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400 Japanese students to visit Saipan on May 8
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Posted on May 05 2000
Some 400 Japanese students on board the Fuji -maru are expected to arrive on Saipan on May 8 as part of efforts of Japan to forge stronger ties and cultural exchanges with the CNMI.
The ship will arrive at Charlie Dock at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, the 32nd annual visit to Saipan under the 2000 Wakai Nekko No Kai.
Cultural exchanges and recreational activities follow at the Micro Beach from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Farewell program will be held on May 9th at Charlie Dock from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Each participant is requested to bring one young coconut.
The Wekai Nekko No Kai Foundation was a brainchild of Hideo Kato in effort to promote peace, understanding among young people, and share different cultures.
From the 1st to the 31st Wakai Nekko No Kai Ocean University, he has helped in bringing a total of 14,415 participants to visit Saipan and Guam. He has sailed around the world more than four times.
In 1961, Mr. Kato was awarded the “Community in Peace and Prosperity” prize by the Asahi Shimbun Publishing Company. He was conferred the title of Honorary Ambassador from the Government of Guam in 1980 for his great contribution to grass-roots diplomacy between Guam and Japan. Two years later, in 1982, he was appointed Honorary
Captain of Shousen Mitui Kyakusen, Incorporated. In the spring of 1986, he was awarded the Blue Ribbon Medal. He was presented the Ancient Order of the Chamorri by the Government of Guam in 1993. That same year, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) conferred Hideo Kato the title of Honorary Ambassador of the CNMI.
Two Northern Marianas College students were selected to participate on the 32nd Annual Wakai Nekko No Kai CNMI Visit and Cultural Exchange, namely Ernesta Borja and Evangeline Deleon Guerrero.
The two were flown to Japan last April 30 and will arrive on Saipan together with other students on board Fuji-maru.
Ernesta and Evangeline will take part in many cultural exchange programs, special events, and tours arranged by the Wakai Nekko No Kai Foundation in several cities and towns throughout Japan.
