Cultural dancers perform during a dinner hosted by CNMI officials and PDI in honor of visiting Okinawans at the Carolinian Affairs Office pavilion on Thursday night
CNMI officials and Pacific Development Inc. hosted a dinner for 37 Micronesian Repatriation Association of Okinawa and Okinawan Prefectural Assembly members at the Carolinian Affairs Office pavilion on Thursday night.
PDI assistant manager Hiroko Tajima told Variety that the group would hold a memorial service on Saipan and Tinian to pray for those who lost their lives during World War II.
“The visit also aims to reconnect and continue the good relationship between the people of the CNMI and Okinawa,” Tajima added.
She said because of Typhoon Mawar, the group experienced flight delays. “When I picked them up at the airport, they were very tired…but once they met the people of Saipan, they became happy and rejuvenated,” Tajima added.
Among those who attended the dinner were Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, Sen. Corina Magofna, Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Vice Speaker Joel Camacho, Rep. BJ Attao, Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho, Carolinian Affairs Office Executive Assistant Felix Nogis and local families.
The visitors were treated to cultural dance performances and a variety of local dishes.
Mayor Camacho also presented plaques of recognition and appreciation to the group for “furthering the relationship between Okinawa and Saipan, and in continued hope of peace and prosperity for both our people.”
While here, the group paid courtesy visits to the governor’s office, the Saipan mayor’s office, the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Japanese Consulate.
They returned to Tokyo, Japan on Monday morning.
Cultural dancers perform during a dinner hosted by CNMI officials and PDI in honor of visiting Okinawans at the Carolinian Affairs Office pavilion on Thursday night.
