It might be time for albuquerque to get familiar with Japanese culture. A delegation from Japan, including Toshihiro Nikai, the country's minister of economy,trade and industry, toured Albuquerque on Tues.Aug 15th. One member of the group, Hoshi Hitoshi, has his eyes on developing 500 acres in the Albuquerque metro area into an adult community aimed at Japanese retirees 55 and over. Active adult communities, catering to retirees interested in organized social events and recreational activities are emerging around the Albuquerque area as developers try to attract retirees migrating to warmer climates.

Hitoshi is planning an active adult community that would hold 1,000 families and be "focused on Japanese people. He hasn't chosen an Albuquerque location yet, but the delegation toured 3 sites on Tues: * Rancho Cielo, a development planned in Valencia County between Los Lunas and Belen. * A site in Santa Fe County north of Edgewood. *Mesa del Sol, the master-planned mixed use development south of the International Sunport.

New Mexico might seem a far locale for the Japanese, but the combination of low costs, a moderate climate, and a degree of safety have made the area appealing.