Japanese mayor, TV crew on the island for Sugar King docu

Mayor Ichiro Kanke of Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan is currently on the island for a three-day courtesy visit and said he is happy to visit the island.

Kanke arrived Friday evening for a weekend of cultural exchanges together with a film crew, also from the same city, for a photo shoot for a documentary on the “Matsue” and the Sugar King Estate during the war.

He said he is very glad to visit the CNMI for the first time and he was excited to see the places founded by Haruji Matsue such as the Sugar King Estate. Kanke said through interpreter Yuko Kaneko that he is happy to know that Matsue’s legacy lives on in the island.

Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela and his staff welcomed the Japanese mayor at the airport last Friday. He said he was happy and honored to receive the Aizuwakamatsu mayor. Tudela said the visit resulted from his previous visit to the city. When he was there, he mentioned the Sugar King Estate to them and the Japanese mayor instantly became interested in seeing Saipan with his own eyes.

Kanke said it is hoped that his visit would signify that his city would like to maintain a great relationship with the Commonwealth.

Tudela also said he is meeting with Kanke to discuss the groundbreaking for the soon-to-be erected Japan Cultural Center located at the Sugar King Estate. He said when he was in Aizuwakamatsu City, he briefly discussed the cultural center to them and that the Japanese mayor has already expressed his support for the project.

Along with Mayor Kanke are Japanese TV crewmembers, which are in town for initial interviews of local people regarding their experience during World War II and especially their memories of the Sugar King Estate.

Last Friday, two of the crewmembers arrived, said program volunteer coordinator Carlene Tenorio, and conducted several interviews with locals. Tenorio said the crewmembers interviewed Juan Blanco, David Sablan, Jesus Sablan and Manny Villagomez.

Blanco, she said, was the only Saipan local who was sent to Japan to study during World War II.

Tenorio said Sablan was the youngest among the group and she was surprised to learn that all of the interviewees were very articulate in Japanese. She said they almost did not need a translator during the interview. Tenorio said the TV crewmen would be back in September for a final shoot for the documentary that will be aired in Japan this year.

The group was given a tour of the CNMI museum yesterday, with curator Noel Quitugua leading them around. The group also went to the Mt. Carmel Cathedral and met with the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa bishop Tomas A. Camacho. They also went to U.S. Post Office, American Memorial Park Visitor Center, and the Saipan Botanical Garden in Papago.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta hosted a luncheon for the group yesterday at the Aqua Resort Club. The visiting Japanese entourage went next to Banzai Cliff for a photo session.

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 Inc., chair of the Association of Aizu Network; Masami Manabe, president of Manac Business, vice president of Chamber of Commerce of Young People; Koichi Jimbo, member of the 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.