The Okinawa Traditional Performing Arts Tour from Japan visited Tonga on the last leg of a South Pacific Tour, presenting a free performance at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nuku'alofa on November 23.

The Okinawa traditional group also performed on Tuesday evening, at a Japanese Cuisine Demonstration and Workshop held at the International Dateline Hote, the first of its kind hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Nuku'alofa.

The 13-member group that includes eight performers from Okinawa, on the southernmost prefecture of Japan, was formed specifically for the South Pacific Tour, which began in New Zealand, and continuing on to Fiji and Tonga.

The tour promotes cultural exchange between Japan and the world, and displays the uniqueness of Okinawa traditional arts and performance.

At the Queen Salote Memorial Hall the group performed traditional Ryukyu dance, a recreation of graceful, dynamic dances of beauty that performed for the king and his guests during the Ryukyu Kingdom. Okinawa was formerly an independent kingdom called the Ryukyu Kingdom from the 14th to 19th century. They also performed Shimauta songs, traditional island folk songs composed of words and melodies unique to Okinawa as well as creative dances.

The tour is brought to Tonga by the Japan Foundation that promotes cultural exchange between Japan and the world together with the Embassy of Japan in cooperation with Tonga's Ministry of Education, Women's Affairs and Culture.

Japanese Cuisine

The Japanese Cuisine Demonstration and Workshop held at the International Dateline Hotel on November 22 introduced traditional and popular Japanese cuisine for sampling, including sushi, sashimi and tempura.

The demonstration was aimed at providing a brief introduction to the Japanese cuisine as well as sake the rice based Japanese alcoholic beverage from Tohoku region and awamori, another rise-based Japanese distilled alcoholic beverage from Okinawa.

Mr Yoshimitsu Kawata, the Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, said the food presentation focused on two different regions, north east and south west of Japan, namely Tohoku and Okinawa. Tohoku is the area that was heavily damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunamis on March 11, this year. Okinawa is the place where the next Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting PALM 6 will be held in May next year.

"These two areas are the icons of Japan’s determination toward its recovery and reconstruction from the tragic disaster as well as its continued engagement with Pacific Island countries, including Tonga," he said.

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