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Written by Justoria Borja
KOROR, Palau (August 19, 2024) – The rich traditions of Palau and Japan were showcased at a cultural exchange event held at the Maris Stella School auditorium on Monday, bringing together students from Mindszenty High School and the crew of the Japanese destroyer JS Ariake.
Students and sailors took to the stage in the auditorium from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The event included a series of performances, including traditional dance and music, highlighting the cultural ties between the two countries.
Palauan students captivated the audience with traditional war dances and songs, which are usually performed before a battle. They also demonstrated a powerful call to war using a conch shell, immersing the audience in a vivid display of Palauan cultural heritage.
The JS Ariake is a Murasame-class destroyer, meaning “dawn/break of day,” and is assigned to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and is homeported in Sasebo, Nagasaki. During the destroyer’s visit to Palau, a cultural event was held in collaboration with local students. The crew performed music on trumpets and flutes, and a kendo demonstration was held. Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art derived from swordplay and features bamboo swords (shinai) and armor (bōgu). The demonstration was interactive, allowing the audience to participate in the art form.
Meu Akitaya, an 11th grade student at Minzenti High School, found the performance entertaining and educational, and admired the way Japanese culture was presented in combination with Palauan traditions.
The event, which attracted about 100 participants, including the JS Ariake crew, was aimed at deepening cultural ties and fostering friendships between young people from Palau and Japan. Ryo Nishio, Third Secretary and Chief of the Political Affairs Section at the Japanese Embassy in Palau, stressed the importance of such exchanges in strengthening mutual understanding and diplomatic relations.
The cultural exchange is part of a broader initiative to strengthen Palau’s relationship with Japan, with a focus on engaging young people in international diplomacy and cultural appreciation.
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