“Each year, the Japanese students visit the public school,” said event coordinator and kindergarten teacher Rita Carreon. “This is our 13th annual cultural exchange with Seisa Aoba school.”
The Japanese students, performed the Yosakoi dance with their San Antonio counterparts.
Kengo Ichimura, one of the Japanese students, told the local students: “Even though we can’t communicate in English we can use body language.”
According to Seisa Aoba Saipan coordinator Eleanor Tudela Tenorio, the visitors “are all high school students sharing their culture with our sixth grade students. They come to San Antonio to share their culture. They also shared their knowledge and traditions in paper craft.”
Although there was a language barrier among the students, they were able to interact with each other.
The Japanese students were able to socialize and practice their English language skills in Catherine Acera-Cabrera’s classroom.
The Japanese students and the local students bonded through a banana printing project and made colorful bags together.
The rest of the day’s activities consisted of an ice cream party, sports and games at the ballfield and tree planting.
Fifteen students, three chaperones and Seisa Aoba school principal Satoshi Kuboki visited San Antonio.
A certificate of appreciation was later presented to the visiting students: Tatsuro Arisue, Syohei Lizuka, Kaichi Ikeda, Kengo Ichimura, Takuya Ito, Shingo Imoto, Takeshi Ohashi, Mikiya Sato, Yuki Takahashi,Yoshihito Takahashi, Takatoshi Takami, Yukiyoshi Nishi, Ritsuki Matsuyama, Mikiya Morooka and Risa Yoshikawa
A thank you and farewell banquet will be held at the Saipan World Resort today at 5 p.m.
