5. Reception Hosted by the G8 University Summit Organizing Committee

A reception hosted by the G8 University Summit Organizing Committee was held at the JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo’s Taiyou Sky Banquet Room on the 36th floor.
Following a few words from President Hiroshi Komiyama of the University of Tokyo, Mr. Isao Kiso, Director-General for International Affairs at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) delivered a guest speech. This was followed by a toast from President Yuichiro Anzai of Keio University, who served as Deputy Chair of the Organizing Committee.

After a spell of interaction between the attendees, a performance of the koto (a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument) was given as an introduction to Japanese culture. A member of the Hokkaido University International Women’s Club (Ms. Shuho Arikawa) and her teacher Ms. Koshu Oyama from the Ikuta-ryu played a song called Rokudan no Shirabe.

The reception was brought to a close with a toast by Hokkaido University President Saeki.