The participation of the CNMI group was a Sponsored by the Marianas Visitors Authority.
Pacific Development Inc. director Gordon Marciano said the Domatsuri Festival, which brought 1 million people to Nagoya, including up to 100 groups of performers from all over Japan, warmly welcomed the CNMI team.
“The other performers provided full support as the CNMI team was the smallest to enter festival,” Marciano said.
During their stay in Nagoya, the CNMI team performed at several venues
Marciano said members of the audience were thrilled by the CNMI performances which showcased a different style of cultural dance.
“We were a small group with a big heart and a large-scale promotion,” he added.
Gordon said as part of their effort to promote the CNMI in Japan, the goodwill ambassadors passed out Saipanda goods and “I love Saipan” t-shirts to performers and families who attended the festival.
The festival attracted performers from all over Japan and other countries whose participation was supported by their chambers of commerce.
“The performers promoted the attractions of their region in different ways — through food, national flowers, dance, clothing and other emblems but most of all, they promoted their regions and shared their cultures through goodwill and friendship,” Marciano said.
This was the first time the CNMI was chosen as one of the judges the final competition for the children and junior category, he added.
“We would like to extend our special thanks to MVA, Chamolinian Cultural Inc., PDI, Star Sands with I love Saipan Brand and the governor’s office for all their support,” Gordon said.
The CNMI group left for Nagoya on Aug. 26 and returned to Saipan last Monday.
