Opening Ceremony     Heading into the Next Century
--A large turnout by politicians, bureaucrats and business people --

The opening ceremony for the 33rd Tokyo Motor Show, organized by the Japan Motor Industrial Federation, Inc. (JMIF), was held today at 10 a.m. in the Convention Hall on the second floor of the International Conference Hall and was attended by T.I.H. Prince and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa. The Prince is the patron of the Motor Show.

Takeo Ishikawa, JMIF Executive Managing Director, delivered the opening message to roughly 700 governmental, bureaucratic and business attendants. After raising the Japanese flag, Yoshifumi Tsuji, JMIF chairman, remarked during his message as representative of the show's organizer, 'This is the first time in the history of the Tokyo Motor Show to exhibit only passenger cars and motorcycles. As we face the new century, we have to consider the future of the automobile and its relation to society. Therefore, the theme of the 33rd Tokyo Motor Show is, 'Eye to the future. Changing vehicles for the earth.'"

Then, congratulatory greetings were delivered The Prime Minister of Japan, Keizo Obuchi, paid a visit to the Tokyo Motor Show today, marking the first time a Japanese Prime Minister has visited the show. He eagerly visited the major exhibitors' booths, escorted by Yoshifumi Tsuji, JMIF Chairman, Shoichiro Toyota, JMIF Advisor and Takeo Ishikawa, JMIF Executive Managing Director. While many simply waited to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister as he passed by, many rushed out to snap a picture and ask for a handshake, to which the Prime Minister warmly responded. Heading into the Next Centuryby Hiroyuki Hosoda, Senior State Secretary of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Kouki Chuma, Parliamentary Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport, Emilio di Camillo, President of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) and Takeshi Numata, Governor of Chiba Prefecture. After Hiroshi Okuda, Vice Chairman of JMIF, made the official declaration, H.I.H. Princess Tomohito of Mikasa performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting, officially opening the show to rousing applause. After the opening ceremony finished at 10:35 a.m., T.I.H. Prince and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa rode in an electric vehicle they had been led to by Mr. Tsuji and then toured around the exhibition areas for about an hour.

A reception held at 12:30 p.m. in the Convention Hall on the second floor of the International Conference Hall had an attendance of approximately 1,300 people, including H.I.H Princess Tomohito of Mikasa and Takahashi Fukaya, Minister of MITI. At the reception, Thomas S. Foley, Ambassador of the United States proposed a toast.