In the popular summer tradition "Abiko Kappa Festival", people from foreign countries took part as the core member of the AIRA group. ( August 27, 2016)

         Date: Saturday, August 27, 2016 5:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.

         Course: Koen-zaka street to Abiko Station south exit rotary area

         Participants:11 people (Chuo Gakuin University international students, AIRA Japanese language class students, etc.)

This year’s big march was participated by 26 organizations. The AIRA group was the tenth start. They danced to the Kappa-Ondo music and slowly moved forward, repeating stepping forward and backward.

A student of Chuo Gakuin University (CGU) led the group hoisting a placard prepared by the university students bearing the organization name, followed by yukata-clad students of South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Malaysia graduates, and the one in costume of the Korean king, and students in ethnic costume appearances of China and Nepal. No one but AIRA could show such dancers in variety of costumes, drawing stunning attention of spectators along the street.

When every group arrived at the station main street an introductory announcement was made. In AIRA’s turn, Japanese language class for foreigners and other foreign language courses were introduced. Additionally, the organizer introduced that “Today, the majority of AIRA’s group members are CGU students of China, South Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, and Malaysia. And a parent and a child also joined. They and every citizen are welcome to visit the forthcoming AIRA Festival on 27th of November.”

Prior to the parade they dressed in kimonos around 3p.m., and stood by at the starting point from 4p.m. practicing Kappa-Ondo dance. The temperature was 20 degrees or less, and it started gentle rain from around the start of the parade, but everyone was dancing in high spirits to the last.              (No.16-14 Translated by S. Komatsu)