First, I would like to introduce exploration related issues. The "International Space Station/International Space Exploration Committee" will be held by the Ministry of Education Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. JAXA proposed a step-by-step technological acquisition scenario toward future manned Mars exploration by "engaging in an unmanned moon landing exploration mission through international cooperation while acquiring exploration technology utilizing the International Space Station (ISS)." I heard that the committee is currently compiling a mid-term report for Japan's future direction toward the ISS and international space exploration based on discussions to date. We continue to support government studies for future space activities from a technological point of view as Japan's space agency, and expect that their study discussion on space exploration will be more active so that it will bear fruit as quickly as possible.

The Symposium on International Space Exploration 2014 will be held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan, on July 31, to dispatch the trend and significance of international space exploration. This topic has been actively discussed by an international study group called the “International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG)" in which JAXA also participates. The symposium this time will be participated by each member country to introduce the ISECG's activities, the international space exploration roadmap compiled by ISECG, and space exploration activities of each country. Some specialists from various fields will also be invited for discussion on international space exploration from multiple points of views. The symposium is a very nice opportunity to introduce the latest study status on international space exploration of each country to the general public, thus please come to the symposium.

I would like to introduce our PA activities for the Hayabusa2 mission. In addition to our usual launch PA operation, we plan to hold a campaign in cooperation with industry and other non-JAXA people. We always expect the media to cover the mission and its launch, but, additionally, we are inviting and selecting private companies/groups to take up the mission from a completely different view point. Selected companies/groups are expected to convey the Hayabusa2 mission according to the purpose of this campaign to the public with the help of other additional companies and groups. The details of the invitation/selection process will be published later through the website and other means.

Technical Counselor Horikawa of JAXA took the post of the Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) for 2012 and 2013, and he handed over his duty to Mr. Azzedine Oussedik of Algeria at the 57th COPUOS in June. Let me briefly explain his achievements during his tenure. He disseminated the validity of space activity to the world through outreach, and led the development of the long term sustainability working group for space. He exhibited his leadership as the Chairperson, and improved Japan's presence.

Astronaut Wakata will hold a press conference when he returns to Japan for the first time since he came back to Earth.
Date and time: July 29 (Tue.) 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Venue: Nippon Press Center Bldg. 10th floor, Press Center Hall

Astronaut Wakata will report his long-term stay mission at the ISS.
Date and time: August 22 (Fri.) 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Venue: Asakusa Public Hall

As a result of inviting host parties for the meeting, the ISS Expedition Mission Report Meeting will be held under the following schedule.

As part of the first series of sounding rocket experiments in JFY 2014, the following two experiments will be conducted.

Both launch experiments will be performed at the Uchinoura Space Center

I participated in a meeting titled "Bridging and balancing R&D and application in Aerospace and shipping/oceanographic field - aiming at bidirectional flow -".
The head of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development and Utilization, Cabinet Office, Director-General of the Research and Development Bureau, MEXT, and President of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology also participated and made keynote speeches. I also gave a lecture about JAXA's activities.

Date and time: July 1 (Tue.) thru Sep. 7 (Sun.) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: TKSC Planet Cube
The exhibition "Go to Space" will be held at the Planet Cube of the Tsukuba space center from July 1.

Date and time: July 25 (Fri.) and 26 (Sat.) 10:00 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m.
Venue: Sagamihara Campus

Date: July 19 thru Sept. 23
Venue: Makuhari Messe – International Exhibition Halls 10-11
Host: NHK, NHK Promotion, The Asahi Shimbun Company
Through the Space Expo, we will dispatch our operations, their significance, and achievements including outcomes, as well as future plans while expecting to earn more understanding and support from the Japanese people.