During a working meeting within the framework of preparations for Czech participation in the EXPO 2005 World's Exposition in Aichi, Japan, we asked
the several questions of the Commissioner General of this exposition. Before Taizo Watanabe became Commissioner General, he worked at diplomatic
missions in a number of countries.
Being the Commissioner General of Expo 2005 is without doubt a demanding task.
What is your working day like?
Since I was named General Commissioner, I have visited many countries were we have tried to attract potential participants to participate in the
World Exposition in Aichi in 2005. That's thus far been the most time consuming and physically demanding aspect. At the present, my activities are
focused on working with the participating countries and promoting Expo 2005 in those countries.
Four hundred eighty-five days remain to the opening of Expo 2005. How are the preparations going?
Preparations are going quite smoothly. At the present time, we know that more than 120 countries will participate in Expo 2005. We've already
begun a large advertising campaign on television and in the major Japanese newspapers, and it seems that it has been quite successful as we've
already sold five million advance tickets out of an expected total number of fifteen million.
A meeting of the general commissioners of all participating countries took place in Nagoya in November. Were you satisfied with the results?
The meeting was very successful in that we confirmed the program. Unfortunately a number of questions remain unresolved, for example completing
the assignment of pavilions and deciding when individual countries will have their own national day.
In your opinion, what should the ideal pavilion that a Japanese family will visit look like?
I hope that you will study the Japanese way of thinking, because the Japanese are very focused on the environment, on quality of life and are
very internationally oriented. If you understand the Japanese, the Czech Republic's pavilion could surprise by presenting elements that our two
nations have in common or elements where we differ. The Japanese know the outstanding Czech music and as far as I am aware, you will be offering
top flight musical performances in your pavilion, which will certainly please.
At the general commissioners meeting in Nagoya, a fourteen-member steering committee was elected that will work with the Expo Association.
What do you see as the importance of this committee?
It is very important to have a well-functioning committee, which will represent the interests of the participating countries and resolve problems
that may arise between the host organization and the participating countries without the necessity of personally meeting with representatives of individual
countries. I am very pleased that Vladimír Darjanin, the General Commissioner of the Czech Republic, was elected to the committee.
On May 23 and 24, the Nagoya Symphony Orchestra will perform as a part of the Prague Spring music festival. Are you planning to be in Prague at that time?
Unfortunately, I had planned a trip to Europe in July, but I am trying to change my schedule so that I will be able to attend the concert.
In your opinion, what do Czechs have to be proud of?
They should certainly be proud of their music and art, of their ability to produce beautiful art objects and I now know, because I know quite a few
Czechs, that they should be proud of themselves.
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