The Katori Shrine at the Sugar King Park will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Oct. 23, 2010. Katori Shrine members from Japan will be on-island to conduct their annual memorial ceremony at the shrine and to celebrate the much-anticipated Japanese Autumn Festival at the Garapan Central Park.
The original Katori Jinja (shrine) was built in 1911 during the Japanese era. The jinja was destroyed by fire in 1944 during World War II. Forty years later, the then-Marianas Visitors Bureau and the Katori Federation re-established the site of religious services at Sugar King Park.
“Today, our whole community enjoys the park and its natural surroundings at the Katori Jinja site,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Perry Tenorio. “We are very fortunate to have the commitment of the Saipan Mayor’s Office, the Northern Mariana Islands Japanese community, and Japan Saipan Travel Association to keep our many memorial sites — like Katori Jinja — maintained through beautification programs.”
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. The Autumn Festival will immediately follow with games, food and live entertainment. Both events are open to the public.
