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KOUKICHI
THE FIRST BIRD-MAN FLEW IN 1785 version 1.1 August,1997
by SHUJI & KEIKO KOMATSU,
Acknowledgments1997,TOKYO,JAPAN I'd like to introduce the names of many paper airplane pilots and many people who love the bird-man Koukichi. It is my pleasure to share many ideas with them. Thank you very much to everyone following below; Mr.Hiroaki Koizumi, who collected materials for the bird-man Koukichi. I was given personal instruction about Koukichi by him. Dr.Yasuaki Ninomiya and his wife Akiko, whose advise was the motivation for writing this story and paper airplanes. Mr.Toshihiko Araki, who is the executive manager of AG AJIKAWA corporation, he gave me many suggestions and important information. Mr.Miyazaki, Miss.Azuma, and members of the Japan Paperplane Association(JPAA), and members of AG AJIKAWA Corporation, who planned and held the 1st Koukichi's cup paper airplane festival. Mrs.Tomoko Yamada, who educated in the U.S., she gave me a lot of valuable advises and English expressions. Mr.Taira, who operated the network PANSEE computer program which translated this story into English from Japanese. Also, a special thanks to my parents, Isami and Tsuyono Komatsu,who always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. And I especially want to thank my wife, Keiko and two children,Fumiaki, and Maiko for their patience and understanding through the long process of writing this story and playing paper airplanes together. In addition, I appreciate Keiko who illustrated "Koukichi" in this story.
SHUJI KOMATSU
August,1998 Congratulations of publication I heartily congratulate Mr.Komatsu on your story,"Birdman Koukichi",being written in English. Most people have been unaware of the fact by now that Koukichi was able to fly in the sky for the first time all over the world. I'm doing research in the life of Koukichi who was born in Tamano city. Koukichi Ukita, known as "The birdman" succeeded in flying about 117 years earlier than the Wright brothers' flight. I'm very happy to be one of your supporters. In fall, 1994, we raised a heat balloon to the sky in his birthplace in honor of his flight. It enabled people to look back on the same feeling as Koukichi. The next day, newspaper, Asahi, had an article on this. As soon as Mr.Komatsu read this news in Tokyo, he contacted me. It's the first time to get acquainted with him. I'm sure people having an interest in the paper airplane have the same dreams toward the sky as Koukichi. It was a good opportunity to get a cooperation with the Japan Paper Airplane Association (JPAA), AG AJIKAWA CORPORATION, and Tamano city and so on. The 4th Japan paper airplane championship's preliminary competition in Okayama was held moreover on Aug.18,'96. And the same time, the 1st Birdman Koukichi's Cup paper airplane festival was held, too. I'd like to have a high opinion that Mr.Komatsu has many variety deas creating paper airplanes. As far as his passion for the sky is concerned, he is second to none. To this very day, Koukichi has become popular among the young and old alike. He has become a symbol of the innovative strength of Tamano city. I do appreciate your publication and may I wish you every success in the future. If I can be of any help, please don't hesitate to contact. I'm looking forward to your dreams coming true in the future.
HIROAKI KOIZUMI
Chairman of the Birdman Koukichi Study Group August,1997 
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