An Okinawa-Manila joint performance was held in the Philam Life auditorium last July 3, 2008, a Thursday. As an opening gala for the Philippine-Japan Friendship Month, the Okinawa Culture Association, composing of five Japanese dancers, seven Japanese musicians and two association heads, visited the Manila, Philippines for a world-tour concert featuring Japanese court and folk dances that have been developed through these years from being a culture which is very traditional, to a present high form of art that takes thorough practice for a professional and standardized music and dance that Japan keeps and can offer to the world.

             Other than the fact that the Okinawa Culture Association is just visiting for their completion of touring many parts of the world, the Japanese, as well as the Filipinos, shouldn’t forget that this month, the past interactions between two countries must be commemorated and as this was celebrated, so as the friendship building must be celebrated.

                 The friendly concert was divided into two parts where, the first part comprises of six classical court dances which lasts four to ten minutes per type. Famous court dances featured here are: Kagiyadefu (5 mins), Moto Nuchi Bana (10 mins), Munjuru (7 mins), Hanafu (8 mins), Menuhama (4 mins) and Agechikuden (5 mins). Part two on the other hand, are folk dances and it was started first by a performance of the city of Manila’s very own, the Lakan Dula High school Sining Lahi Dance Troupe with 19 years of experience attributed to the school’s faculty and staff, parents and students. They performed various highly standardized folk dances of the Philippines just like the dances of the Japanese visiting association. Some of the breath-holding executions are from the Pandanggo sa Oasioas dance, Binasuan and Tinikling among the many others.

             Organizers of this event and for the upcoming July proceedings are the Okinawa Culture Association, The Japan Foundation - Manila, Embassy of Japan – Manila, the City of Manila and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts.