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DHARAMSHALA, India, 5 April 2005
Tibetan and Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama is
expected to arrive in Tokyo on 8 April, Friday, for an
eleven-day tour of Japan, according to his office.
The visit will bring him to Tokyo, Kyoto and Kumamoto
and Kanazawa Prefectures.
However, he is not expected to meet with any
politicians due to Japan's sensitive ties with China.
"The visit is purely religious. His Holiness will be
engaged in public talks and teachings." Tenzin Taklha,
the Dalai Lama's secretary said.
No meeting with any Japanese politicians is scheduled
with the Dalai Lama in the upcoming tour and despite
his nine past visits to the country, no Japanese
leader has met with him.
China has lodged its objection to the Dalai Lama's
visit to Japan and asked its government not to issue
him a visa.
China dubs the Dalai Lama as a "separatist" and
protests any government allowing him into their
country and any leader meeting with him.
As Japan plies diplomatic skills to sustain a frail
relations with China, activists feel that it is an
opportunity to forge Japan into a position as an
international power player.
"It is an opportunity for Japan to prove itself as an
international power, if a Japanese leader meets the
Dalai Lama." says Tenzin Choeying, an activist for a
Free Tibet in Dharamsala.
Choeying feels that it is not an easy task to confront
Chinese pressure but it will be a milestone step for
Japan to place itself in the international power
scene.
Rengein Tanjyouji, Tamana city, Kumamoto Prefecture,
invited the Dalai Lama to the country.
In Tokyo, the Dalai Lama will visit Majie Shrine and
will give a public talk titled "Compassion in Human
Relations" at Ryogoku Kukugikan, in Tokyo on 9 April.
He will be in Kumamoto from 10 to 14th of April, where
he is expected to deliver a public talk on "World
Peace Through Peaceful Heart" at Kumamoto Prefecture
Theatre.
A public talk to the staff and students of Kyushu
University of Nursing is scheduled during his stay in
Kumamoto. He will be in Kanazawa for two days from the
16th, offering teachings on Buddhism.
The Dalai Lama has run his government-in-exile from
India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed
uprising against China's Communist rule.
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