‘Impressed with Saipan’

The Japanese delegation to Saipan for the visit of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko feels satisfied and “impressed” with the island’s hosting of the event.

“I’m impressed with the hospitality of Saipan people. We feel safe and welcome. There was no security problem,” said Mitsuru Myochin, principal deputy director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Press Division.

Myochin acted as spokesman for the Japanese government during the imperial visit on June 27 and 28.

He said the Japanese delegation included about 140 media representatives and 120 people from the Japanese government headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Imperial Household Agency, and National Police.

Myochin said his group also read “very supportive” media coverage from Saipan.

In an interview, Myochin described as “good news” the decision by the Korean Association of Saipan not to stage a protest during the imperial visit.

The Korean group earlier displayed banners and issued a statement demanding for an apology from the imperial couple for Japanese atrocities during World War II. The group later toned down its demands, amid threats by local residents of a boycott on Korean stores on island. A day before the imperial visit, the group clarified that its members are not opposed to the imperial visit at all and said that it would oppose any protests.

When asked, Myochin said representatives from the Japanese government spoke with the Korean association prior to the visit.

Meantime, Myochin said that the imperial couple’s visit to Saipan “was meaningful and unique” since it was the first overseas trip of the couple to pay respect to the war dead.

“They have visited a lot of sites in Japan to honor the war dead but this is their first time to visit a place in a foreign country. The emperor and empress have long wished to pay tribute to the casualties of war here on Saipan,” he said.

He said the couple would usually visit other countries for “normal” purposes.

“Last month, they visited Norway. It’s for a normal purpose. But this time, it’s their very first time to go abroad for a solemn purpose. It’s very unique,” he said. “Meaningful? I’d say yes.”

He also agreed that Saipan, a former territory of Japan before the war, has “a special connection” with Japan.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta said Tuesday that the imperial visitors expressed great appreciation over the outpouring of welcome from the local community.

He said the empress took particular mention of the people and schoolchildren who waved along the road.