THE Saipan Awaodori dancers are set to depart for Japan on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, to once again join Awaodori performers in various cities, marking the team’s 17th year of participation in the country’s annual summer festivities.
The young Saipan dancers include Marcela “Momo” Heben, Connie V. Mettao, Julianne V. Mettao, Ina V. Mettao, Ai Nonogaki, Jonathan B. Agulto, Brayden B. Songsong, Leon Lexon Wabol, and O’Ryan Wabol. They will be led by Saipan Awaodori founder and Kinpachi Restaurant president Misako Kamata, along with chaperones Sheena Kang Saures and Zacarias Sakisat.
The first festival they will join is the Katori City Gion Festival in Chiba on July 19, where they will showcase their cultural dance talents for the first time. Katori City has a sister-city relationship with Saipan.
Before participating in the festivals, the team will visit Suginami-ku Sennan Junior High School for an international cultural exchange program.
Their next performance will be at the Tokyo Minato-ku Shirogane Awaodori Festival on July 20. On July 24, they will give a special performance at Suginami Ward Office Agatsuma Product Sazanka Park, followed by participation in the Kitamachi Awaodori Festival in Tokyo Nerima-ku on July 26.
On Aug. 2, the team will travel to Noda City to join the Noda Summer Festival at a local nursing home — also for the first time. The Saipan team will then proceed to Shibukawa to take part in the Shibukawa Float Festival, and on Aug. 23 and 24, they will join fellow Awaodori dancers in the prestigious Tokyo Koenji Awaodori Festival.
It was at the Tokyo Koenji Awaodori Festival in August 2008 that the Saipan Awaodori team held their first off-island performance — a year after the group was formed. This year marks their 18th anniversary.
In addition to the major festivals, the Saipan dancers will perform at senior citizen centers, children’s daycare centers, and industrial sites such as a soy sauce factory in Noda City and Japanese sweets makers in Ome City.
Marcela Heben, who is performing in Japan for the sixth time, said she feels excited to be traveling with new members this year.
Connie Mettao, going for the third time, said she is both excited and challenged, as she will be looking after two new dancers.
Jonathan Agulto, the team’s new drummer, said he is nervous because this will be his first time performing abroad. However, his constant practice has made him confident.
Brayden Songsong, who will also play the drum for the first time, said he is excited to join the performances.
Kamata said the team is especially thrilled to be performing in Katori City — Saipan’s sister city in Chiba — for the first time, as well as in Noda City.
“This year, we are traveling with a new batch of Awaodori dancers,” she said. “They are the new generation of Saipan Awaodori, as some of our longtime members have already graduated.”
She added that Saipan Awaodori continues its commitment to promoting cultural exchange and carrying on its mission with the next generation of performers.
“The island’s Awaodori family is growing,” Kamata said.
AloJapan.com