Japan PM chats with spacewalking astronaut

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda chatted with a Japanese astronaut on the International Space Station on Thursday and congratulated him on installing the first piece of Japan's new space laboratory.

Speaking from his office, Fukuda heaped praises on Takao Doi, one of three astronauts who successfully installed the first segment of Japan's main laboratory, named Kibo, or "Hope", during a spacewalk last week.

"Congratulations on completing the first stage of the laboratory," Fukuda told Doi.

In his reply, Doi said: "I'm glad that I was able to install 'Kibo' filled with Japan's dreams."

Doi said his fellow space shuttle Endeavour astronauts had liked the Japanese food he had taken with him.

"Japanese food is a culture of the world. We will develop new space food. So, please look forward to that," Fukuda said.

The Endeavour crew reached the space station on Wednesday last week for a 12-day construction and servicing mission. The shuttle is scheduled to land back on Earth on March 26.

(Reporting by Teruaki Ueno; Editing by Alex Richardson)