For 25 years, students from Saipan and Japan have exchanged visits to gain knowledge and cross-cultural awareness.
MHS principal Craig Garrison said the program started in 1986 when two amateur radio friends Yasuo Miyazawa from Japan and the late Bert Thompson, a teacher from MHS, decided to begin building a “friendship bridge” to connect Saipan and Japan.
Students from Seisa High School came to visit the island and learned about local culture and participate in sports and cultural activities.
Likewise, students from Marianas High School visited Japan and learned Japanese culture — and skiing.
In celebration of the 25th year of its relationship with Seisa High School, MHS will be holding a welcome ceremony for the visiting students’ arrival today, Thursday, on campus from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
On Friday, the Japanese students will experience some cultural activities at MHS.
The Seisa students will head back to Japan on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. but a closing ceremony will be held prior to their departure.
Yasuo Miyazawa, the founder of the Seisa Group of Schools, will also be present at the ceremony, Garrison said.
