Karen Lander
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 08/99) - One local tourism outfit is boasting an increase of at least 20 per cent in the number of Japanese visitors coming to Yellowknife this winter.

Sage Suzuki, owner of Canadian "X, which for six years has specialized in bringing Japanese to town, says of the quarter million Japanese visitors to Canada about 5,000 will make their way to the city to tour the northern lights.

Already up from the 600 tourists his company catered to last year, Suzuki estimates this year at least 20 per cent more are making the trip -- an increase he expects to continue.

Canadian "X" offers all kinds of exciting things like dog sled rides, ice-fishing, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, a few days at the cabin and even offers old-fashioned igloos.

Renatta Bullock, co-owner and chef at Bullock's Bistro, agrees there's an increase in the number of visitors Yellownkife is getting this year from Japan.

"These are the most beautiful northern lights in the world -- that's why Yellowknife is the chosen destination," says Bullock.

"Every year there's an increase -- they love the ambience, the northern lights and the people. It was a very strong December, very busy. We were even open on Christmas Day,"

It's a long way to come, but for Japanese visitors Daisaku Kato, 21, and Hitoshi Tomori, 23, the northern lights were worth it.

The first-time travellers to the great white North are fascinated by the Aurora Borealis.

Says Kato, "The northern lights are very beautiful, very mysterious," while Tomori says, "they are unbelievable, sometimes they look like monsters, animals or something, they're awesome."

The pair of engineering students plan to visit a friend in Vancouver before taking a four-week course at the Pacific and West Language Studies to enhance their English.

They will then finish their three-year course at the University of Japan in Shizuoka.

When asked if they thought Yellowknife was cold, Kato responded, "It is very cold here." On the other hand, Tomori disagrees and talks about the landscape: "I don't think so, it is a very white country, the snow is nice; the landscape and view is beautiful."

When asked if they would return for a visit, Kato explained that he'd like to come back next summer to try out the midnight golfing.

Both men would like to try out some other things while they're here. On the list is eating fish, checking out the dog teams and taking a look at soapstone carvings.

Their hobbies and interests include playing soccer and making music on the recorder, guitar and the Ozark harp. Daisaku adds, "I also like driving a car,"

Both Tomori and Daisaku plan on coming back to Yellowknife in the future.