(1)Japanese samba dancers shine in Rio's carnival parade

(1)Japanese samba dancers shine in Rio's carnival parade

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Yoji Nakajima (R), a freelance designer of clothes for theater plays, poses with his partner Ana Carolina Gil, during their participation in the samba parades in Rio de Janeiro on Feb. 22. Nakajima and two other Japanese dancers, Noriko Nambara and Yuka Libanio, demonstrated their skill among thousands of local dancers in the carnival parades in the city where samba was born.

(2)Japanese samba dancers shine in Rio's carnival parade

(2)Japanese samba dancers shine in Rio's carnival parade

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Noriko Nambara, 27, a samba instructor in Kobe, demonstrates her skill during the samba parades in Rio de Janeiro on Feb. 22. There was a time when dancing the samba was thought to be a talent exclusive to Brazilians. But the outstanding performance of three Japanese samba dancers in this year's carnival parades has shattered that illusion.

(2)Japanese samba dancers shine in Rio's carnival parade

(2)Japanese samba dancers shine in Rio's carnival parade

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Noriko Nambara, 27, a samba instructor in Kobe, demonstrates her skill during the samba parades in Rio de Janeiro on Feb. 22. There was a time when dancing the samba was thought to be a talent exclusive to Brazilians. But the outstanding performance of three Japanese samba dancers in this year's carnival parades has shattered that illusion. (Kyodo)

(1)Japanese samba dancers shine in Rio's carnival parade

(1)Japanese samba dancers shine in Rio's carnival parade

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Yoji Nakajima (R), a freelance designer of clothes for theater plays, poses with his partner Ana Carolina Gil, during their participation in the samba parades in Rio de Janeiro on Feb. 22. Nakajima and two other Japanese dancers, Noriko Nambara and Yuka Libanio, demonstrated their skill among thousands of local dancers in the carnival parades in the city where samba was born. (Kyodo)