Previous Story
Saipan welcomes nearly 300 aboard Wakai Nekko No Kai
|
Posted on Apr 16 2006
Nearly 300 students, lecturers, and media people arrived on Saipan yesterday on board the Wakai Nekko No Kai Ocean University.
The trip marks the floating university’s 38th annual voyage to Saipan. Island music and traditional dance greeted the passengers of NCC Fuji Maru, which docked at the Port of Saipan at about 8am Sunday.
Acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, and Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council chairman Angel Hocog were at hand to lead the local community in receiving the Ocean University to the island.
Northern Marianas College welcomed the return of two of its students who participated in the voyage. The students are Elsa Yoshida, currently pursuing an associate degree in business management, and Kaye M. Christian, a liberal arts major.
Students from Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, Kagman High School, Mt. Carmel School, and Grace Christian Academy also came to receive their Japanese counterparts.
The visitors and the local students had another chance to meet for cultural exchange activities at Micro Beach at 2pm. An on-board reception dinner was also scheduled for 6:30pm Sunday.
Wakai Nekko No Kai, or Young Roots Organization, has brought more than 16,000 Japanese visitors to the CNMI as part of its Ocean University cultural exchange program over the past 38 years.
Founded by Hideo Kato, Wakai Nekko No Kai sponsors music concerts, variety and talk shows, publishes books and magazines, and hosts forums on various social problems. The group also invites various people as lecturers, including writers, novelists, musicians, actors, private leaders, and education officials.
The Marianas Visitors Authority and Pacific Development Inc. help facilitate the floating university’s yearly visit to Saipan.
