HUNDREDS of community members gathered at the Paseo De Marianas in Garapan on Saturday for the 2022 Japanese Autumn Festival.
The annual cultural event was not held for the past two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year, it coincided with the 37th anniversary of the Katori Shrine and the 15th anniversary of the Saipan Awaodori team.
The ceremony started at 6 p.m. with a ceremonial breaking of a sake barrel which was followed by the Tokyo Tensuiren and Saipan Awaodori teams performing the Awaodori dance.
Kinpachi, Furusato and Himawari restaurants offered authentic Japanese dishes while several fun booths provided games to children.
Special Assistant to the Saipan Mayor Henry S. Hofschneider said it was wonderful that the annual Japanese festival is back and that members of the local community had come out to enjoy and appreciate Japanese culture which, he added, remains a vital part of the islands’ history.
Gordon Marciano, who is a regular fixture of the annual event as its master of ceremonies, noted the presence of the Tokyo Tensuiren dancers who were also back on island for the festival.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on this year,” he said. “Our community members are out and enjoying the taste of Japan and the games — so thank you to our community for coming out.”
Paseo De Marianas Promoters Inc.’s Misako Kamata said, with the Tokyo Tensuiren dancers back on island, the Saipan Awaodori children were really happy that they were performing together again.
As for this year’s turnout, she said: “It is so surprising. I did not expect the crowd to be this big.”
The Saipan Awaodori children perform during the opening of the Japanese Autumn Festival at the Paseo De Marianas on Saturday.
Community members wait for their turn to purchase food from vendors during the Japanese Autumn Festival at the Paseo De Marianas on Saturday.
A boy aims at a target as his father looks on at one of the fun booths during the Japanese Autumn Festival at the Paseo De Marianas on Saturday.
