They also talked about the visit of 90 Japanese high school students this November.
“I am very much supportive of this type of visitors,” Flores said. “They organized it from the school, unlike the other tourists who usually deal with travel agents.”
He discussed with Japanese school executives Oyanagi Kazutaka and Ishikawa Yukikazu the importance of the cultural exchange program and how it strengthens the relationship between Japan and Saipan.
In was the group’s first time to approach the mayor’s office in seeking assistance for the home-stay of the visiting students, Flores said.
The Saipan Business Language Institution, owned by Ikuo Yoshizawa, is coordinating the visit of the students.
Leilani Detablan, the school secretary, said they have been accommodating students from Japan since 2003.
She said they collaborate with the mayor’s office in securing local home-stay sponsors.
Along with the 90 students, 10 teachers from Japan’s Excellent High School will be joining the exchange cultural program, she said.
Detablan said the students will be here from Nov. 10 to 14. They will stay for two days with local families and two days at a hotel.
While on Saipan, the students will participate in an entertainment program at Grace Christian Academy and at the Aging Center.
Flores said the home-stay scheme is crucial to the cultural exchange program and allow visiting students to learn firsthand from local families about island food, culture and way of life.
The mayor said the students will provide monetary incentives for their local hosts.
