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Mrs. Bush's G8 Trip 2008
During the G8 Summit, Mrs. Laura Bush meets with Junior 8 (J8) delegates, aged 13-17, before a tour of the Volcano Science Museum at Toyako Town Visitor Center, Toyako, Japan. Wives of the other G8 leaders also attended the session where the J8 delegates had the opportunity to ask questions about global issues that concern young people, like climate change, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, child survival, poverty and development – with a particular focus on Africa. The program, launched four years earlier by UNICEF, gives 39 young people representing the G8 countries and the developing world an opportunity to debate issues faced by children in a week-long forum that allows the kids to work together in teams of four and to be heard. Previous J8 meetings have been in the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany.
During the G8 Summit, Mrs. Laura Bush meets with Junior 8 (J8) delegates, aged 13-17, before a tour of the Volcano Science Museum at Toyako Town Visitor Center, Toyako, Japan. Wives of the other G8 leaders also attended the session where the J8 delegates had the opportunity to ask questions about global issues that concern young people, like climate change, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, child survival, poverty and development – with a particular focus on Africa. The program, launched four years earlier by UNICEF, gives 39 young people representing the G8 countries and the developing world an opportunity to debate issues faced by children in a week-long forum that allows the kids to work together in teams of four and to be heard. Previous J8 meetings have been in the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany.
Mrs. Laura Bush and wives of the G8 Summit leaders view a demonstration of the complexities of Junihitoe, a 12-layered ancient kimono, during a traditional Japanese cultural program for the G8 Summit spouses at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa's Bridal Salon in Toyako, Japan on July 7, 2008. The event celebrates the 1000th anniversary of the Tale of Genji, a Japanese classic novel written by Lady Murasaki. Junihitoe means 12 layers, and is an example of the formal court dress worn by women during Murasaki's time. Spouses of G8 leaders pose with a model dressed in a Junihitoe, a 12-layered ancient kimono, following a demonstration of how this look is achieved, which was part of a traditional Japanese culture presentation on Monday, July 7, 2008, in Toyako, Japan. From left, the spouses are Mrs. Margarida Uva Barroso, wife of the President of the European Commission; Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister of Canada; Mrs. Sarah Brown, wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Mrs. Laura Bush, Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva, wife of the President of Russia; and Mrs. Kiyoko Fukuda, wife of the Prime Minister of Japan. The demonstration was presented at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa's Bridal Salon in Toyako, Japan and the event celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the Tale of Genji, a Japanese classic written by Lady Murasaki. Junihitoe is an example of the formal court dress worn by women during Murasaki's time.
Mrs. Laura Bush participates in an Urasenke Tea Ceremony during a traditional Japanese cultural program for spouses of G8 leaders Monday, July 7, 2008, at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa in Toyako, Japan. Mrs. Kiyoka Fukuda, right, wife of the Prime Minister of Japan, leads the discussion. Spouses from left are Mrs. Margarida Uva Barosso, wife of the President of the European Commission; Mrs. Sarah Brown, wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister of Canada; Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva, wife of the President of Russia; and Mrs. Laura Bush who accompanied President George W. Bush on the trip. Mrs. Laura Bush and spouses of G8 leaders pause for a photo Tuesday, July 8, 2008, during their visit to the village of Makkari on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. From left are: Mrs. Margarida Uva Barosso, wife of the President of the European Commission; Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister of Canada; Mrs. Kiyoko Fukuda, wife of the Prime Minister of Japan; Mrs. Laura Bush; Mrs. Sarah Brown, wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; and Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva, wife of the President of Russia.
With Mt. Yoteizan as a backdrop, Mrs. Laura Bush and the G8 spouses pause Tuesday, July 8, 2008, for a photo in the village of Makkari, known for its lilies and potatoes, on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. From left are Mrs. Margarida Uva Barosso, wife of the President of European Commission; Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister of Canada; Mrs. Kiyoko Fukuda, wife of the Prime Minister of Japan; Mrs. Laura Bush; Mrs. Sarah Brown, wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; and Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva, wife of the President of Russia. During the G8 Summit, Mrs. Laura Bush meets with Junior 8 (J8) delegates, aged 13-17, before a tour of the Volcano Science Museum at Toyako Town Visitor Center, Toyako, Japan. Wives of the other G8 leaders also attended the session where the J8 delegates had the opportunity to ask questions about global issues that concern young people, like climate change, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, child survival, poverty and development – with a particular focus on Africa. The program, launched four years earlier by UNICEF, gives 39 young people representing the G8 countries and the developing world an opportunity to debate issues faced by children in a week-long forum that allows the kids to work together in teams of four and to be heard. Previous J8 meetings have been in the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany.
Mrs. Laura Bush stands with Natsumi Kagawa, age 11, after planting a tree at the Toyako New Mount Showa Memorial Park Wednesday, July 8, 2008, during the ceremony in Hokkaido, Japan. The wives of each of the G8 Summit leaders planted a small evergreen tree along a park walkway. Mrs. Laura Bush, joined by other G8 Summit spouses, plants a tree at the Toyako New Mount Showa Memorial Park during a ceremony Wednesday, July 9, 2008, in Hokkaido, Japan. Joining Mrs. Bush, left, at the planting ceremony are, from left: Mrs. Sarah Brown, wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva, wife of the President of Russia, Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister of Canada, Mrs. Kiyoko Fukuda, wife of the Prime Minister of Japan, and Ms. Harumi Takahashi, Governor of Hokkaido.
Mrs. Laura Bush, accompanied by Mrs. Kiyoko Fukuda, spouse of the Prime Minister of Japan, left, is greeted at Toyako's New Mount Showa Memorial Park where she participated in a tree planting ceremony with other G8 spouses on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, in Hokkaido, Japan. President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush attend the July 7, 2008, dinner with G8 leaders and their spouses at the Windsor Toya Resort and Spa in Toyako, Japan.
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush stand with Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Mrs. Kiyoko Fukuda in the banquet lobby of the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa Monday, July 7, 2008, in Toyako, Japan, prior to the dinner with G8 leaders and spouses. Mrs. Laura Bush joins spouses of the G8 leaders as they visit the Hokkaido Marche (northern farm market), in Makkari Village Tuesday, July 8, 2008. The Hokkaido Marche was especially organized by the local residents on the occasion of the Summit, with the aim of illustrating the richness of locally produced foods. In the foreground is Mrs. Laureen Harper, wife of the Prime Minister of Canada.
Mrs. Laura Bush samples the food at the Hokkaido Marche farmer's market in Makkari Village Tuesday, July 8, 2008, as part of the G8 spouses program. The small village on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido is known for its lilies and its potatoes, and the market, organized especially for the occasion of the G8 Summit, showcased locally grown produce. Mrs. Bush participates in a discussion at the Volcano Science Museum with Junior 8 (J8) members and other G8 spouses during her visit to the Toyako Town Visitors Center Wednesday, July 9, 2008, in Japan. J8 is a UNICEF-sponsored initiative begun four years ago to give kids, ages 13 to 17 from the G8 and developing countries, a way to meet and work together on the issues that affect them and to discuss their concerns with the G8 leaders. At the museum with Mrs. Bush are, from left, Mrs. Sarah Brown, spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Mrs. Svetlana Medvedeva, spouse of the President of Russia; Mrs. Kiyoko Fukuda, spouse of the Prime Minister of Japan; and Mrs. Laureen Harper, spouse of the Prime Minister of Canada.

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