The Japanese people are looking forward to the Beijing Olympics and wish the games a great success, Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono said in a recent interview with Chinese correspondents at his official residence.

Many Japanese are expecting the Beijing Olympics' success, because the Games is not only for China, but also for Asia as well, Kono said.

"One of the major factors behind Japanese people's enthusiasm for the Beijing Olympics is that the only one-hour time difference will allow them to watch the Games easily," said Kono, who is also chairman of a Japanese parliamentary members' league aimed at supporting the Beijing Games.

About his initiative to establish the league, Kono said he intended to show most Japanese people's support for the Games in a perceptible form.

In line with its expectation, the league attracted the largest number of participants among all groups in the Japanese parliament, he added.

Kono said he believed that the Olympic Games will not only change the world's attitude toward China, but also benefits the Chinese society. "China will be more self-confident by hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai Expo."

About Chinese audience's performance on the stand, Kono hoped that they cheer for foreign teams as well to exhibit the spirit of friendship.

"Foreign players would collapse spiritually if more than one billion Chinese only cheer for their own teams," Kono said with a bit humor.

Kono said he is confident that "the Beijing Olympics would be wonderful." Although his schedule is tight for August, Kono said he will go to Beijing to support Japanese players, especially track-and-field players, as he himself is chairman of the Japan Association of Athletic Federations.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)