Japanese mayor shooting ‘Sugar King’ docu

Mayor Ichiro Kanke of Aizu-Wakamatsu City from the Fukushima Prefecture in the Tohoku Region of Japan will arrive tonight for a weekend of cultural exchanges as well as a photo shoot for a documentary about Haruji Matsue, the founder of the Nanyo Kohatsu Kaisha Company and the man the Sugar King Estate in central Garapan is named after.

Two of his crewmembers arrived yesterday, said program volunteer coordinator Carlene Tenorio, and conducted interviews with locals who have memories of Saipan during war times. Tenorio said those who would be interviewed are Juan Blanco, David Sablan, Jesus Sablan, and Manny Villagomez.

Historic Preservation Office historian Genevieve Cabrera facilitated a tour for the visitors that included visits to the CNMI Museum of History and Culture, Mt. Carmel Cathedral, U.S. Post Office, American Memorial Park Visitor Center, and to the Saipan Botanical Garden.

Tenorio said Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, together with the Liberation Day Royal Court and the task force members of the Japan Cultural Center, will welcome the Aizu Wakamatsu mayor at the airport tonight.

Tudela will meet the visiting mayor at his office tomorrow morning to discuss the plans for the construction of the Japan Cultural Center at the Sugar King Estate. Then the visiting Japanese dignitaries will proceed to meet with the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa bishop Tomas A. Camacho on the same day at Mt. Carmel Cathedral.

The visiting Japanese entourage will proceed next to the Sugar King Estate for a brief tour and a photo session. There will be another visit to the local museum along Middle Road before they head to Banzai Cliff. Gov. Juan N. Babauta is hosting a luncheon with the group on Saturday at the Aqua Resort Club. The group will visit the botanical garden then the AMP Visitor Center after the lunch with the governor. Tenorio said the Aizu Wakamatsu mayor would head to Managaha Island for a short relaxation and rest on the same day.

The visiting crew will then head back to Japan on Sunday and will edit the documentary they shot while here on Saipan. The documentary will be aired in Japan, said Tenorio.

Other members of the Japan contingent are: Shinji Oguma, Prefectural Assembly Member; Motoyuki Shinjo, President of Suehiro Brewery Ltd. and President of Aizu Brewery Union; Yagashiro Keiji, President of Synergy Icl., Chairperson of Association of Aizu Net Work; Masami Manabe, President of Manac Business, Vice-President of Chamber of Commerce of Young People; Koichi Jimbo, Member of Chamber of Commerce, President of Jimbo Ltd.; Hiroshi Shoji, President of Cap; Kobayashi Tateo, Kobayashi Photo Studio Ltd.; Shinichiro Honda, Member of Chamber of Commerce of Young People, C&P Fukushima Inc.; Yasushi Horigane, Secretariat Group of Aizu Wakamatsu City Hall, Section Manager; and, Shuji Takahashi, Branch Manager of JTB Aizu Wakamatsu, Tohoku District.