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Tinian leaders visit ex-Japan PM Hatoyama
Tinian Mayor Joey P. San Nicolas and Sens. Jude U. Hofschneider, Francisco Q. Cruz, and Francisco M. Borja present a gift to former Japan prime minister Yukio Hatoyama. (Contributed Photo)
Tinian Mayor Joey P. San Nicolas and Sens. Jude U. Hofschneider, Francisco Q. Cruz, and Francisco M. Borja recently traveled to Tokyo, Japan, to meet with former Japan prime minister Yukio Hatoyama to discuss cultural exchange, tourism, and investment on Tinian.
“It was indeed a humbling experience to visit with Prime Minister Hatoyama. We talked about tourism and culture. He was very generous with his time,” said San Nicolas.
Hatoyama served as prime minister from 2009 to 2010.
The purpose of the travel to Japan was to promote Tinian’s culture, people, and environment. The Tinian leadership hopes to forge stronger ties with Japan, thereby attracting more Japanese visitors to Tinian.
The leaders also met with members of the National Diet (the Japanese legislature) led by Rep. Koichi Kondo. The delegation members talked about the economy of Tinian and the CNMI economy in general as well as infrastructure developments on Tinian.
While in Japan, the leaders traveled to Shizuoka City where they were greeted by Shizuoka Rep. Kimihiko Nakazawa and representatives from the city port authority and tourism industry. A frequent visitor to the CNMI, Nakazawa stressed the importance of having direct flights from cities in Japan to Tinian. Other topics of discussion were the creation of a sister-city relationship with Shizuoka City and opening a Tinian office in Nagoya City. Both the Shizuoka and Tinian delegations agreed that they would explore possible culture exchange programs and sporting events for Shizuoko and Tinian youth.
It was San Nicolas’ first official visit to Japan. (PR)
