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10th Asian Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering (APCChE 2004)

Period	17th to 21st October 2004
Venue	Kitakyushu International Conference Center, West Japan General Exhibition Center and the Rihga Royal Hotel Kokura.

The 10th Asian Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering (APCChE 2004) Convention was held with 1,308 chemical engineering associated participants, from 26 countries, gathering in Kitakyushu.

Over the five day period there were 441 oral presentations of research, 624 poster presentations, special seminars and chemical associated company exhibitions held. For the 14 room parallel sessions, conference rooms were utilized at the Kitakyushu International Conference Center, the neighboring West Japan General Exhibition Center and the Rihga Royal Hotel Kokura.

At the congress dinner held in the Rihga Royal Hotel Kokura's Royal room, there was a spectacular display of the local performing art, Orio Kagura(*1) , which gained tumultuous applause from the attendees. Also there is no doubt that Typhoon No. 23 of 2004 (otherwise known as Typhoon Tokage), one of Mother Nature's attractions, became a special experience for the overseas' participants.

*1 Kagura refers to Shinto music and dancing. Orio Kagura is a fast tempo and vigorous dance, representative of serpent dancing that has its origins in Shimane Prefecture's Iwami Kagura, which was exhibited at the World expo in Osaka, to international acclaim. In 1970, the Orio Kagura Preservation Society was formed in the Orio area of Kitakyushu and the dance, which is given the area's name, is now performed in Shinto Shrines across Kitakyushu.

Convention News

In 2005, an array of astronautical associated conventions will be held in the Kitakyushu and Fukuoka area. With the upcoming opening of the New Kitakyushu Airport scheduled for March 2006, Kitakyushu is jam packed in 2005 with international conventions on aeronautics and astronautics.

[Associated conventions]

Asian Joint Conferences on Propulation and Power (AJCPP 2005)

Period	27th to 29th January 2005.
Venue	Kitakyushu International Conference Center

It is a joint convention on space rocket and airplane engines held by the 4 Academic societies in Japan, China and Korea. A field trip is also planned to the New Kitakyushu Airport that is under construction.

The 12th Session of Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-12)

Period	11th to 13th October 2005.
Venue	Kitakyushu International Conference Center

It is an international convention that researchers from Asian countries' space agencies are invited to, which is held annually by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

The 15th United Nations / International Astronautical Federation Workshop (UN/IAF Workshop)

Period	13th to 15th October 2005.
Venue	Kitakyushu International Conference Center

It is a joint workshop held annually by the United Nations and the International Astronautical Federation with workshop themes, such as the transfer of astronautical science research seeds to developing nations. This year's event in Kitakyushu will be of an unprecedented scale due to the added participation of attendees from the "APRSAF-12". In conjunction with the 56th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2005) that will be held in Fukuoka City following this, events including exchange events with city residents and public symposiums, will be held at venues including the space theme park, Space World.

The 56th International Astronautical Congress (IAC2005)

Period	17th to 22nd October 2005.
Venue	Fukuoka Convention Center (Fukuoka City) and elsewhere.

* Kitakyushu is also scheduled to hold IAC associated events at Space World.

2004 Fantastic Illumination in Kokura

In the Kokura area of the Central Business District of Kitakyushu, the town is lit up with decorative lights (illumination) to celebrate Christmas and the New Year every year.

This event was held between November 5, 2004 and January 10, 2005, with the theme set as "2004 Fantastic Illumination in Kokura" with the Kokura Station, Murasakigawa River and business district areas, lit up with fantastic illumination.