[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) and communicated with Mr. Kimiya Yui, an astronaut assigned to the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station (ISS).

Astronaut Yui boarded Russia’s Soyuz TMA-17M rocket, which was launched in July, and will be stationed at ISS for approximately five months as a flight engineer. Two days ago Astronaut Yui conducted the operation for docking cargo transfer spacecraft KOUNOTORI5 at ISS. Astronaut Yui will also install experimental and observational equipment, and conduct scientific experiments, among other activities, to advance the capabilities of Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo.”

Together with Chief Executive Director of Miraikan Mamoru Mohri, who served as moderator; Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa; Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Hakubun Shimomura; Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Shunichi Yamaguchi; and others; Prime Minister Abe conversed with Astronaut Yui and other astronauts for approximately 20 minutes.