By Beth David, Editor
The 19th Manjiro Festival saw sunny skies and pleasant temperatures in the streets around Fairhaven Town Hall on Saturday, 10/4/25.
The festival celebrates the life of Manjiro Nakahama and his connection to Fairhaven. Young Manjiro was 14 when he was rescued from a deserted island in the Pacific by Whaling Captain William Whitfield in 1841.
Manjiro became the first known Japanese person to live in the US. He was educated in Fairhaven and became instrumental in opening Japan to the west, becoming a national hero.
The ties between Fairhaven and Tosashimizu, Manjiro’s home village, and the ties between the Whitfields and Nakahamas have endured for nearly 200 years. The Sister-City relationship started in the 1980s.
This year, a group of 22 visited from Japan to attend the festival, including 11 high school students.
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- Visitors from Japan have a little fun for the camera while posing with town officials and volunteers in front of town hall during the 19th Manjiro Festival in Fairhaven on 10/4/25. Photo by Beth David.
The mayor or Tosashimizu, Yoh Hodooka, addressed the crowd in Japanese, with Jason Sardinha translating.
Mayor Hodooka said he was very happy to be invited to the 19th Manjiro Festival to commemorate the meeting of Capt. Whitfield and Manjiro almost 200 years ago; and to commemorate the creation of the sister-city relationship 30 years ago.
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- Yoh Hodooka, Mayor of Tosashimizu City, Japan, speaks to the crowd during the 19th Manjiro Festival in Fairhaven on 10/4/25. Photo by Beth David.
He also noted that the students would be homestaying with families. He said he looked forward to deepening the friendship between the two countries.
Mayor Hodooka noted that thanks should not only be given to Capt. Whitfield, but to the people in Fairhaven who opened their doors and showed kindness to Manjiro.
“I thank you for that,” he said.
Consul General of Japan in Boston, Seiichiro Takahashi, thanked everyone for inviting them and thanked them for bringing “this great weather and great crowds of people.”
He said the bonds between the two peoples and nations had endured, and noted that
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- Japanese Consul General, Seiichiro Takahashi, waves to the crowd during the 19th Manjiro Festival in Fairhaven on 10/4/25. Photo by Beth David.
Massachusetts made May 7 Japan Day this year, the very date that Manjiro first “set foot on US soil” in 1843, two years after he was rescued.
Mr. Takahashi noted that Manjiro received a western style education in Fairhaven and took that knowledge back to Japan impacting the educational system there.
He encouraged people to take advantage of the valuable opportunity to talk to the Japanese visitors.
He said relations between nations boils down to people, to relationships between people.
Select Board Chairperson, Charles Murphy, also welcomed the crowd and dignitaries, for a day of culture, food and entertainment.
“We are so honored to have all of you here today to celebrate the John Manjiro story of how he came to America by being rescued by Capt. Whitfield and to live here in Fairhaven with the Whitfield family,” said Mr. Murphy, adding Manjiro went on to be a hero in Japan.
Mr. Murphy also noted that the sister-city relationship has been celebrated for decades, with delegations going to each other’s countries to “celebrate this great and amazing story and relationship.”
He thanked the organizers and thanked the crowd for attending.
“Today is a day of celebration and learning and fun,” said Mr. Murphy.
Gerry Rooney, President and CEO of the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society, emceed, and noted that his prayers for “decent weather” had been answered.
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- Carolyn Wingate plays the ukelele in front of Town Hall during the 19th Manjiro Festival in Fairhaven on 10/4/25. Photo by Beth David.
State Rep. Mark Sylvia also spoke saying that they were there to celebrate the enduring friendship and pass it on in our daily lives.
He also presented a proclamation from the Mass. House of Representatives to the Consul General commemorating the day.
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- Taiko Drummers with Mark H. Rooney Taiko perform in the town hall auditorium during the 19th Manjiro Festival in Fairhaven on 10/4/25. Photo by Beth David
Other activities included Taiki drumming, martial arts demonstration, Ikebana flower arranging, live music throughout the day, vendors selling food and other items, and the closing traditional Japanese dance in the street in front of town hall.
Learn more about Manjiro’s story at https://www.discoverfairhaven.org/manjiro-nakahama, or at https://millicentlibrary.org/NakahamaManjiro. Find the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House on Facebook.
The museum is located at 11 Cherry Street in Fairhaven, and is open by appointment. Email Gerry@WMFriendshipHouse.org or call 508-858-5303 or 508-995-1219
A video of the event will be available soon at FairhavenTV.com
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