9. Farewell Lunch

Following an organizer’s address by President Hiroshi Komiyama of the University of Tokyo, a speech was delivered by Mr. Kimito Kubo, Deputy Director-General of the Higher Education Bureau at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Rector Francesco Profumo of Plitecnico di Torino also made a speech as representative of the invited university presidents.

President Komiyama of the University of Tokyo
(Chair of the Organizing Committee)

Mr. Kubo,
Deputy Director-General of
the Higher Education Bureau, MEXT

Rector Profumo of
Politecnico di Torino,
representative of the invited university presidents

The Presidents of three Universities who hosted the G8 University Summit
From left: President Anzai of Keio University (Deputy Chair of the Organizing Committee), President Komiyama of the University of Tokyo (Chair of the Organizing Committee), President Saeki of Hokkaido University (Deputy Chair of the Organizing Committee, Executive Director of the Secretariat)

10. Excursion

Participants visited the Hokkaido University Museum, Mt. Okura and Moerenuma Park during the excursion (an inspection tour of areas considered to be advanced in terms of environmental conservation measures).

Attendees visited the Hokkaido University Museum, where their observation centered around an exhibition planned in conjunction with the 2008 G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit titled ‘Environment and Resources of Lake Toya and Usu Volcano Area’. This exhibition prompted them to consider ways to conserve the natural environment and realize a sustainable society that exists in harmony with it.

Participants observe exhibits and listen to explanations

Next, they visited Mt. Okura, which commands panoramic views of Sapporo.

On the last leg of their inspection tour, the attendees visited Moerenuma Park. The space was developed on the site of a former waste treatment plant, and is the core park in the city’s northeastern area under the Sapporo Circular Greenbelt Concept. The structures in the park were designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

In a conference room in the park’s Glass Pyramid ‘Hidamari (sunny spot)’, the visitors saw videos and listened to explanations giving an overview of the park and the snow cooling system. They also observed the snow storage area for the cooling system.

Participants asked numerous questions on matters such as the city’s snowfall, the costs of snow transportation and the overheads of maintaining the park.

In front of the Glass Pyramid