Japanese media back for limited stay

The Japanese media covering the extradition case against Kazuyoshi Miura are back on Saipan. This time, there are only a few of them and they will be here for only a couple of days.

Four journalists from Nippon Television Network Corp., five reporters and crew of the Fuji Television Network Inc., two staff members from Nippon Hoso Kyokai, and one reporter from Kyodo News, started arriving since Tuesday.

The visiting journalists came from Tokyo and their bureau offices in Manila and Malaysia.

The journalists are here in preparation for the outcome of the Miura hearing that was held in Los Angeles yesterday.

Some journalists told Saipan Tribune that since the judge in California did not issue a decision and set a new hearing, they will be leaving Saipan again starting today, Friday.

They said they may return before the May 9 hearing.

Ichiro Kabasawa, Japan Broadcasting Corp. NHK general bureau for Asia (Bangkok), said he and a cameraman from Jakarta arrived on Tuesday.

Kabasawa said six people from Tokyo were supposed to follow them, but they canceled their flight after learning that no ruling was issued in L.A.

“I hope this case will be finished as soon as possible,” Kabasawa said.

He said he is hoping that the L.A. judge will soon decide whether to order Miura to be flown to L.A. or have him released.

Kabasawa previously covered the Miura proceedings on Saipan for 10 days.

He said the Saipan air is fresh and people can always see the blue sky, unlike in Bangkok where he is assigned.

“I like the weather here, the ocean, and the people,” he said. “In Bangkok you cannot see the sky because of fog and pollution.”

Kabasawa said the people here are very polite and the prosecutors and lawyers treat the reporters well.

Tomohiro Araoi, an engineer/cameraman of Nippon TV Network Corp., said four of them came from Tokyo on Wednesday.

Araoi said they may return to Tokyo either today, Friday, or on Saturday.

“Nothing exciting is going on here. We don’t know the ending of Miura’s story,” said Araoi, smiling.

A reporter from Fuji Television Network Inc., who requested anonymity, said five of them arrived from Manila, Malaysia, and Tokyo Wednesday afternoon. He said he was previously here for 21 days for the Miura coverage.

“I like Saipan…the beautiful sea and the people are very warm and kind,” he said.

Akiko Yamamoto of Nippon TV Network Corp., said she came from Tokyo yesterday and that she is leaving today, Friday.

“I enjoy my stay on Saipan. The people are very kind,” she said.

Yamamoto said she was here for three weeks before but that she had no time to swim as there was too much work. “I hope I can come back as a tourist,” she said.

Although the weather is hot, she said she likes it here. “I prefer to be in hot weather than to be cold,” Yamamoto said, smiling.