Advance team on island for imperial visit
A 23-member advance team from the Japanese government and a separate team from the U.S. State Department arrived yesterday to conduct an onsite inspection of the island for the upcoming visit of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
The Japanese team was headed by Yutaka Kawashima, imperial couple agency grandmaster of ceremonies, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs chief of protocol Minoru Shibuya.
Other members are from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and National Police Agency.
U.S. State Department official Rust Deming leads his own team.
The two groups began their tour of American Memorial Park and the Aging Center in Garapan yesterday. Today, they are scheduled to visit Banzai Cliff, Suicide Cliff and other World War II sites on Saipan.
Press secretary Peter A. Callaghan said the advance teams arrived yesterday afternoon. They are set to leave the island later today.
“They are doing the imperial couple’s visit itinerary on Saipan,” said Callaghan.
Callaghan said that, according to the Japanese delegation, the emperor and the empress’ visit on June 27 and 28 will be covered by all major Japanese media outfit, The New York Times, AP, CNN, and BBC.
The royal visit will also be attended by Japan’s ambassador to the United States and the U.S. ambassador to Japan.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta earlier disclosed that Secret Service staff and their counterparts from Japan will secure the visiting Japanese imperial couple.
The governor has also formed a local security team, headed by Police commissioner Sandy Tudela, and a welcoming committee, headed by the Marianas Visiting Authority, for the visit.
The governor said the CNMI would make sure that “the emperor and empress and the entire entourage will feel the warmth and hospitality” during their stay on island.
