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Design for Japanese center finished
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Posted on Jul 18 2005
The site development design for the planned Northern Marianas Japan Cultural and Performing Center is now finished, according to Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela.
Tudela disclosed the completion of the design phase of the project during his tour with Aizuwakamatsu City Mayor Ichiro Kanke of the Sugar King Estate in Garapan.
He said the cultural center would be located at the heart of the historic and scenic estate, a location considered historically significant because it venerates Japan’s successful socio-economic development of the islands from 1920 to 1944, largely through the efforts of entrepreneur Haruji Matsue.
Tudela said the Department of Public Works completed the general design.
DPW Technical Services Division officers Daryl Songsong and Joe Inos said they are through with the overall design of the cultural center but they are still working on the details.
Songsong said the construction of the center would be out for bidding soon.
The budget for the cultural center would initially be $250,000, but may increase as required in the future, Tudela said.
He said the Japan Cultural Center is still in its planning stages. The center would be dedicated to the enduring ties between the islands and Japan, which began more than a century ago in 1893 when the first Japanese trading company was established during the Spanish period.
Tudela said they are now working on the schedule of the groundbreaking ceremony for the cultural center.
The design of the cultural center would reflect traditional Japanese themes and architecture that existed during the Japanese era on Saipan, with gardens, reflecting pools with origami-style fountains and the wooden drum tower called yagura leading to a peace plaza that would emphasize Japan’s enduring history on Saipan and throughout all of the Northern Mariana Islands.
