Palauan Students thrilled about Judo & Kimono Events
The Embassy of Japan successfully wrapped up Japan Culture Week from July 16th to July 19th, marking a vibrant tribute to two significant milestones in 2024: the 30th anniversary of the Japan-Palau diplomatic relations and Palau’s 30th Independence Day. This cultural celebration was held concurrently with the 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM10) that was held in Tokyo from July 16th to July 18th.
Throughout the week, Judo coaches from V-Technology Company, Ms. Nae Udaka and Ms. Yuka Watabe, along with Kimono master from Nakakoma Orimono Ms. Yuko Nakajima, held cultural exchanges programs through presentations, demonstrations at several schools in Koror, Airai, Peleliu and Angaur. Students of Kayangel Elementary School joined Airai Elementary School students for the event. The students were provided opportunity to learn about the history and the significance of judo, a non-combative form of martial arts and the Japanese traditional attire known as kimono. Children’s faces lit up with joy as girls slipped into a flowery designed kimono and boys donned a black kimono, usually worn by samurai. In addition to the Kimono try-on sessions, students were excited to learn a judo skill and also tried the newly learned technique on the two judo champions, Ms. Udaka and Ms. Watabe. The event surely increased interest from the students to learn more about judo.
It was an exciting week with events that highlighted the value of mutual understanding of cultures to foster a deeper connection between our two countries.