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NMI joins 17th annual Nippon Domannaka Festival
Through the Marianas Visitors Authority and Pacific Development Inc., the Northern Mariana Islands sent a delegation to the 17th Annual Nippon Domannaka Festival held on Aug. 28-30, 2015, in Nagoya, Japan. Participants returned with school supplies and mosquito coils donated by the festival organizers for needy families on Saipan recovering from Typhoon Soudelor.
Members of the Northern Mariana Islands delegation to the 17th Annual Nippon Domannaka Festival pose with local supporters in Japan during the festival, held on Aug. 28-30, 2015, in Japan. (Contributed Photo)
“Despite light showers, this year’s festival was again well received by the public in Japan,” said MVA marketing manager Bruce Bateman. “We’re grateful to have been invited again as one of only a few foreign performing groups, and we are especially grateful for the kindness of the organizers in sending to Saipan school supplies for children affected by the typhoon.”
The donation included 750 mosquito coils, 2,000 pencils, 800 notebooks, and 800 erasers, which were distributed by Team PDI and radio station KKMP to Chacha Oceanview Middle SchoAol, Kagman Elementary School, Garapan Elementary School, and at the station.
“It’s been 13 years since Chamolinian Cultural Village Inc. and Team PDI introduced this cultural exchange program, which is one of the many successful arrangements that we continue to promote through brochures, news media and television nationwide in Japan,” said director Gordon Marciano of PDI. “Our CNMI Domatsuri team continues to foster a goodwill relationship with and to market our destination at Nagoya Domatsuri, one of the biggest summer events in Japan.”
The NMI delegation of indigenous Carolinian dancers was one of 207 teams and 20,000 dancers that entertained over a million festival goers. In addition to performing every day, the group joined festival parades on Aug. 29 and 30. (MVA)
