The 15 members of Aoi Keike Gekidan, an amateur theatrical group, stayed on island from June 9 to 12.
PDA sales marketing assistant manager Hiroko Tagima said they also accommodated the 36-member Dream Hula team from Fussa City, Tokyo, Japan from June 9 to 11.
She said Aoi Keiki Gekidan was established 13 years ago in Shizuoka City, Japan.
Many Japanese soldiers from Shizuoka City fought and died on Saipan, she added.
Tagima said the Japanese temple Nanmeido was built near the Sugar King Park in honor of the soldiers.
The temple’s priest, Reverend Shinryu Akita, is from Shizuoka City, she said.
The Aoi Keiki Gekidan group performed a classical comical Japanese drama, “Mori no Ishimatsu,” at the multi-purpose center last Friday night.
“It was open to the public. And although the drama was in Japanese, locals enjoyed their performance including the mayor of Saipan, Donald Flores,” Tagima said.
The Dream Hula team, for their part, participated in the 30th Flame Tree Art Festival at American Memorial Park.
Misao Kasono, the group leader, has been teaching hula to various groups for 19 years now.
Kasono suffered a serious illness 21 years ago but while she was in bed, she decided to take up a hobby that she could enjoy after her recovery — the hula dance.
“The Kasono family likes Saipan very much. It was their long time dream to show their dance performance in Saipan,” Tagima said.
“They considered it a pleasure to perform at Flame Tree Art Festival,” Tagima added.
“They believe it is most important to enjoy dancing and be friends to each others. Though dancing, they would like to be friends with the people of Saipan,” she said.
Angel Hocog presented a plaque of appreciation to the mayor of Fussa City and a certificate of appreciation to all the Dream Hula members after their performance at the festival.
Kasono said Japan is “strong” and will soon recover.
“We made it to Saipan and so can others. It may take more time but Japanese tourists will be back to Saipan,” she said.
