Koizumi stars in promo ad<\/p>\n
TOKYO: \"Try authentic sushi and tempura.\" It's not a sign outside
\nsome Japanese restaurant, but a line Prime Minister Junichiro
\nKoizumi hopes will lure tourists to Japan.<\/p>\n
As part of a government campaign to double the number of
\ntourists to 10 million a year by 2010, Koizumi has recorded a
\npromotional video.<\/p>\n
Speaking in English he urges people to experience Japan's
\ntraditional culture, including the two famous dishes.<\/p>\n
It is the first time a Japanese prime minister has starred in
\nsuch a video, a transport ministry official said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The video will be run on international flights and in
\ntelevision commercial overseas, including the United States and
\nneighboring South Korea.<\/p>\n
The media-savvy Koizumi, 61, was said to have been keen to
\nplay a role in promoting tourism, which he hopes will help
\nrevitalize the economy.<\/p>\n
But some Japanese may take a different view.<\/p>\n
A November opinion poll showed one-third of Japanese do not
\nwant more tourists from abroad, saying they fear a rise in crime
\nrates, already at their worst levels since World War II.<\/p>\n
Such feelings have risen, fanned by almost daily media reports
\nof crimes by foreigners, even though police data shows that non-
\nJapanese commit only a tiny fraction of crime in the nation. --
\nReuters<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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