Event coordinator Hiroko Tajima, Pacific Development Inc., assistant manager, said five students and two teachers from Satake High School arrived on Feb. 22 as the group of Japanese students from Johoku High School left the island.
Both high schools are in the Ibaraki Prefecture of Japan.
PDI has been assisting cultural exchange students from Japan for many years now.
The students from Sataka were Misaki Goto, 17; Risa Ogi, 16; Saki Akutsu, 17; Yuji Nishino, 17; and Kosaku Akino, 17.
The Kagman High School students who hosted the Japanese students were Jodhi Mae Norita, 19; Rosemary Yamada, 18; Ritchell Jane Dela Cruz, 18;Christoper Mendiola, 17; and Maru Christoper Aldan.
This was the third time that Satake High School sent students to Saipan.
In their previous two trips to the island, the students visited Northern Marianas College, Tajima said.
“This year, they decided to visit the local high school to meet with local students of their same age,” she added.
Japanese teacher Takao Inaba, who accompanied the students, said the visit to Kagman High School was very fruitful.
“Our students had more chance to communicate with local students and to get closer with them,” he said.
Another teacher, Akira Oshima, said he was impressed with the beauty of Saipan, especially the ocean.
Tajima said the Japanese students visited Kagman High School for two days.
They also saw the island’s tourist and historical sites, learned about the history of Saipan and rode a boat to snorkel, she said.
They also learned banana painting, weaving, bead-making, mwar-making, coconut oil-making, and sand candle-making.
They left the island on Feb. 26.
