U.S. ambassador meets for first time with Japan prime minister, expresses desire to visit Hiroshima; two countries confirm partnership to achieve world without nuclear weapons
Feb. 6, 2022
By Koji Higuchi, Staff Writer
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents Hiroshima Prefecture’s district No. 1, met for the first time with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who assumed the post at the end of January, at the prime minister’s official residence on February 4. Mr. Kishida confirmed the two countries’ partnership in working to realize a world without nuclear weapons and requested the new ambassador’s cooperation in facilitating a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden’s to Japan at some point in the first half of this year. According to a government source, Mr. Emanuel expressed his desire to visit Hiroshima soon, with Mr. Kishida expressing his intent to accompany Mr. Emanuel.
Mr. Emanuel served as former U.S. President Barack Obama’s first White House chief of staff and enjoys a close relationship with President Biden, who served as vice president in the Obama administration. Mr. Kishida said “Having the opportunity to welcome the esteemed ambassador is symbolic of the strong bond between Japan and the United States. I expect Mr. Emanuel will work actively to further strengthen ties between our two countries.”
Given China’s hegemonic tendencies and North Korea’s military expansion, Prime Minister Kishida hopes to enhance Japan’s partnership with the United States involving issues of security. He also wants to elicit cooperation from Mr. Emanuel in inviting world leaders to a meeting of an international group of eminent persons that he plans to hold in Hiroshima this year, with the aim of realizing a world free from nuclear weapons.
Functioning as a liaison between Japan and the United States, the ambassador post had been vacant since the former embassy chief, William Hagerty, stepped down in July 2019. Mr. Emanuel began his work in earnest after conclusion of a quarantine period, which serves as a countermeasure against the coronavirus. Afterward, he mentioned his true admiration for Mr. Kishida’s economic policies, which emphasize investment in people. Pointing out that Mr. Kishida had been a second baseman in high school, Mr. Emanuel presented the prime minister with Major League Baseball uniforms from two teams: the Cubs and the White Sox, both of which are based in his hometown of Chicago. In return, Mr. Kishida presented Mr. Emanuel with sake brewed in Hiroshima Prefecture.
After the talks, Mr. Emanuel remarked to reporters about how touched he was by the prime minister’s warmth and energy.
(Originally published on February 6, 2022)
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents Hiroshima Prefecture’s district No. 1, met for the first time with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who assumed the post at the end of January, at the prime minister’s official residence on February 4. Mr. Kishida confirmed the two countries’ partnership in working to realize a world without nuclear weapons and requested the new ambassador’s cooperation in facilitating a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden’s to Japan at some point in the first half of this year. According to a government source, Mr. Emanuel expressed his desire to visit Hiroshima soon, with Mr. Kishida expressing his intent to accompany Mr. Emanuel.
Mr. Emanuel served as former U.S. President Barack Obama’s first White House chief of staff and enjoys a close relationship with President Biden, who served as vice president in the Obama administration. Mr. Kishida said “Having the opportunity to welcome the esteemed ambassador is symbolic of the strong bond between Japan and the United States. I expect Mr. Emanuel will work actively to further strengthen ties between our two countries.”
Given China’s hegemonic tendencies and North Korea’s military expansion, Prime Minister Kishida hopes to enhance Japan’s partnership with the United States involving issues of security. He also wants to elicit cooperation from Mr. Emanuel in inviting world leaders to a meeting of an international group of eminent persons that he plans to hold in Hiroshima this year, with the aim of realizing a world free from nuclear weapons.
Functioning as a liaison between Japan and the United States, the ambassador post had been vacant since the former embassy chief, William Hagerty, stepped down in July 2019. Mr. Emanuel began his work in earnest after conclusion of a quarantine period, which serves as a countermeasure against the coronavirus. Afterward, he mentioned his true admiration for Mr. Kishida’s economic policies, which emphasize investment in people. Pointing out that Mr. Kishida had been a second baseman in high school, Mr. Emanuel presented the prime minister with Major League Baseball uniforms from two teams: the Cubs and the White Sox, both of which are based in his hometown of Chicago. In return, Mr. Kishida presented Mr. Emanuel with sake brewed in Hiroshima Prefecture.
After the talks, Mr. Emanuel remarked to reporters about how touched he was by the prime minister’s warmth and energy.
(Originally published on February 6, 2022)
