Greeting from the Mayor of Mihara As the threat of SARS continues around the world, we would like to express our sincere sympathy for the people of Singapore who have been affected by this terrible disease. Mihara has been involved in a student exchange program with Balestier Hill Secondary School since 1996, sending secondary school students from Mihara every year, for the purpose of deepening their international understanding. Our students have always received a warm welcome at Balestier Hill Secondary School, where they are able to experience first hand the daily life, culture and customs of Singapore. They have always returned to Japan with positive impressions of the country, in addition to having grown mentally from the experience. We are sincerely grateful for the kind hospitality that you provide for our students, as well as for your good management of the program. This year, however, it is with great regret that the executive committee has had to cancel the visit of eleven students to your country due to the problem of SARS. Subsequently we have been earnestly looking for other means to continue the bridge of friendship, and to maintain and strengthen the already existing ties between your students and ours. We are delighted that the students will be able to continue with the exchange activities through communication by means of the Internet. We hope that the cultural exchange activities between the students of both countries will develop, and that the friendship between both our schools and our countries will further prosper in the future. Yasuyuki GOTOU