"Uchimura, please accompany our VIP guests to the rest area first,"
Makizawa Sota told one of his subordinates, then with an apologetic look, he bowed to the members of the Exchange Group, and quickly left the airport.
The middle-aged man he had just pointed to promptly took his place and made a welcoming gesture.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me."
He took the lead.
The director also nodded to the group, and they followed along.
The man leading the way was named Uchimura Taku, a deputy president of the Japan Defense Society. He was in his forties, bald, and spoke decent Chinese.
Vice President Uchimura seemed quite adept at hosting foreign guests. Despite the recent tense atmosphere, he now refrained from discussing work, chatted happily about local Japanese customs and traditions while leading the way.
Everyone followed in silence, some occasionally responding to his stories.
"Ring, ring..."