Sicilians are furious that an eccentric Japanese billionaire has hired out several cultural institutions in Palermo for a four-day birthday extravaganza.
Celebrating his 73rd birthday
Kaoru Nakajima managed to hire out several of Palermo’s oldest and most iconic landmarks, including opera houses, theatres and centuries-old hotels, to celebrate his 73rd birthday.
Among the buildings hired out by the billionaire is the Teatro Massimo, Italy‘s largest opera house and one of the largest in Europe.
He has also hired out the Politeama Theatre, and went as far as to order extra custom seating so that his guests could dance and dine in the 132-year-old institution, at a reported cost of 37,000 euros (£32,244).
Nakajima, who was once pictured with pop superstar Mariah Carey, will be housing his 1,400 guests at both the five-star Villa Igiea, on Palermo’s beachfront, and the Grand Hotel et des Palmes, just a few miles away.
He has hired the hands of a celebrity chef
He is said to be feeding them with a banquet prepared by a celebrity chef, and also entertained them with a performance of Don Giovanni conducted by the acclaimed Riccardo Muti, who is said to be a close friend of the birthday boy, Nakajima is said to have organised a concert by Matteo Bocelli, the son of the legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
People react to his extravagant birthday party
His extravagant birthday bash has angered the locals, however, and has left officials asking how Nakajima was allowed to hire several iconic venues.
Furious Sicily regional president Renato Schifani slammed Palermo mayor Roberto Lagalla for agreeing to the four day shindig.
Visibly irritated, he stormed: ‘Why weren’t the competent authorities notified in advance about all this? I’m perplexed as to why two theatres have been hired at great expense and can only hope the money paid goes to charity.
‘These sort of large scale events should go before a public order committee and yet there was no meeting held in advance.’
He continued: ‘Neither the prefect of Palermo or the city’s head of police were informed ahead of this event taking place and they should have been with more than 1,000 people attending.
‘I just hope that all goes well but this is certainly a very serious situation and it must never happen again.’
Seperately, Schifani told an Italian news agency: ‘I’m a liberal person who has always been open to the private sector but there’s a limit to everything.’
He added that he was worried that Nakajima hiring out so many institutions so quickly may lead to other ultra-wealthy individuals doing the same.
‘In this way we are opening an unprecedented window, which could lead to other private individuals requesting similar treatment,’ he said.
On the Facebook page of local paper Palermo Today the story attracted hundreds of mixed comments from locals annoyed at the event.
Casemiro Bellone said: ‘Welcome to Palermo and all its beauty, and welcome to whoever brings jobs to our city. But with all due respect to our illustrious guest I do think the royal box at the theatre should be for heads of state.’
READ ALSO: Billionaire on quest to live forever says it RUINED his dating life
Marco Borbone Desantis said: ‘I’ve lived in Palermo all my life and I’ve never managed to get a ticket for the theatre. Now he has come from the other side of the world and gets in. Something isn’t working.’
Agostino Marino wrote: ‘Everyone writing, thank you for choosing Palermo but did the people who write it understand that it won’t bring prestige or anything else?
‘He only showed off his power through his money because he is rich and can do it for the rest his presence is of no use and will not bring anything except money to other rich people who don’t care about the city. Palermo will always remain dirty, abandoned and disadvantaged, thanks for what exactly?’
Guisi Maniscalco said: ‘Who knows if this money he is bringing will be invested into the city. Let’s hope so.’
Not all were against the party, though.
Antonina Rita Minafo welcomed the visit and said: ‘To all those who criticise… Remember that if this man leaves with a good memory, others will probably come and it means work and jobs.’
