Top „ What's up around the Prime Minister „ February, 2003

Prime Minister Attends National Foundation Day Ceremony Tuesday, February 11, 2003 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. The ceremony was also attended by Speaker of the House of Representatives Tamisuke Watanuki, President of the House of Councillors Hiroyuki Kurata, and members of the diplomatic corps. In his celebratory address, Prime Minister Koizumi stated, "Recently attention has focused only on negative aspects of Japan, but there are wonderful things in our country not found in other countriescFor the first time ever two Japanese received Nobel Prizes in the same year. In both cases, they were highly evaluated for achievements accomplished at a time when it was said that Japan was not succeeding in the area of fundamental research." He also stated, "Japan will fulfill its role as a responsible member of the international community. I believe that therein lies the way for Japan to achieve new development," adding that "There have been times that were much more desperate than now, but predecessors did not fall into a pessimistic mood." In closing, the Prime Minister indicated his firm resolve, stating, "We must learn from history and remember the hard work of predecessors as we strive bravely with hope to create a new Japan."