On the opening evening the 7th of the Hokkaido Toyako Summit, a program was held to welcome the heads of state.

In the lobby of the main Summit venue, the Windsor Hotel Toya, a glowing Milky Way and bamboo forest constructed of LED (light-emitting diode) was installed to which the heads of state of the G8 nations and their wives hung strips of poem paper on which they wrote their wishes. The wish that Prime Minister Fukuda wrote was "creating a future founded on the knowledge and wisdom of the past."

Also, the representatives of the Junior 8 Summit (J8), which is being convened by the youths of various nations to discuss international issues that parallel the actual Summit agenda, attended the reception to deliver a declaration to the G8 leaders proposing environmental issue considerations and diffusion of low-cost medicines.

On the outdoor stage, the "Yosakoi Soran" dance was performed by two Yosakoi dance groups from Sapporo: the Hiragishi Tenjin and the Shinkotoni Tenbu Ryujin.

The invited heads of state intently observed the dynamic dance performed by some 200 dancers and the sparkling fire of the handheld tube fireworks flashing across the night sky.

At the banquet following the reception, the state guests raised a toast with Wajima lacquer sake cups with their initials specially carved on each cup, and enjoyed a meal representing the bounty of Hokkaido.

Tomorrow, the G8 Summit will continue, while the wives of the state heads will be making cultural visits to such places as Makkari Village to see "Marche du Nord," a specially assembled Hokkaido food market.