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Alumni of ‘Nanyo Kasei’ Girls High School wanted
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Posted on Feb 06 2005
Pacific Development Inc. is looking for alumni of the “Nanyo Kasei” Girls High School built in 1934 on Saipan to join the formal turnover of the institution’s memorabilia to the Historic Preservation Office.
PDI general manager Yoichi Matsumura said that they are helping Takahisa Aoyagi, a close relative of the school’s founder, Kanko Aoyaki, who earlier this year promised to donate the relics to the CNMI government, look for the graduates of Nanyo Kasei.
Matsumura said that the turnover of memorabilia would be more meaningful if some women who went to that school will show up on the evening of the turnover and reminisce and share their own personal experiences in the school, which was leveled during World War II.
He also said that Aoyagi wishes to meet them personally and help him relate to the people of the CNMI the importance of the memorabilia he will be donating to the HPO.
The formal turnover of memorabilia from the all-girls school as well as the Nanjoyi temple will be held on Feb. 8, 6pm at the Pacific Island Club
Aoyagi visited Saipan with his cousin Takao Fukushima last Jan. 19 and left on Jan. 23. During his stay, he met with local institutions he believed would benefit best from the donation.
With help from the Consular Office of Japan, Aoyagi met with people from the Marianas Visitors Authority, the CNMI Museum of History and Culture, and the HPO. Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente also met with Aoyagi and the two discussed the historical collection the latter would be donating to the government.
Aoyagi went on to share that his relative, who founded the school, wanted to educate Japanese workers and some locals in the private school despite opposition from the government, which at that time believed that education was not needed.
Still, several women enrolled in the school. Nanyo Kasei and the Nanjoyi temple used to be located at where the Dai-Ichi Saipan Beach Hotel now stands.
Nanyo Kasei alumni are requested to contact Gordon Marciano, PDI public relations manager, at 322-8761 287-1195 or Yoichi Matsumora at 322-8778, or email them at pdipr@pdisaipan.com. (Marconi Calindas)
