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

Indian Ocean Tsunami Orphans Pay a Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Monday, August 1, 2005 JAPANESE Click photographs to enlarge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call at the Prime Minister's Official Residence from 50 orphans of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean which occurred at the end of last year. The visit by these orphans was realized under the invitation extended by ASHINAGA, an organization that supports children who lost their parents to sickness, suicides and other causes aside from traffic accidents. The organization is hosting an event at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, Tokyo which provides an opportunity for the orphans to interact with orphans of disasters in Japan to help heal their pain. These tsunami orphans paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Koizumi after attending the opening ceremony of this event. As the representative of the tsunami orphans, Miss Sri Wahyuni, a 14-year-old first year high school student who lives in Banda Aceh, Indonesia shared, "I lost my parents, older sister and brother, and a younger sister to the tsunami. I wish to lighten my grief and sorrow through taking part in the summer camp. I am also very delighted that Prime Minister Koizumi has found time in his busy schedule to welcome us tsunami orphans to Japan." The tsunami orphans then performed an Indonesian ethnic dance called "Aceh Dance." In his address Prime Minister Koizumi stated, "This past April, I visited Aceh which incurred damage from the tsunami. I was amazed yet again by the enormity of the damage the tsunami brought upon the region. At the same time, I was highly encouraged by the many children who have not lost hope and warmly welcomed me. Japan is a country that suffers from many disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis and heavy rains. There are many children who are in grief, losing their families to these disasters. I hope that you all will have hope and lead a lively life."