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Japanese visitors donate WWII memorabilia
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Posted on Jan 21 2005
Two elderly Japanese were recently on Saipan to pay tribute and donate memorabilia items related to the Nanyoji Temple and the Saipan Girls’ High School that was founded on Saipan and abolished during World War II.
Takahisa Aoyagi and Takao Fukushima, who are in their 70s, visited the Saipan Girls’ High School memorial, located at a nursery inside the Dai-ichi Hotel. Aoyagi is related to Kanko Aoyagi, the founder of the Girls High School and the Nanyoji Temple. The two men also visited the Jizo statue built in 1994, the protection deity for children.
Aoyagi arrived last Jan. 19 while Fukushima only arrived Thursday morning. Aoyagi is from Saitama north of Tokyo and Fukushima is a native of Shiga.
Marianas Visitors’ Authority officials Yoichi Matsumura board member and marketing specialist Hiroko K. Tenorio accompanied them to a meeting with the Japanese Consular Office on Thursday. Japanese consul Takeo Saito presided over the brief meeting.
Their meeting with consular officials was to help them decide where to donate the memorabilia. The items include a collection of photographs, journals, and blueprints of the Saipan Girls’ High School.
Saito said that turning the 70-year-old items over to the NMI Museum of History and Culture would be the more practical option. He said these items could be cherished assets for CNMI tourism. He also said that this visit will further enhance understanding between Japan and the CNMI.
MVA’s Tenorio said, though, that the Historic Preservation Office is also interested in the items.
After the meeting, the MVA toured them around the island.
The two Japanese last visited Saipan in 1992 and only returned to the island this year.
Aoyagi said he was amazed to see the industrialization of the island. “Seeing those buildings surprised me,” said Aoyagi, as translated by Tenorio. He also recalled that Saipan used to have dirt roads and now everything is concrete.
Aoyagi will leave the island today, Jan. 22, while Fukushima will leave tomorrow. Aoyagi said, though, that he will be back on Feb. 13 to attend an event sponsored by the Historic Preservation Office. (Marconi Calindas)
