Tokyo Olympic torch takes historical mission ship to mark China-Japan cultural exchange

NAGASAKI: The Tokyo Olympic torch took a reconstructed mission ship used by Japanese envoys to China 1,400 years ago to mark the cultural exchange between the two neighboring East Asian countries.

A mission ship, originally reconstructed for Shanghai Expo 2010, carried the Olympic flame from the prefectural government building to the forest park across the Nagasaki harbor, covering about one kilometer and taking about 20 minutes.

Mitsuyoshi Kobayashi, the torch bearer, said before boarding the ship, "I cannot help think of those Japanese envoys who started their journey with dreams and hopes from this ship to a wider world. I, too, hope to keep moving forward with dreams."

A simple ceremony was held for the night section of the torch relay without spectators.

Kong Xuanyou, the Chinese ambassador to Japan, sent a written message to the event, which read, "After 1300 years, the mission ship carrying the Olympic flame has witnessed a new chapter of friendly exchange between Japan and China." Agencies

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