The First Tokyo Metropolitan Government Senkaku Survey Team

 日本国沖縄県石垣市登野城- Tonoshiro, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

The First Tokyo Metropolitan Government Senkaku Survey Team has left Ishigaki island tonight September 1,  aboard a salvage ship named Kouyou Maru (2,474 tones) to carry out various studies in the waters surrounding Senkaku islands from the early morning to the evening of September 2 and is expected to come back at night of the same day.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government considers the survey as a preliminary step toward another detailed survey in October, to be accompanied by Governor Ishihara.  According to Ishihra, he met PM Noda on August 19 in the presence of Mr. Sonoda, Chief Secretary of The Sunrise Party and told him to complete construction of at least a ships emergency shelter, radio relay station, and
weather observatory as one condition for his withdrawing a bid to buy the islands from the Japanese owner who promised not to sell them to anyone else but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

 If accepted, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will hand over to the Central Government JPY 1.8 billion donated by individuals supporting the project of purchasing Senkaku islands.

 At the press conference, Mr. Ishihara stated that he would not mind establishing a new party as his last work, and that he would willingly sign and seal, even with his blood if necessary, a memorandum of mutual obligations related to Senkaku islands with PM Noda.

Mr. Eiji Kosaka, a member of Arakawa Ward Council, Tokyo Metropolitan Government before landing on Senkaku Islands on August 19, 2012.