COLD NEWS

Issue No. 6 (February 12, 2001)

This week Japanese magazines suc h as “Weekly Asahi,” “Sunday Mainichi,” and “Weekly Post” are featuring stories on recent activities of the Shirakawa New Party. “Weekly Asahi,” which is published by Asahi Newspaper, one of the largest national papers in Japan, has been especially active in reporting on the New Party. Even “Nikkan Sports,” a daily specializing in sports-related topics, will have an article about the New Party in tomorrow’s issue.

Although I am not an ardent reader of the sports papers, I must admit that lately the political pages of these newspapers have become increasingly influential with the public. As a result, I may have to start paying more attention to them.

I could not work at the office today since my office building was closed. Instead, I had a luncheon meeting with someone important to my political activities. The rest of my time was spent on final preparations for announcing the foundation of the New Party.

Recently I have been receiving quite a number of e-mail messages, all of them filled with enthusiasm and high expectations for the New Party. I will do my best not to disappoint these supporters as I form the New Party.

Unfortunately, around midnight on February 2 I also received a nasty virus in my e-mail box. Malicious actions also seem to be increasing in response to my political activities.

Katsuhiko Shirakawa