Kayoko Nakayama named Marianas tourism ambassador

Professor Kyoko Nakayama of Teikyo University in Japan has been named Marianas honorary tourism ambassador for her long-standing enthusiasm for and promotion of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota as part of her work teaching about Japanese historical ties to the Marianas.

Nakayama, who is a professor with the Facility of Education at Teikyo University, received a plaque commemorating her appointment last Tuesday, Jan. 23, from Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion in Tokyo.

“I love the Marianas,” said Nakayama following the presentation. “There are many stories of history between Japan and the (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). And then there is the beautiful Mariana culture and environment. I would like to continue to share these things with the Japanese people.”

Concepcion and MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas visited Nakayama at Teikyo University, which has 40,000 students at multiple campuses across Japan. At her plaque presentation, Nakayama wore a “sinahi” necklace and played the guitar and sang three original compositions in the Chamorro language.

“Professor Nakayama has a wealth of information about the Marianas, which she has been sharing with great enthusiasm with her students and others,” said Concepcion, who first learned about the professor and her work while watching a show on NHK several months ago. “She’s been visiting our islands for over 20 years and has many personal friends here, including the Cabrera family—familian Esco, the Marcianos, the Sablans, and others. She is a very kind, welcoming, and bubbly person and truly loves the Marianas, a wonderful ambassador for our islands.”

Nakayama is also working on an exhibit, “The Truth of Tropical Islands,” about the Marianas and Guam at Teikyo University Museum, highlighting Japanese historical ties in the Marianas. The exhibit will be open from May 18 to Aug. 16, 2024. (MVA)