Tan Holdings welcomes Japanese, local exchange students

About 50 students and teachers from Japan and Saipan toured the factory of Tan Holdings Corporation yesterday as part of an educational and cultural exchange program aimed at fostering understanding and better relations among youth in the region.

Ben Fitial, Tan Holdings vice president, welcomed the visitors, most of whom were visiting a garment factory for the first time. Two employees of the company served as tour guides for the group.

During the 45-minute tour, most of the students displayed mixed reactions and interests on the different processes of manufacturing shirts and pants, especially the modern equipment and machinery aiding factory employees.

The tour guides explained that most of the machines were made in Japan, adding to the fascination of the students.

“I am impressed to finally see how and where the clothes I’m wearing are being made,” said Oinuma Hiroyoshi, 20, through an interpreter.

Although they have seen garment factories in Japan, the visitors pointed out that they are surprised at the efficiency and dedication displayed by the Tan Holding’s employees.

“It must really be hard,” explained Erie Nakamura, 17. “These employees seem to be very efficient, serious and dedicated.”

Her friends, Yoshie, Miki, Mariko and Junya agreed, noting that the conditions in the factory “are very good.”

These students from Japan’s Kansai area, which includes the nation’s second largest city of Osaka and the Kyoto Prefecture, arrived last Friday and are expected to stay on the island until August 6.

Emma Villagomez, local coordinator for the biennial exchange program called the Institute for Friendship with South Pacific Countries, said the visit to the THC factory is part of educational and recreational activities for participants.

This is the third time that the Commonwealth is hosting Japanese students under the program. Last year, about 25 students from Saipan went to that country to mingle with other participants.

According to Villagomez, the visiting Japanese students are staying with foster families on the island to give them more time to interact with local people and experience traditional culture.

Hirofumi Maruta, a teacher accompanying the group, said they were very grateful that they were given an opportunity to tour a garment factory here.

“We are very surprised,” he said in an interview after the tour. “We understand that these items are being exported to the United States and we hope that Saipan can also export other products to Japan.”

Likewise, Junsei Yamaguchi, who was one of the founders of the program, stressed the significance of this visit to the goals of the organization.

A frequent traveler to the CNMI, he disclosed that they began the program more than 10 years ago as a venue to remember Japanese soldiers who died on this island during World War II, which included collecting remains to bring them back to their homeland.

“We always advance our cause to try to establish links and communicate more with the local people so that our people can experience their culture and language,” quipped Yamaguchi. (BS)