From: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, October 24, 1995

Press Release from Japan Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan & East-Asia

Tokyo, October 5, 1995

A small parliamentary group of Japan for Tibet, to be called 'Japan Parliamentary Group for Tibet' (JPGT), has been formed and formally inaugurated this afternoon in Tokyo. The group consisting of eight House of Representative members of the Japanese Parliament was formed with the joint initiative of Mr Seishu Makino, MP, and the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Tokyo.

The group included a popular Japanese parliament member, Mr Yukio Hatoyama, Representative Secretary General of the New Party, Sakigake of Japan.

At the inaugural meeting of JPGT the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan & East Asia, Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok, delivered a brief congratulatory message and presented traditional white scarves to all the members. Mr Seishu Makino, MP, was unanimously elected as the Representative Chairman of the JPGT. Mrs Mitsuko Shimomura, a popular Japanese and friend of Tibet, invited to the meeting as a guest speaker.

For certain regional reasons, JPGT was formed and inaugurated in a very low profile manner. The group is expected to grow upon opening to general membership in the near future.

Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok

Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tokyo