Guam and Saipan have become such a very familiar tourist destination to the Japanese.
In addition to shopping, diving and parasailing, a large number the Japanese also visit Guam on school excursions, sports training and study tours.
Tourists from Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines also visit Guam. But because tourism is Guam's major industry and visitors from Japan represent about 70% of the islands visitors, the relation between Japan and Guam has become one of great importance.
The University of Guam and the Guam Community College, along with a vast number of the public and private high schools, include the Japanese Language as part of their curriculum. Recently, some of the middle schools are also making Japanese Language classes available to their students thus providing students from all levels the opportunity to study Japanese.
Interest in Japan by the people of Guam is quite clear as high school students compete in drama and song contests in the Japanese Language each year.
In promoting cultural exchange with the local community on Guam, the Japan Club of Guam hosts the Autumn Festival or Aki Matsuri each year in November with a participation of more than thirty thousand people who come to enjoy the traditional Bon Odori or Bon Festival Dance, the Mikoshi or carrying to the shrine, bazaars and game contests.
In deepening even further exchanges with the local community, the Japan Club of Guam conducts a variety of other events. The Consulate-General of Japan in Hagåtña also hosts Tea Ceremony and Aikido exhibition as part of its cultural exchange program.
