World-renowned jazz saxophonist Sadao Watanabe was appointed Wednesday to oversee the Japanese government pavilion during the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, government sources said.
The appointment of Watanabe, 68, was announced at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry headquarters, where an informal gathering was held to discuss the exposition, the sources said.
The saxophonist, who is currently performing abroad, was expected to send a message to the meeting, according to the sources.
Watanabe will be in charge of the general supervision of the government pavilion during the six-month exposition, which will focus on the relationship between human beings and the environment, they said.
The Aichi Expo will be held in the cities of Seto and Toyota and the town of Nagakute from March 25, 2005, to Sept. 25.
Watanabe, who studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, has created hit jazz albums, including "California Shower," released in 1978.
