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Nenpou Shinkyou makes 11th pilgrimage to CNMI
Members of the Nenpou Shinkyou Buddhist Denomination conducted their 11th memorial ceremony last Sunday at the Last Command Post in Marpi.
The ceremony was intended to honor Japanese soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during World War II.
The ceremony was first established by the Nenpou Shinkyou Buddhist Denomination in 2007 and has been an annual event since then.
According to the remarks of Nenpou Shinkyou president Ryohan Ichimiya, Nenpou Shinkyou leaders fervently pray for eternal peace for the fallen Japanese of World War II and for war to never repeat itself.
Government officials came to show their respects and to honor the bond between the Commonwealth and the Japanese community.
Among the government officials present at the memorial ceremony yesterday were Saipan Mayor David Apatang, Municipal Council chair Luis Castro, and Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan).
Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Chris Concepcion said the group’s pilgrimage to the Marianas is always welcome and he hopes the denomination will continue this annual visit.
According to Apatang, the Commonwealth will continue to welcome the memorial ceremony.
“We always welcome our friends, the Nenpou Shinkyou, for their annual event,” he said.
According to Apatang, this year’s ceremony was smaller than the last, with only a little over 40 members of the Nenpou Shinkyou participating this year. He hopes for a bigger crowd in next year’s ceremony.
The newly appointed Japanese consul, Kinji Shinoda, who was also present for the ceremony, emphasized how important the ceremony is to the relationship that Japan shares with the Commonwealth.
According to Shinoda, the ceremony also serves to unite the Commonwealth and the Japanese citizens who come out to pray for the deceased.
