Omi to visit U.S. for adviser's meeting on new grad school

Japan Policy & Politics, April 22, 2002

TOKYO, April 18 Kyodo

Koji Omi, state minister for Okinawa affairs, said Thursday he will visit the United States for three days from April 26 for a meeting of international advisers to a planned technology graduate school in Okinawa.

Omi told reporters he reported his planned visit for the meeting to be held near Los Angeles to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the premier's official residence.

The grad school is one of the latest government projects to help develop the economy of the southernmost Japanese prefecture. The meeting in the U.S. is aimed at obtaining advice on research activities and the curriculum at the school from noted scholars overseas, including nine Nobel prize laureates.

Omi also said he will subsequently visit Europe to inspect science and technology institutions there and that he will return to Japan around May 5.