Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor welcomed a unique group of outdoor enthusiasts to the Yukon recently.

Twenty-two Japanese individuals, including four wheelchair-bound participants and Japanese media, paddled the Yukon River on an eight-day canoe trip late last month.

Taylor's department provided $8,000 and the Canadian Tourism Commission kicked in $8,000 toward the media familiarization tour in partnership with Earth Works Society and the Canoe Association for the Disabled in Japan.

'On behalf of the Yukon government, it is a pleasure to welcome all those participating in this distinctive outing,' Taylor said.

'Their vision to see a dream come true will certainly be an inspiration to others as they embark on a rewarding challenge sure to be catalogued as a lifetime achievement.'

The trip was documented by Japanese media, giving international exposure about the Yukon to a growing market, Taylor added.

Eiho Otani is the organizer of the trip and founder of Earth Works Society. As a highly-acclaimed news station documentary reporter, his work has focused on nature, giving increased public awareness toward the conservation of global environments.

Tomosuke Noda contributed to the founding of the canoe association. He is dedicated to supporting related activities both in Japan and abroad. As an accomplished canoeist and novelist, Noda has visited Yukon on several previous occasions.

'The Yukon River is a haven for all canoeists in Japan,' Otani said. 'Every Japanese canoeist, physically disabled or not, has a dream to visit Yukon to canoe. Noda-san and I want to help make that dream come true.'

Professional guides accompanied the group on their excursion.

They left Whitehorse Aug. 21 and arrived in Little Salmon village at the end of August.