Festival features 44 organizations promoting international exchange

Every nation has it’s dance, and the JICA festival showcases a few of them on Sunday.

A festival designed to expand peoples’ support and understanding toward international cooperation and exchange is slated this weekend at JICA Okinawa International Center in Urasoe City.

Participating organizations stage an exhibition to educate public about their activities.

The Okinawa International Cooperation and Exchange Festival 2014 Saturday and Sunday is free to the public, as JICA seeks to enlighten people about activities of organizations working both in Okinawa and overseas.  Of course, JICA wants many people to enjoy and appreciate the international environment.

More than 44 groups and organizations related to international cooperation or conducting international exchange programs will have workshops and exhibitions during the festival, which runs 10 a.m. ~ 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. ~ 5 p.m. on Sunday at the

Opening ceremony is on Saturday.

JICA Okinawa International Center, 1143-1 Aza Maeda, Urasoe City.

JICA trainees from all over the world will hold fun events.   There are unique ethnic stalls from many countries, including Peru, Myanmar and Ghana.  Other than that, there will be a multinational buffet and Fukushima charity flea market.

Events begin at 11 a.m. Saturday with Aimoco, followed at 2:30 p.m. by a gamelan rendition of Bali Island.  Popular Okinawan band Diamantes performs at 4 p.m.  On Sunday, a special fun walk with foreign trainees starts at 10 a.m., followed at 11:30 a.m. with Kumiodori, Okinawa’s traditional opera and dance Kimutaka no Amawari.  An African drum session entertains at 2 p.m. and world songs and dance, as well as an Eisa performance, fill the stage at 3 p.m.

17:37 29 Mar , 2024