Dear Antarctic Colleagues,

We, forty members of the 42nd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-42), send you our best wishes for the midwinter celebrations 2001 from Syowa Station on Ongul Island, Queen Maud Land.

It is our great pleasure to share the first midwinter in the new century with other Antarctic Colleagues from many nations on this frozen but attractive continent.

We strongly believe that this darkness during the midwinter marks the sign of the next dawn for the new era, and our steady scientific activity in the hard environment should add further step for our understanding and international cooperation on this unique planet.

Hoping your safe return to your families and friends in your home countries after spending the rest of the wintering days with full of wonder, delight and satisfaction.

All the best,

Yoichi MOTOYOSHI, PhD (Station Leader)
and Crew of JARE-42
Syowa Station
Ongul Island, Antarctica (69-00S, 39-35E)