, the sharing was aimed at enticing them to study the language with these opportunities.
Formerly known as the Japanese Language Fair, the 1st Japan Fair was staged primarily to promote awareness of the Japanese culture and foster closer ties with Palau.
Also, the activity was aimed at promoting the Japanese language as well as Japanese government scholarships and other educational and training opportunities for students.
The Japan Embassy held the Fair in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Office of Palau, Japanese Language School, and the Palau Association of Japanese Government Scholars.
