Japan

The assistance was provided under Japan’s Non-project Grant and is aimed at helping the Health staff with their tasks to steer the health standard of the Kingdom away from sickness and infections.

Vaiola Hospital has been fortunate in many ways, not just the infrastructure but now with the resources

The Ambassador of Japan to Tonga Mr. Yukio Numata highlighted the support of the government of Japan towards the Health Sector of Tonga. 

The reigning Asian Games champions, who secured an automatic berth for the 2016 Rio Olympics by winning the Asia Rugby Sevens Qualifier in Hong Kong in November, joins the 15 core teams -  Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa and Wales – on the World Rugby Sevens Series circuit which stops over in Singapore on 16/17 April.

The four community projects include the Lofanga Multipurpose Training Center, Classroom Building for Upper Room Primary School, Puke and Nukuleka Water Supply Systems.

The assistance is funded by the Government of Japan through the Grant Assistance for the Grass-Roots Human Security Projects, commonly known as GGP.

The signing was done by the Minister of Finance, Dr. ‘Aisake Eke, Japanese Ambassador Yukio Numata and representatives from the recipient communities yesterday.

The event was graced by Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho and attended by Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva at the Ambassador’s residence last Thursday evening

Ambassador Numata said December 23 is the birthdate of Emperor Akihito and it permits the people of Japan a moment of joyful reflection, just as Christmas is a momentous occasion of expression and family reunion for Tonga.

While welcoming guests the diplomat said that this year has been a monumental year in the history of Japan and Tonga, as well as the bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

Squash has been Tonga’s only export to Japan, which boomed since it started in the 1980s, only to decline after a peak in the 1990s.

Pacific Islands products, including Tongan products have been showcased at the Pacific Islands Centre in Tokyo. The PIC, which relocated to the Meiji University in 2009, promotes trade, investment and tourism between Japan and the Forum Island Countries.

The aim of the strategy is to check China’s advances in the region through infrastructure and other improvements.

The robot’s small body looks a bit like a stylized version of the Pixar lamp, a pedestal with a bendy column and an oblong face. In the middle of the face sits a single unblinking eye, so that Talking Ally can maintain eye contact with its person. A second, tucked-away camera tracks the human’s face. Servomotors and springs give the robot a surprising range of movement.

Last weekend's defeat to Japan ended the Manu's hopes of making the quarter finals.

In a further blow, vice-captain Alesana Tuilagi was banned for five weeks for striking a Japanese defender with his knee.

The suspension has been criticised by a host of ex-players, rugby commentators and fans, for what appeared nothing more than a poorly executed tackle, and the team admits they too were shocked by the decision.

Assistant coach Alama Ieremia said the team owed it to themselves and their supporters to give it everything in their final match.

Tuilagi struck Japan's Harumichi Tatekawa with his knee in the second minute of the Pool B match on Sunday.

He denied the act of foul play but was found guilty by the citing commissioner and will miss Samoa's last match against Scotland at St James' Park on Sunday.

Samoa cannot reach the quarter-finals after losses to Japan and South Africa in Pool B.

The Brave Blossoms face Samoa at Milton Keynes in a match that will make or break their quarter-final chances. After stunning South Africa in their opening game in Pool B, Japan played Scotland just four days later and faded after an hour, slipping to a 45-10 defeat.

Eddie Jones’ men, however, have recuperated over the past six days in the quiet of Warwick, where the team have been able to focus on preparing for the Samoa game.