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Over 100 celebrate Japanese emperor’s birthday
Japanese Consul Hitoshi Kikuchi, right, and acting governor Ralph DLG Torres share a light moment during the reception Wednesday at the Grandvrio Resort Fiesta Hall in honor of Emperor Akihito, who will turn 82 years old on Dec. 23. (Daisy Demapan)
The Japan Consulate led by Consul Hitoshi Kikuchi held a reception Wednesday at the Grandvrio Resort Fiesta Hall in honor of Emperor Akihito, who will turn 82 years old on Dec. 23.
The event, which symbolizes the long-time relationship between the Japanese people and the CNMI, also paid tribute to the last time Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Saipan in June 2005 in remembrance of the lives lost during World War II and prayers for world peace.
A spokesperson for the Japan consulate stated that the emperor is hard at work in the last few years reaching out to disaster-stricken areas of Japan.
Severable agencies and government officials attended Wednesday’s event, including acting governor Ralph DLG Torres and Senate President Victor Hocog (Ind-Rota).
The event served three different kinds of sakes, which, according to the consulate, is an intangible cultural property of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.
“In parallel with the growing worldwide popularity of the Japanese culture, the foreign tourists to Japan will be approaching an unprecedented level of 20 million by the end of the year. In this respect, I would like to encourage more local people to visit Japan. Although it seems to me that the overall posture of Japan on this island has been somewhat weakened, I believe that the mutual affinity between the people of Saipan and Japan will continue to remain strong and we can further develop our friendship over years to come,” Kikuchi said.
Dec. 23 is considered a national holiday, with the entire Japanese people celebrating the reign of the emperor. Japanese mythology states that emperors are the descendants of the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami, and that the first emperor, Jimmu, ascended the throne and began his reign in 660 BC. Emperor Akihito is thought to be a direct descendant of Emperor Jimmu and the 125th emperor to succeed to the throne. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have two sons, Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino and one daughter, Princess Sayako.
