On the night of the 16th, Prime Minister Kishida communicated with astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is staying on the ISS (International Space Station), and thanked him for his fifth stay in space, the largest number of Japanese.
Mr. Wakata has been staying on the International Space Station since October to conduct scientific experiments with a view to exploring the Moon and Mars.
The communication between Prime Minister Kishida and Mr. Wakata took place on the night of the 16th, connecting the Prime Minister's official residence and the Japanese experiment module "Kibo" on the space station via a satellite link.
Prime Minister Kishida thanked Mr. Wakata for his fifth stay in space, the most by any Japanese, and expressed his gratitude that Mr. Wakata's efforts have led to an increase in Japan's presence.
He then called out, "I would like to see more opportunities for Japanese astronauts to play an active role."
In response, Wakata said, "Keep close contact with fellow astronauts from various countries, and work hard to maximize the results of the use of the International Space Station by achieving a successful mission through teamwork and the power of harmony. I want to go.I want to take on a mission to contribute to the new expansion of human activities."