Digest

In a special lecture at Toyo University on July 2nd, Mr. Kouichi Katou , the secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) , said that it was necessary to set national goals in order to stimulate science and technology development in Japan.

He said, "The United States showed a pioneering spirit when it initiated the Marshall Plan and space development after World War II. As a result, science and technology has developed rapidly around the world."

He continued, "The Japanese government has adopted the pioneering spirit of the United States and has becomed determined to contribute to the development of science and technology."

Mr. Katou stressed the importance of further developing micro-electronic-technologyin Japan, since giving priority to this field will promote advances in medical-treatment technology and industrial technology.

Moving on to other topics, he expressed the opinion that a government of only two large political parties is not the best system of government, and Japan should not adopt such a two-party system. He said that the Liberal-Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the New Party Sakigake together resulted in an effective coalition government, and reflects a system which can absorb the opinions of a wide variety of people.

National Assembly member Mr. Katou has been emphasizing the need for science and technology development in all of his messages, as the power of his political party steadily weakens.

This may become a new standard as one of the policy ideas which characterize the
newleaders of the political world in Japan.