Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > July, 2006

Young People Taking Part in the Northern Youth Exchange Project Pay Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister Friday, July 28, 2006 JAPANESE Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from the young people descended from families who once lived in the Northern Territories of Japan at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Seven young people visited Prime Minister Koizumi on this occasion, including Miss Masako Yamauchi, a third year student at Koyo Junior High School in Nemuro City in Hokkaido. They discussed their various experiences including Miss Chihiro Saito of Nakashibetsu Junior High School visiting a Russian family as part of an exchange program on the four islands and Miss Yamauchi winning a speech contest. Prime Minister Koizumi gave his words of encouragement, saying, "Please continue with your efforts so that people will be even more interested in the Northern Territories" through exchanges with other youths in the same generation.