The visiting students from the Yamagata Prefecture Tokai Daigaku Yamagata High School visited the Angel Santos Memorial Latte Stone Park in Hagåtña, Ga’an Point in Agat, and the Faha Massacre site in Merizo.
They gathered at the Sagan Bisita in Agat for a luncheon hosted by Agat Mayor Carol Tayama and Agat Vice Mayor Augustin Quintanilla who welcomed the visitors along with Piti Mayor Ben Gumataotao.
Consul-General of Japan Yoshiyuki Kimura spoke to the students about their trip and commended them for learning a part of their history and promoting peace.
“They realize and gain the importance of peace,” he said. “They should start thinking about the people who suffered during the war.”
Organizing the trip is Ken Haga, president of U.S. Explore and Study Inc., who said he arranges student tours every year. He brought a group of 200 students at one time.
“My mission for the people of Guam is to introduce a real part of the island,” he said and explained that providing tours at World War II sites is a way for the students to be learn more about that period.
He said he wanted to show the students how the Chamorros’ were treated during the Japanese occupation of this American island.
He also wanted to tell how the Japanese were proud to die for their country and how some Japanese “made trouble” with the local people.
