PROFESSIONAL LUNCHEON
Shizuka Kamei,
Minister of State for Financial Services,
Minister of State for Postal Reform

The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation

Small coalition partner the People's New Party and its leader Shizuka Kamei have created political waves and media headlines over divisive issues facing the Hatoyama government -- the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, a fresh economic stimulus package, debt repayments for small and midsize companies and postal reform.

Kamei's remarks have led many political commentators, and some within the Democratic Party of Japan, to wonder just how good of an idea it was to have him on board.

The appointment of Kamei, a strong opponent of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization scheme, as postal reform minister has been interpreted as a sign that the DPJ-led government would roll back many of Koizumi's financial reforms.

A former Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, Kamei, a former National Police Agency official and former construction and transport minister, is also one of the Diet's leading opponents of the death penalty.

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Sandwich Plate: Smoked duck with onion jam, oregano cream cheese, cress, walnuts & roasted peppers on a bagel with salad and pickles.
Hot Plate: Sea bream with tomato & olive crushed potatoes, green beans, bacon & chive oil and seasonal salad.

Shizuka Kamei, Financial Services & Postal Reform Minister