Tenorio, who met with the Saipan Awaodori dancers and the Paseo de Marianas Promoters Inc., which is organizing the trip, congratulated the group for being chosen to represent the island.
“Congratulations for being chosen as the best from over 60 members of the dance team. I urge you to do your best and promote Saipan to the people of Japan,” Tenorio told the group in the MVA conference hall on Friday afternoon.
This year’s representatives to the Awaodori Festival in Koenji are Sheena Saures Virginia Imperial, Eliza Lazaro, Cody Litulumar, Itheyvien They, Thyrie Ann They, Ronald Fitipol and group leader Jinky Kintaro.
Sonia Siwa of PDM Promoters Inc. said it will be Fitipol’s second time and Kintaro’s third to join the Awaodori Festival in Japan.
The Saipan Awaodori Team will also get a chance to visit the MVA office in Japan.
PDM Promoters Inc. directors Misako Kamata of Kinpachi Restaurant and Hideaki Sawada of Furusato Restaurant also accompanied the team during the meeting with MVA.
The group will be leaving for Japan on Thursday morning.
The Koenji Awaodori Festival, slated for Aug. 28-29, is the second largest Awaodori festival in Japan, next to the festival in Tokushima.
Over 200 groups consisting of over 12,000 dancers are expected to perform and delight locals and tourists. The event will be covered by all media outlets in Japan.
