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

Prime Minister Tours Oita Prefecture and Attends 2005 World Students' Tourism Summit Saturday, November 12-Sunday, November 13, 2005 JAPANESE Click photographs to enlarge On November 12, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Oita Prefecture, where he toured the "Konohana Garten," a farmers market, "Kangien," a national historical site, and a farm where local specialty pears are grown. During his stay at a local hot springs site, Prime Minister Koizumi held talks with the "Charismas of Tourism." Prime Minister Koizumi first visited "Konohana Garten," one of the 30 villages nationwide chosen as "Rising Rural Areas." Rural areas which have made pioneering efforts to achieve autonomy and have an abundant sense of management are designated as "Rising Rural Areas." Prime Minister Koizumi observed the fresh vegetables, rice, shitake mushrooms, Japanese plums, and other agricultural products that the farmers individually gathered and brought. Next he toured the "Kangien," the Shijuku private school, where people who went down in history for their remarkable achievements in the modern era were educated. While touring this restored Japanese-style house called "Iori," he enthusiastically listened to an explanation of the unique teaching styles employed there. At the pear farm, Prime Minister Koizumi enjoyed the experience of harvesting and sampling the pears, and also received an explanation on initiatives related to Chinese exports and typhoon countermeasures. Following his round of tours, Prime Minister Koizumi went to a Japanese style inn in Yufuin Town, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture, where he stayed overnight and talked with the "Charismas of Tourism" selected by the Prefecture. On the next day, November 13, Prime Minister Koizumi attended the 2005 World Students' Tourism Summit held in Oita Prefecture. In his address to the students at the Summit assembled from around the world, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "If everyone's discussions were to produce positive outcomes and lead to the development of your respective countries through tourism, and deepen the friendship between each country, nothing would make me happier." View Video (Available only in Japanese) Real(Narrowband) / Real(Broadband) Windows Media(Narrowband) / Windows Media(Broadband)