On Wednesday, March 11, Consul General Takaoka hosted a reception at his residence to celebrate three astronauts, Mr. Kimiya Yui (Japan), Dr. Kjell Lindgren (US) and Mr. Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko (Russia) for their planned mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Expedition 44/45, which will take place in late May this year.
In his speech (link), Consul General Takaoka praised astronauts who have a sense of mission and a drive to further the noble cause of exploring the final frontier for mankind.
There were approximately 70 participants at the reception. Among them, there were two other Japanese astronauts, Mr. Takuya Onishi and Mr. Norishige Kanai; Regional Director of Office of Foreign Missions, US Department of State; Russian Consul General; officers of NASA; officers of JAXA; members of the Japanese Business Association of Houston, Japan America Society of Houston, as well as the Japanese Association of Greater Houston. |
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