Photos and story by Pesi Fonua

While Tonga celebrated the 87th birthday of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in Tonga on July 4, at the same time 10,000 kilometers away in the city of Nagoya, in southern Japan, the king`s birthday was also celebrated with a special ceremony at the 2005 World Exposition.

Traditional Tongan dances were performed by the Tonga National Centre cultural dancing group who travelled specially from Tonga for the event, and they were also accompanied by dancers from Tonga's sister city in Japan, Owariasahi-city.

The Tonga National Day celebration hour-long program at the World Expo started in the morning at the Expo Hall where the Tongan National Anthem was played followed by speeches from the Expo leaders and the Tongan delegation.

Royal visits

Mr Yasuyoshi Ichihashi, the Deputy Commissioner General of the 2005 World Exposition, reminded the audience of a long standing relationship between the two countries, particularly at a high level. He said that Prince `Ulukalala, the Tongan Prime Minister visited Japan in 2003 and 2004, and the Crown Prince of Japan visited Tonga last year.

Also speaking was Ms Harumi Sakamoto, Vice-Chairperson of Japan for the 2005 World Exposition.

In response Mr Va'inga Palu, Tonga's Director of Tourism, on the behalf of the Tonga government spoke of the long friendship between Tonga and Japan, and the development assistance that Japan had given to Tonga during the past years, the latest was the construction of a hospital on the main island of Tongatapu.

Following the performance the Tongan delegation, consisting of Va`inga Palu, Paul Karalus, Pesi Fonua, Tevita Kilisimasi Ha`apai, Toshio Oishi and Tenshin Yazawa attended an official luncheon hosted by Mr Yasuyoshi Ichihashi.

The Tongan National Day celebration continued after the luncheon with performances by the National centre dancing group at the Pacific Pavilion. The celebration was to continue with a reception by the Aichi Prefecture (district). The celebration will wind up on the evening of July 5 with a reception by Owariasahi-city.

Eleven Pacific Island countries

There are altogether 121 countries participating in the World Exposition. The Pacific Pavilion, which houses exhibitions from eleven Pacific island countries, including Tonga, has been the centre of attraction on July 4 as the drum beats of the Tongan dancing group echoed through the 173 hectres of bush land that has been developed to accommodate the 2005 World Expo.