Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� February, 2002

Prime Minister Attends National Foundation Day Ceremony Monday, February 11, 2002 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi attended the National Ceremony to Celebrate National Foundation Day, organized by the Foundation for Celebrating National Holidays, held at Toranomon Hall, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. Some 1,400 people attended, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tamisuke Watanuki, the President of the House of Councillors Yutaka Inoue, and members of the diplomatic corps. Addressing the assembly, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his resolve to overcome difficulties, stating, "Our forefathers overcame wars and great disasters to build a new age. Even now, during these challenging days of the 21st century, it is important for us to remember those who came before. Let us all work together to make this country into one that is important to the world, and will make us proud to have been born Japanese."