From the Desk of Consul General Osumi

2024/5/22
Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden 1
Photo courtesy of the Cabinet Public Relations Office
Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden 2
Essay Vol. 9
~Prime Minister Kishida’s Visit to the US~
May 22, 2024
Yo Osumi
Consul General of Japan in San Franscicsco

 
 In my Essay Vol. 8, which I wrote about cherry blossoms, I mentioned Japan's donation of 250 cherry trees in commemoration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026. In addition to this gesture of goodwill, Prime Minister Kishida's visit to the U.S. from April 8-14 was very important in terms of Japan-U.S. relations. In this ninth essay, I would like to discuss his visit, as well as introduce what we at the Consulate are working on.

 
Prime Minister Kishida's Speech at the Joint Session of the U.S. House and Senate (1) : A Smash Hit
 The Prime Minister’s speech was full of jokes, and he opened with the following: "Thank you, I never get such nice applause from the Japanese Diet. And let me introduce my wife, Yuko, who is in the gallery. The fact that I married Yuko should give you great confidence in all my decisions." He continued, speaking on his childhood in the United States, "I remember things that were strange and funny to a little Japanese boy, like watching the Flintstones… I still miss that show. Although I could never translate ‘yabba dabba doo.'" There was great laughter from the chamber upon hearing the Prime Minister’s "yabba dabba doo," and from those moments of levity, Congress was able to get a better sense of the Prime Minister’s personality.
 
Address by Prime Minister Kishida at the United States Congress

Photo courtesy of the Cabinet Public Relations Office
Address by Prime Minister Kishida at the United States Congress
 I frequently give speeches around the Bay Area, and I believe that the key to success is to make the audience feel a connection with the speaker (myself) through direct address. To this end, I am always trying to see if I can make the audience laugh—if not uproariously, then at least with a chuckle—or to make the audience understand who I am as a husband, as a father, and as a person with my own emotions, whether sorrow or joy.

 
Prime Minister Kishida's Speech (2) : Self-doubt, Exhaustion, and Loneliness
 "We are fortunate to be alive at this moment in history. Never before has our nation enjoyed, at once, so much prosperity and social progress with so little internal crisis or so few external threats. Never before have we had such a blessed opportunity—and, therefore, such a profound obligation— to build the more perfect union of our founders’ dreams."

 Then-President Clinton opened his State of the Union address on January 27, 2000, with those words. They are suffused with the exuberance of the United States at the height of its post-Cold War victories, and are somewhat reminiscent of a poem by Fujiwara no Michinaga in the Heian period:

「この世をば 我が世とぞ思ふ 望月の欠けたることも 無しと思へば」
"Just as there is not the slightest dent in the full moon, so is this whole world gloriously mine"

 At that time, no one could have foreseen the events that would follow, such as 9/11, the War in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, the eventual fall of Kabul, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, strategic competition with China, and the division of American society.
 A quarter of a century later, on April 11, 2024, the Japanese Prime Minister stood before Congress. In his speech, Prime Minister Kishida said, "I detect an undercurrent of self-doubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be," and he spoke to "those Americans who feel […] loneliness and exhaustion," saying, "although the world looks to your leadership, the U.S. should not be expected to do it all, unaided and on your own." I was a little surprised that the Prime Minister was so frank about the U.S. situation. On the other hand, the directness with which he made his points—the American way—sent a powerful message.
 The Prime Minister’s speech seems to have had an impact. During the discussion of the additional security-related budget bill enacted on April 24, which would provide additional support for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region (Taiwan, etc.), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said,
 
"Just recently, the Japanese Prime Minister spoke to our Congress and delivered a message as a very good friend. He said he detected an undercurrent of self-doubt about Americans. The Japanese Prime Minister spoke movingly about the role of American leadership in championing freedom and fostering the stability and prosperity of nations like Japan. That Japanese Prime Minister explained that, while American leadership is indispensable, Americans are not alone in this world. With allies like Japan and many countries in Europe stepping up, the free world has never been stronger or more united. So this is hardly a time for a crisis of confidence."

 
Prime Minister Kishida's Speech (3) : "The United States is not alone. Japan is with you."
 In his speech, Prime Minister Kishida recognized that "The post-Cold War era is already behind us, and we are now at an inflection point that will define the next stage of human history." He also told the members of Congress that it was in Japan’s national interest to protect freedom, democracy, and the rule of law from "challenges from those with values and principles very different from ours," and that "I do not want to leave our children a society where human rights are suppressed, where political self-determination is denied, where our lives are monitored by digital technology. I know you don’t either. Upholding these values is both a cause and a benefit for our two countries as well as for the generations to come across the world.” He told assembled members of Congress, "You are not alone. We are with you."
 Having lived through the Gulf War as part of the North America Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and having studied at Columbia University in New York, I have seen the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, Japan-U.S. relations, and the United States from various angles, and I was deeply moved by the Prime Minister's statement. Ever since I was mentored by former Ambassador Hisahiko Okazaki more than 20 years ago, I have believed that as the U.S. becomes an Indo-Pacific nation, the Japan-U.S. alliance will become the most important of all U.S. alliances, and Japan will become an indispensable nation for the U.S. When I was working in London ten years ago, I also told the Europeans who were drawn in by the allure of foreign investments that the status quo would be upended by 2025. I have a strong sense that such a time has finally come.
 On the other hand, the Prime Minister also raised the striking point that "Japan has changed over the years. We have transformed ourselves from a reticent ally, recovering from the devastation of World War II, to a strong, committed ally, looking outward to the world." The "National Security Strategy," revised in December 2022, to which the Prime Minister referred, is the most noteworthy strategic document I have seen in my life as an official. It contains a substantial increase in the defense budget to reach 2% of GDP by FY2027, ensuring counterattack capabilities and improving cybersecurity. When Japan commits to doing something, it will see that commitment through. In addition, throughout the past two decades, Japan has broadened the scope of its diplomacy by establishing greater bilateral cooperation with the U.S. and ASEAN-Japan as well as multilateral cooperation with Japan-U.S.-Australia, Japan-U.S.-Korea, Japan-U.S.-Australia-India (the Quad), Japan-U.S.-Philippines, the G7, and various other relationships.

 
U.S.-Japan Summit and Joint Statement
 Following the U.S.-Japan Summit, a 10+-page U.S.-Japan Joint Statement and an even longer fact sheet were released. While defense and security cooperation and space cooperation dominated much of the paper, there are also details on innovation, economic security, climate change, collaboration in global diplomacy and development, and strengthening people-to-people ties. I’d like to introduce some of the activities of the Consulate General as they relate to those areas.
 
Japan-California Sister Cities Workshop 1
Japan-California Sister Cities Workshop 2
Innovation: Entrepreneurs, Biodesign, and Hydrogen
 With regards to the economy, the statement calls for joint efforts to promote innovation, strengthen industrial infrastructure, promote robust and reliable supply chains, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, noting that Japan is the largest investor in the U.S., boasting nearly $800 billion in foreign direct investment, and that Japanese companies employ nearly 1 million Americans in all 50 U.S. states. "We also plan to accelerate investment in our respective start-up environments to foster innovation through the "Japan Innovation Campus" in Silicon Valley […], and in companies that take actions toward sustainable value creation (SX)." To that end, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) funded the Japan Innovation Campus (JIC), a startup center that began operations this year aimed at helping Japanese entrepreneurs enter the Silicon Valley business ecosystem. The Consulate hopes play a role in the Japanese government’s five-year startup development plan. I attended a showcase event held at the JIC on March 21, where I gave a speech and encouraged Japanese startups and entrepreneurs at the campus.
showcase event held at the JIC 1
showcase event held at the JIC 2
 In conjunction with startup development, we held receptions on January 17 for female Japanese entrepreneurs and on February 14 for medical professionals participating in the Japan Biodesign Fellowship Program, a partnership with Stanford University that aims to support Japanese medical professionals by using design thinking to create innovative medical devices and solutions.
 
female Japanese entrepreneurs event
Japan Biodesign Fellowship Program
 
 The jointly released U.S.-Japan fact sheet also states, "We welcome the progress of collaboration between U.S. and Japanese companies on building hydrogen hubs, and shared expectations for further cooperation to build a large-scale and resilient global supply chains based on carbon intensity and to expand utilization of hydrogen." On February 7, our Consulate co-hosted a webinar on hydrogen energy development in Japan and California with the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Northern California (JCCNC).

 
People-to-People Ties: Academic and Grassroots Exchanges
 The joint statement includes a section titled "Fortifying People-to-People Ties," and the 6 fact sheet opens with the statement, "our people-to-people ties serve as the bedrock of our Alliance." The statement goes on to praise the contributions of various exchange programs: “we recognize the achievements of exchange programs between our two countries […] and commit ourselves to providing more opportunities to meet today’s needs, including through enhanced subnational exchanges on critical issues such as climate and energy.” The joint statement and fact sheet outline the following specific items:
 
  • The United States and Japan announce a new $12 million"Mineta Ambassadors Program (MAP)" education exchange endowment administered by the U.S.-Japan Council for U.S. and Japanese high school and university students who will “map” the future of the relationship
  • We […] welcome Japan’s new initiative to expand scholarship for Japanese students through the Japan Student Servicers Organization
  • The restart of STEM scholarships in Japan via the Fulbright Program for the first time in 50 years […] and removal of the tuition cap for Japanese Fulbright participants

 In addition, in a press release following a meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and his wife and Japanese students in North Carolina on April 12, the following announcement was made:

The government will consider measures to drastically expand the "Tobitate! Japan Representative Program," which has sent more than 10,000 Japanese students overseas to date. In addition, the government will consider measures to drastically expand the JASSO's overseas study support program by establishing a "special quota" to drive growth fields, and specifically by substantially expanding scholarships for students studying in top-class graduate schools and doctoral programs in the sciences in the United States with reference to top-level scholarships in the private sector. In addition, these directions will be incorporated into the basic policy for economic and fiscal management and reform, and materialized in the budget compilation process. 

 It may take some time for these to materialize, but I think it is wonderful that such a degree of common awareness has coalesced on the issue of foreign students. Visiting Silicon Valley and universities, I am keenly aware that we need political and economic support to reverse the current declining trend in the foreign student population. Without young people venturing beyond the borders of the country, our medium- to long-term measures will have no success.
 In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also launched a fellowship program to strengthen diplomacy in the fields of science and technology. In our jurisdiction, we have asked Associate Professor Kazuhito Morioka of the University of California, San Francisco, to support our efforts. On January 27, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)  hosted a Japanese Researchers Gathering in Berkeley with more than 100 participants, including a visit by Dr. Matsumoto, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Science and Technology. Along with expanding and strengthening the network of researchers, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco is committed to creating an environment in which Japanese researchers can easily study abroad and return to Japan to play an active role, based on a better understanding of the problems that Japanese researchers face when studying abroad.
Japanese Researchers Gathering 1
Japanese Researchers Gathering 2
 When it comes to increasing the number of foreign students, exchange programs for junior high and high school students through sister city relationships are also very important. In Japan, local governments are the main players, but in California, volunteers play an important role in the sister city relationship. I am deeply impressed by their dedication. On January 27, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and the California-Japan Sister Cities Network (CJSCN) co-hosted a Japan-California Sister Cities Workshop. The workshop was a great success, with mayors of three cities attending.
School Visits
Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival
 During the spring break, I was present when Iizuka City in Fukuoka Prefecture and Takeo City in Saga Prefecture (sister cities of Sunnyvale and Sebastopol, respectively) sent junior and senior high school students to the U.S. Their arrival was an enthusiastic scene: Locals, including host families holding placards, all came out to welcome the Iizuka City students as they arrived by bus. Takeo City has been a member of the exchange program for about 40 years, and the daughter of a high school student who participated 30 years ago was selected this year to come to the U.S.

 
Japanese Language Education: Joining Forces to Maintain Japanese Language Classes
 The Joint Leaders’ Statement included the following:

"We acknowledge the importance of language study, particularly in person, to develop long-term ties and announce a new Memorandum of Cooperation to increase opportunities for the number of exchange visitors from Japan to share their specialized knowledge of Japanese language and culture in the United States, as well as welcome efforts to expand the Japanese Language Education Assistant Program (J-LEAP)."

 In California, approximately 30,000 students take Japanese language courses at elementary, junior high, high school, and university levels, the largest number of students of any state. I visited UC Davis recently and learned that, with the exception of Spanish, Japanese is the most popular foreign language at the school, with about 400 students in the fall semester, double the number for Chinese and far more than any European language. The number of applicants has not decreased commensurately with the stagnation of the Japanese economy. I suspect this is due in large part to the influence of soft power, especially anime and manga.
 However, the Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) in Silicon Valley, which includes the cities of Sunnyvale and Cupertino, has begun to close Japanese classes at its high schools, ahead of even San Francisco, which is in constant financial difficulty. The district is one of the wealthiest in the U.S., but other factors seem to be at work, such as a decline in students due to population outflow, a lack of teachers, and competition with other subjects (not necessarily only French and Chinese). Incidentally, high schools from the FUHSD are regular winners of the National Japan Bowl, a nationwide Japanese language competition, but despite this, one of those schools has discontinued introductory Japanese classes starting this fall.
 The Consulate General has been exchanging opinions with the local board of education since last year when this trend developed, but we are in a way outsiders in the community. On March 21, we visited two high schools, and we celebrated students who excelled at the National Japan Bowl at the opening ceremony of the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival on April 27. We believe that this is a long-term issue, and we would like to join forces with all parties involved to work on it in the future.
unveiling ceremony of the historic Japantown Monument 1
unveiling ceremony of the historic Japantown Monument 2
Building Bridges: Japanese Americans, Japanese Citizens, and Friends of Japan
 Prime Minister Kishida's speech began with the introduction of his wife, Yuko Kishida, who was seated at the distinguished guests table. The speech concluded with a discussion of space cooperation, during which Japanese American former astronaut Daniel Tani was introduced at the guest of honor's table, along with Akihiko Hoshide, who has been to space three times and will served as Captain of the International Space Station for five months in 2021.
 The joint statement read, "We praise the efforts of Japanese American leaders to build a bridge between the two countries and to address common community issues, including through support to the U.S.-Japan Council’s newly launched TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui project." The fact sheet noted, "We also welcome Japan’s intention to broaden the scope of the invitation program for Japanese American leaders to raise their next generation."
 The Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program, which began in 2000, sends a select group of Japanese American leaders to travel to Japan. The JALD program is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the U.S.-Japan Council. The U.S.-Japan Council also encourages participants to continue their involvement with organizations that strengthen ties between the United States and Japan.
 Following Foreign Minister Kamikawa's visit to San Francisco during APEC last November, where she met with Japanese American community leaders and expressed her hope that young Japanese Americans would work together with Japan's youth to shape the future of Japan-U.S. relations, the Japan Innovation Campus hosted a "NextGen Japan-U.S. Innovation" Networking Event on March 13 to promote mutual understanding and strengthen relationships between young Japanese Americans and Japanese. The event was co-hosted with the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC). We received many comments, especially from Japanese Americans, that such opportunities were rare, and that they would like us to continue the event. I think it was also a good opportunity for young Japanese people to be reminded that the foundation for their lives here was laid by Japanese Americans. I hope that the Consulate can play a role in helping build connections between Japanese Americans, Japanese residents in the area (both short- and long-term), and friends of Japan.
NextGen Japan-U.S. Innovation Networking Event 1
NextGen Japan-U.S. Innovation Networking Event 2
 The historical contributions of the Japanese American Community are being rightly celebrated. In March, the 50th Anniversary Gala of Yuai-Kai, a Japanese American senior service organization, was held in San Jose. It was a huge event with approximately 500 people in attendance. On March 1, the San Francisco Japantown event for the renovation of Kinmon Gakuen, one of the oldest buildings in the Japantown, and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Peace Plaza renovation on April 27, saw great attendance. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi attended the groundbreaking ceremony at Peace Plaza.
50th Anniversary Gala of Yuai-Kai
unveiling ceremony of the historic Japantown Monument
event for the renovation of Kinmon Gakuen

 And on May 4, in the middle of Japan’s Golden Week, I attended the unveiling ceremony of the historic Japantown Monument in the small town of Winters, near Sacramento. Japanese immigrants settled there in large numbers; by the 1930s, Winters was home to an estimated 300 Japanese and Japanese Americans, who were sent to internment camps in Arizona and Colorado during the war. A fire started during the V-J Day celebration in 1945 destroyed Winters’ Japantown, and many of its former inhabitants did not return, which spelled the end of Winters’ Japantown. In the long process of dealing with history, the State Assembly and County Board of Supervisors passed resolutions regarding monument. Two young descendants of a woman from Winters read her diary’s account of the day she was sent an internment camp, and another speaker told the story of her grandfather, a police officer who took a stand to protect a Japanese American who was almost attacked while returning to town after the war.
Japan and San Francisco Connected in the Pacific: Kojima’s Port Call
 The joint statement reads, "As we pursue our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, we continue to build strong ties between key, like-minded partners in the region." The statement goes on to describe the ties between the U.S. and Japanese Coast Guards, whose members in the Bay Area embody this vision as well.
 In early May, the Japanese Coast Guard training ship Kojima made a port call in San Francisco with 43 cadets from the Japan Coast Guard Academy on board. My initial impression was that it was a rather small ship to sail around the world in, but the cadets’ motivation was infectious, and I was encouraged by their willingness to carry the future of Japan's oceans on their shoulders.
 One purpose of their port call was to strengthen ties with the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area command, located in Alameda. The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area command is in charge of not only the U.S. coast, but also a wide aerial area including the Indo-Pacific region, and it works closely with Japan and other countries. The Commander himself brought his wife, dressed in a yukata, to a reception on board the Kojima, where they enjoyed mingling with the Japanese Coast Guard personnel. I hope that coastguards around the world will cooperate with each other to ensure peaceful and free seas.
Kojima’s Port Call
Kojima’s Port Call 2


In Closing: Freeman wine, Mashi Murakami and Shohei Otani
 Prime Minister Kishida's speech was on the morning of the 11th, and was immediately followed by a luncheon hosted by Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Blinken. At the luncheon, sparkling, white, and red wine from Freeman Winery, run by Akiko and Ken Freeman in Sonoma, was served. Akiko's wine was also served at the official White House dinner during Prime Minister Abe's visit in 2015. Akiko is a wonderful winemaker who started her career in Sonoma after meeting Ken Freeman as an exchange student.  
 At the luncheon, Vice President Harris, a native of Oakland, gave the toast, mentioning the Kanrin Maru, San Francisco Japantown, the signing of the Security Treaty at the Presidio, her mentor the late Norman Mineta, and finally the contributions of Masanori "Mashi" Murakami, the first Japanese Major League Baseball player. On May 17, the San Francisco Giants held a Japanese Heritage Night at their game against the Colorado Rockies, and Mashi Murakami threw out the first pitch, 60 years after he debuted as a player on the Giants in 1964. Even at 80 years old, Murakami was still dynamic and energetic. During my interview on the field, I said, "Without Mashi Murakami, there would be no Shohei Otani." We are here today because of the achievements of our predecessors. The same is true for Japanese and Japanese Americans.
San Francisco Giants held a Japanese Heritage Night
San Francisco Giants held a Japanese Heritage Night
 In 1962, Kenichi Horie sailed alone across the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco with "no money, no English, and no passport." In 1959, Seiji Ozawa traveled alone to Europe on a cargo ship with a scooter to train as a musician, and became the longtime conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. These pioneers had incredible drive.

 I would like to express my gratitude to the various people who have supported the Japan-U.S. relationship.