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

Prime Minister Has Been Appointed to Honorary Chairman of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan Friday, September 24, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a call from Mr. Shoichiro Toyoda, the Chairman of the Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition and others at the Prime Minister's Official Residence and held a meeting. Prime Minister Koizumi has been appointed to the position of the honorary chairman of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan (EXPO 2005) to be held in Aichi Prefecture, scheduled from March 2005, which will open in six months. Chairman Toyoda of the Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition and the mascot characters Morizo and Kiccoro visited the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Chairman Toyoda reported to Prime Minister Koizumi on the status of preparations for EXPO 2005. Prime Minister Koizumi said, "I would like to see Japan being promoted to the world as an advanced country in terms of environmental measures through the forum of EXPO 2005." Prior to this meeting, in talks with Cabinet members held after the Cabinet meeting in the morning, Prime Minister Koizumi instructed the relevant Cabinet members to look into easing requirements for tourists visas for the duration of EXPO 2005 as part of measures to increase the number of foreign tourists to Japan.