Marianas Honorary Tourism Ambassador Kyoko Nakayama will deliver the lecture “Sharing Mariana Islands History and Culture in Japan” on Aug. 7, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the American Memorial Park Visitor Center.
(MVA) — Honorary Marianas Tourism Ambassador Kyoko Nakayama of Teikyo University in Tokyo, Japan will present the lecture “Sharing Mariana Islands History and Culture in Japan” on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, on Saipan.
The free lecture will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the American Memorial Park Visitor Center in Garapan. Doors open at 5 p.m. Nakayama’s visit to the Marianas is being coordinated by the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Northern Marianas Humanities Council.
“In January this year we were pleased to name Professor Nakayama as Marianas honorary tourism ambassador for her long-standing enthusiasm for and promotion of Saipan, Tinian and Rota,” said MVA Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion.
“While she has visited the Marianas many times before, this will be the first opportunity for her to share about her work teaching about Japan’s historical ties to the Marianas,” he added.
“It will be interesting to hear that important part of our history from the perspective of the Japanese. As we work to rebuild arrivals from Japan, it’s important that we focus on rekindling that special relationship the Marianas has had with Japan for over a century. Our appointment of Professor Nakayama as Honorary Tourism Ambassador is just one way of protecting and promoting that special relationship between our two peoples,” Concepcion said.
Nakayama will share her interest in the culture and history of the Marianas, the impact of indigenous cultural dance on her students, and efforts to promote Japan’s historical ties of the Marianas through “The Truth of Tropical Islands” exhibit at Teikyo University Museum.
“Professor Nakayama’s public presentation on Aug. 7 will help us examine those elements of our history and culture that are valued and represented in Japan,” said Northern Marianas Humanities Council Executive Director Leo Pangelinan. “At the same time, we have set up an immersive tour for her to take a deeper dive into our culture that most visitors have not experienced.”
The lecture will include a Chamorro dance performance by an established Chamorro dance group in Japan, “Guma ‘Famagu’on Tano’ yan I Tasi” (House of the Children of the Land and Sea).
Nakayama will be joined by eight students from Teikyo University on her visit, which will include an “amot” (medicine) walk with “Yo’åmti’ ” (traditional healer) Donald Mendiola, a learning experience of indigenous Carolinian dance, and other activities.
For more information, contact the Northern Marianas Humanities Council at info@nrnhcouncil.org/.
