Museum spearheads drive to save Japanese historical artifacts

Less than four months before the opening of one of its major historical exhibits, the CNMI Museum of History and Culture is spearheading a drive to restore historical memorabilia from the pre-war Japanese administration of the islands.

Lamenting the minimal collection of artifacts the local museum has on the Japanese period, CNMI Museum Executive Director Paul Chancy Oberg is calling on the community to share items that survived the conflict between Japan and the United States during the period covering 1914 to 1941.

“We don’t have a great deal of artifacts that’s why we’re putting out a call for anyone who has anything — even some groceries saved from that time which will help us illustrate the themes of the exhibit,” said Mr. Oberg.

Expected to open its doors on Sept. 15, 2000, the exhibit is projected to occupy one half of the whole museum featuring new materials that represent accounts during the pre-war Japanese period.

Dubbed as the “Japan in the Marianas: the Prosperous Years,” the historical displays will revolve around various themes to include economics, education, health, religion, and family life during that era.

The years between 1914 and 1941 will be interpreted through photographs, film clips, artifacts, maps, post cards, stamps, models, reproductions, oral history, and authoritative historical accounts of Japanese activities throughout Micronesia with special focus on the CNMI.

According to Mr. Oberg, in an attempt to recreate an impression of what Garapan (known during the era as Little Tokyo) was like during that period, the museum is set to reconstruct a likeness of the famous Korean confectionery store through makeshift materials which can be acquired from local sources.

The Friends of the Arts board, staff, and volunteers will be setting up a replica of the structure as depicted in an old photograph from a Japanese collector.

“I hope to reproduce many of the photos but one of them in particular is the picture of a Korean-owned confectionery that they liked back then,” he said.

Life-size reproductions of the artifacts will be created from the image of photos based on existing collections, he added.

“We are planning to reproduce the post card of the Sugar King that shows the field, sugar king statue oval at the center, which is targeted to attract attention,” said Mr. Oberg.

Although anticipating tedious preparations ahead, the executive director expressed optimism that with community’s cooperation, the project can be done.

“Of course this would take a whole lot of work. We need some sponsorships from organizations. We’ve got some enthusiastic support but we have yet to confirm that from various donors,” he added.

The exhibit, which will run from September until May 2001, will mostly deal with the pre-war Japanese years and the civil government that operated in the NMI. (MM)