Press Briefing
By Oita Gov. Morihiko Hiramatsu and Beppu City Mayor Nobuyuki Inoue In honor of South Korean President Kim Young Sam
Date: January 26th (Sun) 2:30 PM Place: Press center, Suginoi Hotel, Beppu City
Oita Governor Hiramatsu: Mayor Inoue and myself hosted a luncheon today for South Korean President Kim Young Sam and his delegation including the foreign minister of South Korea. Also in attendance were Oita prefecture assembly speaker and chairman of the chamber of commerce from Oita. I explained to President Kim the "one village, one product" campaign in Oita showing a map and actual products, for which he said he was very impressed. I also showed him a model of the future stadium for the 2002 World Cup Soccer games in Oita. After breakfast this morning, when a picture was taken of President Kim and Prime Minister Hashimoto, I happened to have a soccer ball with me and, though not quite having planned it, I asked them to put their autographs on the ball which they gladly agreed to do. They signed as President Kim Young Sam and Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto with today's date. Well, there is only one soccer ball in the world autographed by a Korean President and a Japanese Prime Minister so that I plan to exhibit the ball at the stadium when it is completed. In January every year, there is a youth soccer game between boys from Korea and Kyushu, and I would like to show the ball to them as well. I also suggested to President Kim that he should come back to Oita when the World Cup Soccer games will be held, and he nodded firmly. During the lunch three ladies from Oita played a Korean musical piece called "Toraji" and Japanese traditional music--"Moon over the ruined castle" and "Cherry blossoms"-- with Japanese Koto instruments. The President complimented the musical playing as very beautiful. The natural beauty of Beppu also attracted the President. He went jogging at 6:30 in the morning, a practice he has kept for almost 40 years no matter where he is in the world. He said he has been jogging in many places in the world, and found streets of Beppu very well maintained and the town in general as one of the most impressive. It appears he really liked Beppu. The fire works performed the night before also were very beautiful as they were described particularly to the Mayor of Beppu as magnificent. I explained the plan of the Ritsumeikan University to open the Asia Pacific University in Beppu in 1999, where they will have 400 students from Japan and another 400 from other Asian countries per grade level, for a total of 3200 students in all. He appeared very impressed and said it was an excellent idea. As we made casual conversation, we served him Shochu, a distilled liquor from Oita, with hot water and a touch of Kabosu, Oita's citrus liquor. In Korea they have liquor called "Hosin" and when I requested him to send one......I am not sure if he will send me one, but he certainly smiled. He said that in Oita there may be "one product for one village," but also so many kinds of liquors. We kept a very warm atmosphere and indeed he seems to be fond of Beppu. Beppu Mayor Inoue: Everything is just as the Governor has said. As to Beppu he complimented it by saying it is in a good location, has a nice view and is a very wonderful place. When I said we are trying hard to make Beppu the best Japanese guest room, he said it is a wonderful thing. There are so many episodes since yesterday, but when Governor Hiramatsu obtained the autographs on the soccer ball, Prime Minister Hashimoto said the Governor did well to make them work. We had a really nice and amicable time. Question: What was your impression of the President? Hiramatsu: He is a gentle person and he is impressed with Beppu. My impression is that under his gentleness he has a strong mind. I understand that he was born and brought up in the environment of the fishing business and he seems to have interests in local area improvement. He showed a keen interest in the explanation that with more people coming to the City of Oita from agricultural areas, more is the need for the revitalization of those areas and so the "one village, one product" campaign concept was introduced. I am impressed with him as a man of gentleness with a hidden strong inner core. Inoue: Yes I agree with the Governor. He impressed me also as a sincere gentleman with a strong will inside. He seems to speak Japanese well though rarely having been exposed to it. However, when he was with me or Governor, he occasionally responded in Japanese. Another point that should be mentioned is that he had studied really well about Oita and Beppu. He was well aware that Beppu is a sister city with MOK-PO City, and that GUN-SAN Commerce High School and Beppu Commerce High School are in a sister-school arrangement. We talked about these matters as well. Question: What sort of Japanese did the President use in conversation? Hiramatsu: When he arrived at the airport, I told him (in Japanese) that even the weather is perfect and welcoming to him. Then he immediately responded to me saying that yes, it is very nice indeed. Again when he had to leave I said in Japanese in front of an elevator "When you return to Seoul, Ganbatte!", which means hold up (to works)!", then he replied immediately in Japanese, "Yes, when I return to Seoul, tons of works are await me." For us Japanese it is not easy to make such responses in a foreign language. He is well versed in Japanese indeed. When in official business, either at lunch or otherwise, he uses Korean language only. Even if he understands what we say in Japanese his response is always in Korean. Question: I understand that there was no time to enjoy the hot springs in Beppu. Hiramatsu: Well, no...so I told him to come back again with his wife and have a more relaxed time and enjoy the hot springs in Beppu. Then he smiled when I said that there are many varieties of hot springs in Beppu. Question: There must have been questions raised regarding past issues in relation to comments by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kajiyama or otherwise. What are your views? Hiramatsu: I believe in future-oriented thinking. I hope that the Korea-Japan Summit will serve to trigger fresh relations between Japan and Korea by making the children and youth in Korea, who will become a rising force in the 21st century, understand Japan well. From this point of view I believe it was a great thing that the Summit was held in Oita where the World Cup Soccer games will be held in 2002. (Carrying a soccer ball) It was quite coincidence that this ball was autographed. I have learned that the President himself while he was in high school or so was a soccer player and he has a great interest in soccer. He asked a question about the Trinity Soccer team of Oita. The topics of my conversations with him were mostly future-oriented issues rather than past....Like the future school plan by Ritsumeikan University, the "Saemaul Undong" or new community movement in Korea, and Oita's "one village, one product" campaign, etc., I believe it is most important to maintain dialogue while reviewing whether there has been anything wrong in the past and making changes for the future. Question: Did you talk at all about the World Cup Soccer games? Hiramatsu: When we took pictures together this morning, since the two countries are to back up the event, I reminded them on cooperation for its success. Question: Due to very tight security there was not so much opportunity to meet the people in the town. Hiramatsu: It was the first Summit meeting held in the local area. Our priority had to be on security to avoid any trouble. We had to take all precautions, which although may have presented inconveniences for the local people, I hope they duly understood and were cooperative. Inoue: In preparation, we talked with Korean and Japanese ministries of foreign affairs. I believe our citizens understood the need for good security very well. After all, if something unwanted occurs our efforts might collapse to nothing. At this point Governor Hiramatsu and Mayor Inoue posed for the cameras with the autographed ball. Then in response to a question as to who came up with the idea of soccer ball, Governor Hiramatsu, with a smile, whispered, "Well, I had been thinking about it since yesterday and concealed the ball." He continued, "There are the Toyonokuni Soccer games where children participate, and I want to show the ball to them." While lively talks still continued, Mr. Shimizu of the Oita Government, who presided over the briefing, interrupted with "Now is the time to go to the airport to see President Kim off." And the press briefing was over. (Reported by Tooru Ono) (This text either in Japanese or English should not be regarded as an official transcript. Original report written in Japanese. )