REPRESENTATIVES of the Katori Jingu, which according to Japan Guide is “the head shrine of several hundred Katori shrines found across Japan,” are back on island.
For the past two years, they had been unable to visit the island and hold annual ceremonies at the Katori Shrine at Sugar King Park because of the Covid-19 travel restrictions.
On Monday, Kyowa Construction Chairman Noboru Hirayama and Katori priest Shingo Katori met with Henry Hofschneider, the special assistant to Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, at the mayor’s office.
With them were Noriko Ida and Yoichi Matsumura, also of Kyowa Construction.
They informed the mayor’s office that the Japanese Autumn Festival, featuring traditional Japanese arts, dance, music, food, and games, will be held following a virtual Katori Shrine ceremony later this month.
“Our partner, the Japan Society of Saipan, will be helping in planning and organizing the festival. We do not know the venue of the festival at this time, but we will advise the public soon of the date, place, and time of the festival,” Shingo Katori said.
For his part, Apatang said, “We are very happy to see our friends from Katori Jingu and Katori City back on Saipan. It has been a long time since we have seen each other in person, and we want to welcome you back to your island home.”
He added, “For as long as the Katori Shrine is located at Sugar King Park, our office has supported the annual ceremony and festival, and we will continue doing that for many years to come.”
During their meeting, Hirayama received a plaque of appreciation from the mayor who said, “Mr. Hirayama, for more than 40 years, has dedicated and contributed his personal time in organizing and bringing thousands of Japanese to Saipan to take part in the annual October Katori Shrine ceremony and Japanese Autumn Festival.”
Apatang said, “In return for his true commitment of returning year after year to Saipan, we present a special plaque of appreciation to Mr. Hirayama, who shared with us that traveling from Japan to Saipan and back has become a bit too difficult since he turned 90 years old and this trip might be the last.”
“We will miss a good friend,” the mayor said, “but we can always travel to Japan to visit him and the mayor of Katori City, our sister city. We also want to share that we are communicating with our sister city of Katori City, and discussing plans for an exchange program. We will share more information with the public as plans continue to be developed and agreed upon.”
Kyowa Construction Chairman Noburu Hirayama, center, receives a plaque of appreciation from Henry Hofschneider the special assistant of Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, at the Saipan Mayor’s Office on Monday. Also in the photo are PDI’s Hiroki Tajima, the Saipan Mayor’s Office student exchange coordinator Youki Kishimoto, Kyowa Construction’s Noriko Ida, Katori Priest Shingo Katori and Kyowa Construction’s Yoichi Matsumura.
