3 NMI residents are honored for role in creating JNMDA

Vincent Seman, Japanese-Northern Marianas Descent Association chair Norman Tenorio, and David Sablan Sr. after Wednesday’s awarding ceremony at the Japanese Consular Office on Saipan.

The Japanese Consulate General in Guam presented three individuals in the CNMI with awards—two of whom are Japanese descent—for their significant contributions to the creation of the Japanese-Northern Marianas Descent Association.

Japanese Consul General for Guam Izumi Seki presented the awards to David Sablan Sr., Vincent J. Seman, and JNMDA’s first chairman, Norman T. Tenorio, for their roles in the creation of the JNMDA. The presentation of awards took place at the Japan Consul in the CNMI.

Seki noted that Sablan first initiated the founding of the association, while Tenorio led the group as its first chairman. Seman, a lawyer, secured the requirements to register the association as a non-profit organization in the CNMI.

Seki referred to Sablan as a “Japanese at heart,” despite his not being of Japanese descent.

“[Sablan] studied very hard in Japanese school on Saipan until fifth grade under the Japanese administration,” Seki noted in her congratulatory address. “I heard you were very good at abacus and still remember and speak Japanese. So nobody denies you are very much alike the Japanese and is a Japanese at heart,” she said.

In her message to Tenorio, whose grandmother was from the Gunma prefecture in Japan, she said: “I hope the association will be active and develop under your leadership.”

Seman, whose grandmother was from the Yamagata prefecture, where many Japanese came from during the Japanese administration, was thanked for his efforts in registering the association as a non-profit in the CNMI. He, however, holds no position at the association.

“I wish you will take a key position and continue to support the association,” Seki said.

In an interview, Tenorio said the association would be convening soon. As of publication, Tenorio noted that they have over 20 members already.

“We have already conducted two meetings,” Tenorio said, noting that the association is still in the recruitment phase. The association’s next meeting is on Sept. 15, 2018, at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library conference room.

“We are still trying to get more people to join and are looking for more young people to join the association,” he said.

Tenorio said he looks forward to having a charter on Rota and Tinian in the future, once the association is well organized on Saipan. Currently, the association is still looking for a place to set up office.

“It takes time to disseminate information on the association, but we have been doing it through the internet,” he said, adding that locals who are interested in joining the association but are not of Japanese-descent are welcome to join.