~ “Nikkei” in Palau~ Interview Series: Vol.#23 Mr. Herlando Goto

Mr. Herlando Goto, 62 years old, is a third generation of Japanese descendant. He is the son of Mr. Takeshi Goto of Angaur and Ms. Elsau Etumeleu, whose father is from Airai, and mother is from Peleliu. Mr. Goto has no knowledge about his grandfather. He checked his father’s birth certificate, but it only says his name is “Goto” and does not mention his last name or which part of Japan he is from.
 
His father, Mr. Takeshi Goto, is well known as one of the few people, about 20 who hid in a cave in Angaur until after the war. His father was 12 years old when he came out of the Melech cave in Angaur. Just a day before this interview, the people of Angaur commemorated 80 years since the day their ancestors came out from the Melech cave.
 
Mr. Goto visited Japan around 2015. He went to Osaka with his wife Mrs. Magrina Goto and their daughter for a month as part of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) outreach program. Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is a global Christian movement focused on sharing Jesus with current and future generations. During his one month stay in Osaka, he got to enjoy Japanese seafood especially takoyaki, sashimi, and sushi.
 
Working with his wife Magrina as missionaries in Angaur, Mr. Goto appreciates Japan government’s various assistance to Palau and wishes that both countries will continue to strengthen their friendship beyond 30 years.