Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� July, 2004

Young People Taking Part in the Northern Youth Exchange Project Pay Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister Thursday, July 29, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from the young people descended from families who once lived in the Northern Territories of Japan at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Seven young people visited Prime Minister Koizumi on this occasion, including Miss Yuka Maruoka of Hakuryo Junior High School and Mr. Yoshitaka Noto of Attoko Junior High School, both located in Nemuro City in Hokkaido. In an opening address, Miss Maruoka shared her essay that won the first prize in the Nemuro City Speech Contest: "The song 'Ponpon sen de kaeritai (I want to go home on a ponpon ship),' that in its lyrics aptly depicts the emotions of a mother who cannot return to her hometown, has long occupied my heart, and I strongly sense the frustration of the people who have been deprived of their own home. Now is the time for all of Japan to stand up for the people that long for their home, and work through our own efforts for the return of the Northern Territories to Japan." In response, Prime Minister Koizumi reiterated his resolve by saying, "The issue of the Northern Territories has always been on my mind. I always discuss this issue with President Putin whenever I meet him. I intend to continue my talks with him for their return to Japan by deepening our mutual understanding with Russia."