“This is not for the mayor. It is for our children who have sent letters to Japan and the students there have responded,” said Vinycia Seman, the Saipan mayor’s executive secretary.
She said Mayor Donald G. Flores was “touched” and happy to learn that the “Letter of Hope” project which he launched in May had made a difference in the lives of Japanese students.
Aside from booklets, Seman said they also received “thank you” letters from Ibaraki Prefecture Gov. Masaru Hashimoto and Kamisu City Mayor Kazuo Hotate.
Kamisu said the letters from Saipan students were received through the Hasaki Rotary Club and delivered to the hard-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
“The touching letters we received from the elementary, junior high and senior high school students have offered great encouragement as we work toward restoration,” Kamisu said.
Hotate, in his letter, said Fukashiba Elementary School received the letters from Saipan that were translated by Junichiro Izumi of the Hasakit Rotary Club and the International Affairs Division of Ibaraki Prefecture.
He said they were so touched by the messages from Saipan, sixth grade students held a gathering they called “Bond with Saipan People” on June 27.
During the event, the students read the translated letters and expressed their gratitude.
“They really appreciated the warm-hearted encouragement and made a new resolution to overcome the disaster,” Hotate said.
He said the exchange of messages is a great opportunity to develop closer ties with Saipan students through a cultural exchange program.
Seman said the gathering of Japanese students during the reading of the letters from Saipan was reported in Japanese newspapers.
She said they will translate into English the content of one booklet from Japan which has 104 messages from students.
The booklet will be displayed at the mayor’s office so visitors can read it, she said.
Six other handmade booklets with artwork will be distributed to the schools on Saipan, she added.
The participating local students are from Kagman Elementary School, Chacha Oceanview Junior High School and Koblerville Elementary School, including its kindergarten classes.
