We are able to hold this competition for the 26th time since it began in 1980 thanks tothe residents of this community, whose support and understanding make this eventpossible. To them, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude.

Last year, we were blessed with wonderful weather and were able to hold a wide arrayof exciting events.  As a result, the Kasegawa River site welcomed some 990,000 spectators during the five days of the Fiesta.We are pleased that the participating pilots and crew members from all over the world look forward to this year's event and I am certain that they will have safe and pleasant flights.

This year's festival includes the 22nd Japan Championships after a long interval as well as the 4th Round of the 2005 Honda Hot Air Balloon Japan Grand Prix.It also includes the 2005 SAGA Balloon Masters Cup, where pilots over 50 years of age stake their honor and compete with pride. This kind of high-level competition ensures that this year's festival will be one of the country's top-tier competitive balloon events and spectators are sure to see magnificent flights from these passionate and skilled pilots.

Also, apart from the competition, we have prepared events that should be enjoyable for the whole family, such as the "Fun Fun Carnival" and the highly anticipated night glow, "La Montgolfier Nocturne". We hope that everyone will look forward to these events.

In closing, I would like to offer my deepest thanks to the many Fiesta volunteers for their cooperation. We are also very grateful for the official support of the Japan Aeronautic Association, the Japan Balloon Federation, the Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix Operating Organization, Saga Prefecture, Saga City, the Saga Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Steering Committee, our leading sponsor, the Honda Corporation, and our many other corporate sponsors.

Thank you very much.