Nature tour brings Japan radio fans to Marianas

Japanese visitors clean Tanapag Beach on Saipan on March 15, 2019. The group travelled to the Marianas on a thankfulness-themed tour celebrating FM NACK5 radio’s 30th anniversary. (Photos by MVA)

Dozens of fans of Japan’s FM Nack5 radio station based in Tokyo spent three days in the Marianas earlier this month, celebrating the station’s 30th anniversary and contributing to environmental protection on the islands.

The “Breath of the Earth for Saipan” tour invited 82 listeners to the celebration on Saipan.

“In commemoration of this anniversary and on the theme of ‘thankfulness,’ we planned this tour to provide opportunities for our radio program listeners to protect and touch beautiful nature,” said project leader and executive director Akira Muto of FM NACK5. “In cooperation [with] the Marianas Visitors Authority, we decided to carry out this project [o]n Saipan, which has a beautiful ocean and nature.”

The tour included visits to scenic and historic sites including the Northern Mariana Islands Museum of History & Culture, Bird Island Lookout, Banzai Cliff, and Last Command Post.

“The FMNack 5 group tour was originally scheduled for last year, and they initially planned to cancel it after Super Typhoon Yutu. Fortunately, Saipan recovered quicker than expected from the storm and has proven to still be a safe and beautiful place to enjoy a holiday,” said MVA managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. “We are grateful for them choosing to reschedule to this month and even happier to hear that they enjoyed their visit to the Marianas. We are looking forward to even more group tours from Japan with the start of direct flights by Skymark Airlines on March 22. “
The group also enjoyed a full day of unscheduled leisure and conducted a beach cleanup at Tanapag Beach in northern Saipan.

“It was very disappointing at first to postpone this tour, but now I’m very relieved because all our listeners could see a green-covered Saipan again and the local people who overcame this natural disaster,” Muto said. ““I had many chances to see beautiful beaches on Saipan during this tour, and now I strongly feel that we should take care of this environment, one precious earth for the future of our people. I hope if our cleanup activity at Tanapag Beach was meaningful for our radio listeners and the people on Saipan. The sea is an important asset that everyone needs to take care of. Along with other Japanese tourists, I look forward to the return of direct flights from Japan to Saipan.”

Nack5 FM also recorded at the museum, award-winning Managaha, and Salty’s Grill & Cafe for broadcasts that will air to their listeners on March 25-28, 2019, in a program called “GOGOMONZ Saipan Special.” Nack5 FM broadcasts Japanese and international rock, as well as other modern genres of music.

Participants lodged at Hyatt Regency Saipan, which also hosted a farewell dinner, and their tour and beach cleanup was coordinated by Paupau Tours. (MVA)