From the Desk of Consul General Osumi
2023/11/20
Essay Vol.2
November 20, 2023
Yo Osumi
Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
Yo Osumi
Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
From November 11th to 17th, San Francisco hosted the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week. Prime Minister Kishida, Foreign Minister Kamikawa, then-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura, Minister Shindo (in charge of TPP and economic revitalization), and Deputy Minister of Finance Yakura visited our jurisdiction to attend the Summit Meeting, Ministerial Meeting, Finance Ministers’ Meeting, and related meetings. Prime Minister Kishida, Minister Kamikawa, and other ministers held bilateral meetings, in addition to a series of multilateral meetings, including APEC-related meetings, the IPEF Ministerial Meeting, and the Japan-U.S. Economic 2+2 Meeting.
I wrote this entry in the hope that you, the reader, might find it interesting, and that it might be a chance to learn about something you may not be too familiar with. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Outcomes of the Prime Minister's and Ministers' Visits: The Consulate’s Perspective
Tokyo has the responsibility for providing a summary of APEC, and the event has been covered quite well in the press. I participated in the San Francisco-related events myself. I felt that the Prime Minister and the ministers were successful in their hard work in various areas, including intellectual exchange, relations with the Japanese American community, economy and technology, and export of marine products. I would like to touch on a few of them.
Tokyo has the responsibility for providing a summary of APEC, and the event has been covered quite well in the press. I participated in the San Francisco-related events myself. I felt that the Prime Minister and the ministers were successful in their hard work in various areas, including intellectual exchange, relations with the Japanese American community, economy and technology, and export of marine products. I would like to touch on a few of them.
- Regarding intellectual exchange, Prime Minister Kishida and South Korean President Yoon participated in a summit discussion with startups at Stanford University on the 17th. This was a significant event in terms of diplomacy and policy – and a notably visible one, held at a prominent university in our jurisdiction.
- Regarding relations with the Japanese American community, Foreign Minister Kamikawa visited San Francisco Japantown on March 13th to meet with Japanese American community leaders. The participants were very pleased with the minister's thoughtful approach and meaningful dialogue. Minister Kamikawa also interacted with young Japanese Americans at a speaking event.
- On the technology front, then-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura attended the opening ceremony of the Japan Innovation Campus in Silicon Valley on November 12th, which will serve as a base for supporting Japanese startups looking to expand overseas. The opening of the campus was a hot topic in the area.
- As for economic matters, Minister Shindo attended the Japan Night hosted by the Bay Area Council, a leading business organization in the region, on November 14th. The event was held on a ship rocking back and forth with the waves, and Minister Shindo got a great response as he greeted the audience by asking jokingly, "Are you shaking?”。
- In the area of seafood exports, , Prime Minister Kishida attended a PR event for Japanese seafood on November 16th, where he enjoyed Hokkaido scallops and other seafood products, and promoted the safety of expanding seafood exports. The menu was designed by Mr. Kyle Connaughton, the chef of a local restaurant that has won three Michelin stars.
Local Topic: U.S.-China Summit Meeting
Even locally, President Xi Jinping’s visit and the U.S.-China summit meeting on March 15th were especially well covered. Falun Gong and Tibetan groups demonstrated in the city, and the summit was held in a large garden estate outside of San Francisco. Although there have been various comments on the meeting, the fact that the leaders spoke for four hours is very significant in itself. In the U.S., fentanyl is becoming a serious problem, and it is directly related to the issue of homelessness in San Francisco. That China has expressed its willingness to cooperate on this issue has been widely covered.
President Xi attended a dinner party of about 400 people, including the CEOs of Tesla, Apple, and Blackstone, in San Francisco on November 15th (hosted by the U.S.-China Business Council and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, at a cost of $2,000 per person), where he shared the message that China welcomes foreign companies.
Incidentally, on the morning of November 17th, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosted a breakfast meeting with 11 members of the California Congressional delegation, including the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York. He gave a speech that reflected the atmosphere in Washington toward China; the difference in attitude towards China between Washington and California was palpable.
When was the last time San Francisco hosted a major international conference?
The local newspapers wrote about the question, and a business traveler from Tokyo asked me about it as well. I was told that APEC was the first time San Francisco had hosted a large international conference since the United Nations Conference on International Organization (San Francisco Conference), which was held from April to June 1945 and resulted in the adoption of the UN Charter. At that time, there were heated debates on whether the five major powers should be granted veto power, whether the General Assembly, rather than the Security Council, should have authority over compulsory actions permitted under the Charter, and whether the right of collective self-defense should be recognized.
However, San Francisco Mayor London Breed also brought up the San Francisco Peace Conference of 1951. On the evening of September 7th, 1951, Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida concluded his speech with the following:
"Almost a century has passed since Japan first entered the world community by concluding a treaty of amity with the United States of America in 1854. A century has passed since then, during which time two World Wars have changed the face of the Far East. Present at this Conference are the delegates representing a number of new states—most of which are members of the United Nations, born here in San Francisco six years ago. They are united with many other states in the East and the West in a singular purpose: to advance the cause of world democracy and freedom, and to promote world peace and prosperity through unreserved cooperation under the Charter of the United Nations. I am glad to believe that the signing of the Japanese Peace Treaty today marks one good fruit of their noble endeavors in that direction. It is my sincere hope that Japan will soon be permitted to join that glorious world organization of yours. For it is in the very language of the Charter itself that there is to be found the essence of the ideals and the determination of the new Japan."
Can San Francisco Really Host APEC?
A member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors asked me this question. San Francisco is facing headwinds, including the expansion of work-from-home policies and rising vacancy rates in the city center following the Covid pandemic, as well as the growing homelessness and drug problems. Next year, Mayor Breed and her administration’s work over the past five years will be judged in an election. I was listening to the mayor being interviewed on TV at an event in Japantown prior to APEC, and when asked about the demonstrations and the negative impact on the lives of citizens, she was defensive, saying, "There may be a number of hurdles, but we will be able to hold APEC successfully!”
Despite the circumstances, I would say we managed to successfully host APEC. All the events were held without any issues, and not only U.S. federal participants, but also state governors, mayors, and other officials all got along very well. Although the demonstrations did cause a four-hour traffic jam on the Bay Bridge, they did not disrupt the proceedings. I think the advance notice worked, as there were relatively few cars out.
At the breakfast meeting on the 17th, another supervisor asked me, "Do you think we were able to successfully hold APEC?" My answer: "Yes.”
Even locally, President Xi Jinping’s visit and the U.S.-China summit meeting on March 15th were especially well covered. Falun Gong and Tibetan groups demonstrated in the city, and the summit was held in a large garden estate outside of San Francisco. Although there have been various comments on the meeting, the fact that the leaders spoke for four hours is very significant in itself. In the U.S., fentanyl is becoming a serious problem, and it is directly related to the issue of homelessness in San Francisco. That China has expressed its willingness to cooperate on this issue has been widely covered.
President Xi attended a dinner party of about 400 people, including the CEOs of Tesla, Apple, and Blackstone, in San Francisco on November 15th (hosted by the U.S.-China Business Council and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, at a cost of $2,000 per person), where he shared the message that China welcomes foreign companies.
Incidentally, on the morning of November 17th, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosted a breakfast meeting with 11 members of the California Congressional delegation, including the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York. He gave a speech that reflected the atmosphere in Washington toward China; the difference in attitude towards China between Washington and California was palpable.
When was the last time San Francisco hosted a major international conference?
The local newspapers wrote about the question, and a business traveler from Tokyo asked me about it as well. I was told that APEC was the first time San Francisco had hosted a large international conference since the United Nations Conference on International Organization (San Francisco Conference), which was held from April to June 1945 and resulted in the adoption of the UN Charter. At that time, there were heated debates on whether the five major powers should be granted veto power, whether the General Assembly, rather than the Security Council, should have authority over compulsory actions permitted under the Charter, and whether the right of collective self-defense should be recognized.
However, San Francisco Mayor London Breed also brought up the San Francisco Peace Conference of 1951. On the evening of September 7th, 1951, Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida concluded his speech with the following:
"Almost a century has passed since Japan first entered the world community by concluding a treaty of amity with the United States of America in 1854. A century has passed since then, during which time two World Wars have changed the face of the Far East. Present at this Conference are the delegates representing a number of new states—most of which are members of the United Nations, born here in San Francisco six years ago. They are united with many other states in the East and the West in a singular purpose: to advance the cause of world democracy and freedom, and to promote world peace and prosperity through unreserved cooperation under the Charter of the United Nations. I am glad to believe that the signing of the Japanese Peace Treaty today marks one good fruit of their noble endeavors in that direction. It is my sincere hope that Japan will soon be permitted to join that glorious world organization of yours. For it is in the very language of the Charter itself that there is to be found the essence of the ideals and the determination of the new Japan."
Can San Francisco Really Host APEC?
A member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors asked me this question. San Francisco is facing headwinds, including the expansion of work-from-home policies and rising vacancy rates in the city center following the Covid pandemic, as well as the growing homelessness and drug problems. Next year, Mayor Breed and her administration’s work over the past five years will be judged in an election. I was listening to the mayor being interviewed on TV at an event in Japantown prior to APEC, and when asked about the demonstrations and the negative impact on the lives of citizens, she was defensive, saying, "There may be a number of hurdles, but we will be able to hold APEC successfully!”
Despite the circumstances, I would say we managed to successfully host APEC. All the events were held without any issues, and not only U.S. federal participants, but also state governors, mayors, and other officials all got along very well. Although the demonstrations did cause a four-hour traffic jam on the Bay Bridge, they did not disrupt the proceedings. I think the advance notice worked, as there were relatively few cars out.
At the breakfast meeting on the 17th, another supervisor asked me, "Do you think we were able to successfully hold APEC?" My answer: "Yes.”


In closing
Lastly, as for myself, I thought that since the meetings were at the level of heads of state and ministers, I would be mostly providing support here and there, but I was quite busy, overseeing airport departures and arrivals, giving directions, hosting events, attending on behalf of others, and providing briefings on the local situation to important people. I had the opportunity to give a "standing" briefing at the airport to Gunma Governor Ichita Yamamoto, who happened to be visiting at the same time, since there was nowhere to sit in the baggage claim area. Governor Yamamoto even wrote on his blog that it was his first time doing a briefing standing.
I also gave remarks at the screening of the documentary film "The Floating Lanterns," about Mr. Shigeaki Mori, a historian, and his work with hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bombings) and the families of U.S. soldiers who died in the atomic bombing. The film is also available on the internet. Mr. Mori was the man embraced by former President Obama during his visit to Hiroshima in 2016. I also spoke at the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center. During the war, the U.S. military secretly trained Japanese Americans as language specialists and engaged them in interpretation and translation work in the war and during the occupation.
Although I was a bit nervous, having just arrived at the Consulate, I was able to be involved in this important project thanks to the support from the Consulate's staff and many others. I am truly grateful for this experience, which has broadened my perspective, and I intend to make the most of it in my future activities.
On the evening of Friday the 17th, as the Prime Minister’s plane took off, the rain start to come down heavier. That rain continued throughout the day on the 18th, washing away the "heat" of the week and allowing the city of San Francisco to regain its composure.
This week is Thanksgiving in the United States. Christmas is coming up after that. I would like to strike while the iron is hot in the wake of such an event, and I will devote myself to considering how to proceed in the coming year.
As we come to the end of the year, and the first year-end parties after of the pandemic, please take care of yourself.
Lastly, as for myself, I thought that since the meetings were at the level of heads of state and ministers, I would be mostly providing support here and there, but I was quite busy, overseeing airport departures and arrivals, giving directions, hosting events, attending on behalf of others, and providing briefings on the local situation to important people. I had the opportunity to give a "standing" briefing at the airport to Gunma Governor Ichita Yamamoto, who happened to be visiting at the same time, since there was nowhere to sit in the baggage claim area. Governor Yamamoto even wrote on his blog that it was his first time doing a briefing standing.
I also gave remarks at the screening of the documentary film "The Floating Lanterns," about Mr. Shigeaki Mori, a historian, and his work with hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bombings) and the families of U.S. soldiers who died in the atomic bombing. The film is also available on the internet. Mr. Mori was the man embraced by former President Obama during his visit to Hiroshima in 2016. I also spoke at the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center. During the war, the U.S. military secretly trained Japanese Americans as language specialists and engaged them in interpretation and translation work in the war and during the occupation.
Although I was a bit nervous, having just arrived at the Consulate, I was able to be involved in this important project thanks to the support from the Consulate's staff and many others. I am truly grateful for this experience, which has broadened my perspective, and I intend to make the most of it in my future activities.
On the evening of Friday the 17th, as the Prime Minister’s plane took off, the rain start to come down heavier. That rain continued throughout the day on the 18th, washing away the "heat" of the week and allowing the city of San Francisco to regain its composure.
This week is Thanksgiving in the United States. Christmas is coming up after that. I would like to strike while the iron is hot in the wake of such an event, and I will devote myself to considering how to proceed in the coming year.
As we come to the end of the year, and the first year-end parties after of the pandemic, please take care of yourself.

On Nov. 16th, we asked Prime Minster Kishida to shake hands and take pictures with Japanese Americans who attended the event to promote marine products. The Prime Minister was very genial and everyone was very pleased to see him.


Recommended Information
- Essay Vol.1 (2023.11)
- Essay Vol.3 (2023.12)
- Essay Vol.4 (2024.01)
- Essay Vol.5 (2024.02)
- Essay Vol.6 (2024.03)
- Essay Vol.7 (2024.04)
- Essay Vol.8 (2024.04)
- Essay Vol.9 (2024.05)
- Essay Vol.10 (2024.06)
- Essay Vol.11 (2024.07)
- Essay Vol.12 (2024.08)
- Essay Vol.13 (2024.09)
- Essay Vol.14 (2024.10)
- Essay Vol.15 (2024.10)