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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Sapporo City in Hokkaido and took a tour of the site of the 56th Sapporo Snow Festival. Prime Minister Koizumi first visited the main street in Chuo ward and was welcomed by Ms. Harumi Takahashi, the Governor of Hokkaido, and Mr. Fumio Ueda, the Mayor of Sapporo City. Prime Minister Koizumi then viewed the snow statue of Nagoya Castle in connection with the Exposition of Global Harmony (2005 World Exposition) which will begin next month. In the falling snow, Prime Minister Koizumi did a media interview at the site and said, "The beauty of the snow statues is far beyond my expectations. The number of Asian tourists to Japan has been increasing, and I believe that more and more people will come and see these artworks." The following day, Prime Minister Koizumi visited the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) base in Makomanai in Minami ward and received an explanation on the history of the Sapporo Snow Festival in the base as well as on the miniature models of the snow statues that the SDF has created up tp now at the reference library. He then viewed the snow statue of the "Suwon Hwaseong Fortress" in Makomanai site built by the eleventh division of the GSDF in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea. Makomanai site marks the end of its run this year as the site for the Sapporo Snow Festival. Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his appreciation for the efforts put in by the SDF members by saying, "It must have been a difficult task to work in the cold with your hands freezing." He then watched a Korean folk dance with Mr. Ra Jong-yil, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Japan, in front of the snow statue of the "Suwon Hwaseong Fortress." After viewing the sites, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "So many people are drawn here despite the cold winter weather. Ideas to take advantage of the region's weaknesses are becoming increasingly important for all regions."