Together they showcased a colorful and entertaining performance at Koblerville Elementrary School, DFS Galleria and around Paseo de Marianas on Thursday afternoon.
The group from Tokyo was composed of 12 Ohayashi or musicians under master conductor Iwanami Norihiko, four Otoko Happi or men dancers, two Onna Happi or women dancers, and four Onna Odori dancers.
The Saipan Awaodori Team is composed of 50 members — six of them Ohayashi or musicians playing big Japanese drums and snare drums, and the rest are dancers from the Koblerville, Tanapag and Gualo Rai youth centers.
Sonia Siwa of PDM Promoters Inc. said the additional feature this year were the kimono dancers.
“It’s exciting to see such a lively performance with all the feet-thumping and the chanting from the dancers, and I would like to preserve this in my camera,” a European tourist told the Variety.
The Tokyo Tensuiren group left Saipan on Saturday.
PDM Promoters Inc. recognized the annual major sponsors and presented plaques of appreciation during the anniversary program at the Paseo de Marianas on Thursday night.
This year’s major event sponsors were DFS Galleria, Docomo Pacific, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant and Furusato Restaurant.
PDM Promoters also recognized the event supporters: the Office of the Governor, the Women’s Affairs Office, the Youth Affairs Office, the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, the Department of Public Safety, other government agencies and establishments.
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