On March 20, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the awards ceremony for the Third Space Exploitation Prize, held in Tokyo.
 
In his address, the Prime Minister said,
 
“I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of the Third Space Exploitation Prize.
 
It was about half a century ago when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. I was merely a wide-eyed young boy then, and I still remember my heart beating with excitement when I looked up at the moon in the night sky.
 
In the 20th century, countries invested large sums in national space development projects as they competed with one another to make advances in the field. However, this approach has undergone rapid changes over the last 10 years.
 
It was triggered by a single can of Coca-Cola. The idea was to make small satellites using a Coca-Cola can. Professor Nakasuka, one of the award recipients today, was a core member of this joint project by Japanese and U.S. universities that transformed space development into a sector that has attracted one start-up company after another, and where everyone can take part in its challenges.  
 
Services such as collecting space debris and artificial shooting stars. These are just some of the ideas that I heard about earlier. We are witnessing the emergence of out-of-this-world ideas that are as brilliant as the stars in the night sky. The vast expanse of space is becoming a great frontier for humankind where more and more new businesses are being created.
 
From national projects to a frontier for private enterprises.
 
Japan is standing at the forefront of this global paradigm shift and is driving it with great momentum. The Government has recently formulated new support packages for fostering space start-ups.
 
In the next five years, we will make investments amounting to about 100 billion yen in space businesses in partnership between the public and private sector.
 
In addition, we will also provide a steady flow of human resources. By allowing outstanding JAXA researchers to work in start-up companies in the private sector, we plan to accelerate the flow of human resources and technology from the public to the private sector.
 
Commander Neil Armstrong of Apollo 11, who stood on the surface of the moon in the 20th century, left us these famous words,
 
‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’
 
In the 21st century, I am confident that you will all be the ones taking the next giant step for the space sector, which holds infinite potential.
 
I have great expectations for the success of everyone gathered here today from up-and-coming start-ups, to established private-sector corporations and universities.
 
In closing, I would like to express my wish that you will carry the hopes and dreams of humankind, and pioneer a new age of space development. Once again, congratulations.”