Japanese school marks 11th trip

Over a hundred students from Japan’s Seisa Gakuen and Aoba School made their over decades-long educational trip to Saipan public schools yesterday.

Headed by school principal Kuboki Satoshi, a total of 120 Japanese students arrived on island last Wednesday where a special dinner was hosted by local counterparts at Marianas High School.

Yesterday, half of the group joined students from San Antonio Elementary School as they celebrated their annual cultural week.

Frank Demapan, a sixth grade teacher and co-chair of yesterday’s event, said this year marks the biggest delegation from Seisa Gakuen ever accommodated by the school.

“This is the biggest group we’ve ever accommodated and we’re happy to host them in their 11th year,” Demapan said, adding that special activities are planned for both local and foreign students.

In a welcome ceremony, both groups rendered cultural performances and exchanged gifts as a symbol of the schools’ partnership.

The visitors, along with their local counterparts, were seen enjoying each other’s company during the banana painting project on campus. Traditional games and other sports activities also wowed the visiting students as well as the sharing of lunch with their counterparts.

Demapan said a tree-planting activity served as the event’s highlight because students were asked to plant one for the other school as a symbol of their friendship.

“We want all students to know and understand other cultures of the world. By doing this cultural exchange, they learn to appreciate and build respect among each other and that’s our goal,” Demapan said, adding that the Japanese school is the only foreign school that is constantly visiting their counterparts this time of the year.

According to Japanese teacher Mariko Saito, the annual trip excites the kids.

Besides cultural activities with San Antonio and Marianas High School, the group is also scheduled to visit the island’s historical spots. They are scheduled to go back to Japan on Monday.

For sixth grader Diana Aquino, interacting with their Japanese counterparts gives her a chance to build her confidence and trust in other people.

She said while her partner enjoyed the banana-painting activity, she was having fun with Japanese origami.

Donovan Iba, sixth grader, said he’s proud to share with his counterpart the CNMI national anthem and the school’s Peace Builder’s pledge.