Naha, August 15 - Close to 200 people crowded into the auditorium of the newly constructed Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Gallery to hear Ms. Junko Chinen, Public Project Manager from the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History, speak on her experiences organizing large, long-term exhibitions at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Ms. Chinen's visit was sponsored by Consulate General Naha in order to offer support to the new institution and to honor the United States government's long tradition of supporting art and history in Okinawa.

In addition to her presentation, Ms. Chinen spent several days working closely with the museum's staff, offering her experience in management and operations issues.