| The Opening Ceremony of Oita Canon Inc. (4/11) |
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| The opening ceremony of Canon’s Oita office was held. The Oita factory has a production capacity of 6.8million digital cameras per year. The Governor was present together with Mr. Fujio Mitarai, President of Canon. In his congratulatory speech at the ceremony the Governor said, "I expect Canon will make a contribution to help create a more vitality-filled Oita Prefecture. It would be significant if this factory became the reason for a resurgence of the domestic manufacturing industry" |
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| The Korean Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan made a courtesy call on the Governor. (5/9) |
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| His Excellency Mr. LA JONG IL, visited Oita Prefecture for a lecture at APU and made a courtesy call on the Governor. The Governor said, "many South Korean students are studying in the universities in Oita Prefecture. These international students are an important key to creating the future." The Ambassador replied with "Beppu is well known in South Korea. I want to emphasize the importance of the charm of Oita City" |
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| The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency One Day Conference (6/17) |
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| "The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency" conference was held in Oita. About 400 participants from medium and small sized enterprises and the Chamber of Commerce Association joined it. After the organizer’s greeting from the Governor, a keynote speech was given by Mr. Harufumi Mochizuki, the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. A forum with the panelists such as Mr. Ota, President of Xavier Honpo Inc. was held and a heated debate ensued about small-and-medium-sized-enterprise measures. |
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| Return of the Rising Sun flag (7/27) |
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| The flag of the Rising Sun which had been on exhibition in the Ukraine was returned to Mr. Yoshisato Yamamura in Oita after 60 years. The Governor said that "It was deeply moving to know that it could be brought back after a 60 year long absence." Mr.Yamamura replied while happily receiving the flag, "I regard this flag as my other self. I will carry on to do my best" |
