Film producer Chiaki Nagumo, the CNMI’s goodwill ambassador to Japan, said they wanted to commemorate those who perished on island almost 65 years ago during the Battle of Saipan.
Tadami Nagashima, a member of the Japanese House of Representatives, Japanese Consul Tsutomu Higuchi and Saipan Mayor Tudela joined the celebrities in offering songs and prayers to the victims of war.
Nagumo has traveled many times to Saipan since 2001 and considers the island his second home.
He invited the visiting celebrities to hold a charity concert here.
“I really like Saipan. I’m happy to be here and I want to work closely with its people,” she said through an interpreter from the Marianas Visitors Authority.
MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio said the group’s memorial ceremony is a testament to the long lasting friendship between the CNMI and Japan.
“The people of Japan and the Northern Marianas have strong ties spanning over 87 years and beginning with the administration of the islands as a Japanese mandated territory. Your presence here is a testament that this bond of friendship is as strong as it was then,” said Tenorio.
MVA will be the lead beneficiary of the charity concert tonight at the Hyatt’s SandCastle that will feature Goro Noguchi, Kojiro Shimizu, Tamotsu Ishibashi, Shoko Hamada and Yoshimi Hamasaki.
