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‘NMI excited over imperial visit’
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Posted on Apr 18 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta met yesterday with Japanese officials stationed in the Marianas to discuss the planned visit by the Imperial Couple to Saipan.
This, even as the Governor’s Office and the Consular Office of Japan continue to decline to give an official statement on the proposed visit.
Press secretary Peter Callaghan said the governor had a 30-minute meeting with Kennosuke Iriyama, Japan consul general for Guam and the Northern Marianas, and Takeo Saito, Japan consul for Saipan, starting 9:30am yesterday.
“They discussed the possibility of the visit, which is still not confirmed. The governor basically said that we would be very excited to host the Imperial Couple, if they decide to come here,” said Callaghan.
He maintained that the planned visit was still in the discussion stage. Thus, no official information is currently available on the Emperor and Empress’ itinerary and length of stay on island.
He also belied a report from a Japanese newspaper that the Japanese government had already sent an advance delegation to visit Saipan in preparation for the Imperial Couple’s visit. “No one has come here,” Callaghan said.
The Mainichi Shimbun had reported that a team of five people, including representatives of the Foreign Ministry’s North American Foreign Affairs, came to the island on April 7 and 8.
Nevertheless, Callaghan expressed confidence that the Commonwealth would have sufficient time to prepare for the visit, which, reports said, was being tentatively scheduled for the last week of June.
In a separate interview, Saito reiterated that his office still has not received any official word from the Japanese government regarding the proposed visit.
Citing government sources, latest media reports in Japan said that Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are likely to visit Saipan in late June, possibly around June 27.
Reports said that the Japanese government is making final arrangements with the U.S. State Department for the high-profile visit.
The imperial couple has reportedly expressed a strong desire to visit Saipan, the site of fierce fighting between Japanese and U.S. forces during World War II.
