Photo= Delegation members, including Hikonyan, Governor Mikazuki and others = Heiwado's Wuyi Square store, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China, photo courtesy of Shiga Prefecture

A delegation from Shiga Prefecture visiting Hunan Province, China on a friendship exchange promoted tourism in Shiga at a store of Heiwado Co., Ltd. in Changsha City in the same province on August 10. The delegation members, together with "Hikonyan," the popular character mascot of Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, handed out pamphlets, attracting the attention of local children.

Taizo Mikazuki, the prefectural governor, Hisako Nishimura, the prefectural assembly chairperson, and Hirakazu Natsuhara, president of Heiwado visited Heiwado's store at Wuyi Square, which opened in 1998 as its first store in Hunan Province. It is reported that when they began setting up panels introducing Shiga's sightseeing spots to promote it, children asked to shake hands with Hikonyan or take photos with him.

On the same day, a forum on the water ecological environment of Dongting Lake and Lake Biwa was held under the auspices of Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department and others. Representatives of both governments and researchers reported and discussed their efforts for environmental preservation.