Professional Luncheon,
Fukushiro Nukaga,
Minister of Finance

The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.

With the global economy slowing, talk of $200-a-barrel oil, skyrocketing food prices and possibly more subprime landmines, the Group of Eight Finance Ministers have their work cut out for them.

The top finance officials from the world's leading economies will have to get beyond the platitudes and normative statements that often mark such meetings, especially as they set the stage for the Toyako Summit, being chaired by Japan, in July in Hokkaido.

Shortly before the crucial G8 meeting in Osaka June 13-14, Japanese Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga will give a briefing on Tokyo's agenda and prospects for the G8 nations to deal with these issues.

Other pressing problems include global warming and impoverished nations being slammed by the double whammy of rising food and energy costs, partly fueled by increasing biofuel use. Those spikes are forcing the poor to use the bulk of their incomes for just those two expenses.

Nukaga, a top ruling party figure, graduated from Waseda University in 1968 and become a political and economic reporter at the conservative Sankei newspaper. He was first elected to the Lower House in 1983 and has held ministerial portfolios in defense and the economy.

Sandwich: Roast beef, fried onion & lettuce with horseradish mayonnaise.
Hot Lunch: Tandoori salmon, mango chutney, yogurt raita, roasted bell pepper and steamed rice.
Dining Room Special: Grilled lamb cutlets, date & almond pesto, vegetables couscous, sauteed spinach.

Fukushiro Nukaga