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Cultural Grassroots Grant Aid for the Iraqi Judo Federation

March 18, 2005

1. The Government of Japan has decided to extend a cultural grassroots grant aid, to the Iraqi Judo Federation in its efforts to spread and promote Judo in the country, a total of approximately $7,400 (approximately 820,000 yen), the amount necessary for transporting used Judo uniforms from Japan to Iraq. The signing ceremony for this aid was held in Baghdad at 4 p.m. on March 17 (Thu) (local time: 10 a.m. on the same day), attended on the Japanese side by Mr. Toshiro Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to Iraq, and on the Iraqi side by Mr. Sameir S. Al-Mousoy, Chairman of the Iraqi Judo Federation, and others concerned.
   
   
2. The aid provided by the Government of Japan is to support the Iraqi Judo Federation, which plays a major role in diffusing and promoting Judo in the country in which there are about 25,000 Judo players, with the cost of transporting to Iraq used Judo uniforms collected in Japan.
   
   
3. A total of approximately 200 used Judo uniforms will be provided for the Iraqi Judo Federation, in response to a request made by Mr. Yasuhiro Yamashita, Education and Coaching Director of the International Judo Federation, based on the call of the Iraqi people involved in Judo who visited Japan in July 2004 for further support for their Judo activities in the country and as part of friendship activities of Judo players across national boundaries. The breakdown of about 200 uniforms is as follows: about 100 gathered by the Judo Organization of the House of Councillors (Chairman: Mr. Toranosuke Katayama, Member of the House of Councillors/ Secretary General: Mr. Takayoshi Tsuneda, Member of the House of Councillors) in cooperation with the Special Post Offices' Directors Organization of Tottori prefecture; and about 100 collected by the All Japan Judo Federation.
   
   
4. The aid is expected to promote friendship with Iraqi people and to deepen their understanding about Japan and also strengthen their hope toward the future through Judo, which is one of the national sports of Japan that place importance on the spiritual side.

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