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On the south side of the first floor of the Kantei,
between the Small Dining Room and the Large Dining Room, there was an area known
as the Smoking Room. For the fairly restricted confines of the Kantei,
it was a relatively large space, and it was used when the Prime Minister met guests
from Japan and abroad, and when agreements were signed with other countries. This
room was also used when the personnel of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
(PKO) gave reports to the Prime Minister on their dispatch and return.
The attractive and stylish lights hanging from the ceiling and other finely tuned
decorations gave the room the feel of a small ceremonial hall or hotel lobby.
In years past, a large film projector was brought into the room to show newsreels
to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet members.
Until the Crisis Management Center was established in the Annex to the Prime Minister's
Official Residence, a Countermeasure Headquarters for handling situations such
as the hijacking of an All Nippon Airways jet in 1995, was set up in the Smoking
Room, lending it an air of tension.
By the way, the room had been called the Smoking Room since the time of the Kantei's
construction. |
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