Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > July, 2005

Awards Ceremony to Present the Prime Minister's Commendations for Contributors to the National Greening Campaign Tuesday, July 26, 2005 JAPANESE An awards ceremony to present the Prime Minister's commendations for contributors to the National Greening Campaign was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The promotion of greening is important from the perspective of the preservation of the nation's land and environment, the cultivation of water resources and the improvement of the living environment. The Prime Minister holds an awards ceremony every year to honor individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions in the implementation of the National Greening Campaign. Those who received commendations from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi this year are one individual, Mr. Tatsuo Tsujitani of Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture; fourteen groups, including the Osaka Prefecture Forest Owners Association; five schools, including Hida Takayama High School in Gifu Prefecture; and four local public bodies, including Yasuzuka Ward, Joetsu City. In his address at the ceremony, Prime Minister Koizumi stated, "The Kyoto Protocol for the prevention of global warming entered into force this February. The EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan, at which nature's wisdom from around the globe is gathered, is being held on a grand-scale as well. The public awareness towards the natural environment is ever increasing. Against this backdrop, I expect that the measures for the promotion of the national greening campaign will be further advanced with the steady efforts of each and every one of the people of Japan."