[Lion Heart -- Message from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi]
(Provisional Translation)

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Thinking of the hardships experienced by the Japanese emigrants to the Dominican Republic

Junichiro Koizumi here.

Torrential rains of extraordinary magnitude in such regions as Nagano, Kagoshima, and Shimane Prefectures have caused landslides, river flooding, and other damage. I express my condolences to the victims and extend my deepest sympathy to all those affected.

The central government ministries concerned will engage in close coordination and the Government as a whole will take robust responsive measures to prevent the damage from the rains from spreading and undertake restoration work in cooperation with the people of the regions affected.

This week, on July 29, a commemorative ceremony for the 50th anniversary of Japanese emigration to the Dominican Republic will be held in this Caribbean country.

In the early 1950s, around 1,300 Japanese people full of dreams and hopes emigrated to this faraway country across the ocean as part of an emigration project implemented by the Government.

However, due to the Government's lack of sufficient research and inadequate provision of information on their destination, the emigrants found themselves on land that was far from suitable for agriculture, and instead was rock-covered and barren. Their misfortune was multiplied by the social confusion and frequent natural disasters in the country. The emigrants have suffered hardships beyond our imagination for many years.

The Government is truly remorseful and apologizes for the immense hardships the emigrants have undergone, caused by the response taken by the Government at that time under the emigration project. In light of this, we have decided to offer a special one-time payment to the emigrants to the Dominican Republic.

The Japanese people have won the trust of the international community for our serious and diligent nature and for keeping our promises. I believe such trust owes precisely to the emigrants abroad as well as Japanese businesspersons in foreign countries, who have worked and are working harder than even local citizens in spite of a climate, language, customs, and food that is different from their own.

I express my deep respect for those emigrants who have overcome the various challenges, tirelessly worked and made efforts, and contributed to developing the friendly relations between Japan and the Dominican Republic. I am very glad that the commemorative ceremony for the 50th anniversary of Japanese emigration to the Dominican Republic will be held in our hope to further develop our nations while enjoying our friendly ties. I cordially hope that this ceremony will serve as an opportunity of warm congratulations shared by both the people of Japan and of the Dominican Republic.

Two days ago, on Tuesday, I met and dined with Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare of the Commission of the African Union (AU) at my official residence. I shared with Chairperson Konare my idea of establishing the Hideyo Noguchi Prize for Africa when I visited Ethiopia this May. We have since then been taking in advice from people concerned on what kind of award this should become and its content is close to being finalized.

The establishment of the Hideyo Noguchi Prize for Africa is scheduled to be officially decided this week. It will be awarded on the occasion of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which is held once every five years in Japan, to those who have made outstanding contributions in the study and practice of medicine for disease control including infectious diseases in Africa.

I attended a town meeting held on Monday, July 24. I sometimes worried when I first started this initiative whether people would come to such government-sponsored town meetings. However, most thankfully we have welcomed the people's great participation in town meetings that have taken place all over Japan. This year marks the 5th anniversary with the 167th meeting having taken place on Monday, and it was also the 6th town meeting that I have attended.

A great number of people were in attendance at this meeting and we received many questions and opinions on such themes as the decreasing birthrate, environment issues, and the creation of a society with abundant opportunities.

I will make sure that those opinions received through this e-mail magazine and at the town meetings will continue to be reflected in the political decision-making.

* The title of this column "Lion Heart" is a reference to the Prime Minister's lion-like hairstyle and his unbending determination to advance structural reform.

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