Japan-United States of America Relations

Mrs. KISHIDA Yuko visited Arlington National Cemetery and accompanied Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, who laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

Mrs. Kishida attended a Japanese Tea Ceremony hosted by Urasenke tea ceremony practitioners who are engaged in promoting Japanese culture in the U.S., along with JET Program alumni and individuals involved in Japan-U.S. exchange activities.
Mrs. Kishida told the participants, “I would like to enjoy today’s tea ceremony and feel the joy of being here with you today, in the spirit of “Ichigo Ichie” (a once-in-a-lifetime encounter), as taught in the Japanese Tea Ceremony.” Mrs. Kishida then shared a cup of tea with the participants, sharing thoughts about Japan and Japanese culture, and deepened the friendship with the participants. Mrs. Kishida listened to JET alumni’s stories of their various experiences and their engagement with Japan, and said, “It is wonderful to know that the exchanges have been continued even after each JET participant completes the program.” The tea was served using a Wajima-nuri Natsume (lacquered tea caddy) with a six gourd pattern, with a prayer for the recovery of the earthquake-stricken areas.

1. Emily Baldingh: Member, Chado Urasenke Tankokai Washington D.C. Association, Midorikai Alumni Association
2. Elizabeth Olchowski: JET Alumni
3. Sokei Suzuki: Deputy Tea Master, Executive Tea Instruction Manager Chado Urasenke North America Head Office, Chief Tea Instructor, Urasenke New York Branch
4. Neave Denny: JETAADC Co-President
5. Nicole Uehara: JET Alumni
6. Brian Cheung: Member, Chado Urasenke Tankokai Washington D.C. Association, Midorikai Alumni Association
7. Frank Feltens: Curator, National museum of Asian art
8. Yumi Yamasaki: Instructor, Chado Urasenke Tankokai Washington D.C. Association
9. Ryan Shaffer: President of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC
10. Laurel Lukaszewski: Founding Executive Director of USJETAA (former) （JET Alumni）
11. Lauren Mosely: JETAADC Co-President
12. Mioko Miller: Instructor(Chief of Administration), Urasenke Tankokai Washington D.C. Association

Mrs. Kishida had a luncheon meeting with Japanese language educators engaged in promoting Japanese language education and children’s education, and had a frank exchange of views on topics such as the motivation of non-native Japanese speakers to learn Japanese, current trends of Japanese language learning in the U.S., and issues related to maintaining Japanese language proficiency among children who will return to Japan in the future.
In exchanging views with the participants, Mrs. Kishida said, “ I express my sincere respect for your daily efforts in Japanese language education, and I hope that as many people as possible will gain a deeper understanding of Japan through language learning and education."

1. Ms. Noriko Otsuka, Japanese Immersion Teacher of the Fox Mill Elementary School, VA
2. Ms. Motoko Omori, Co-President of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese (MAATJ) / Associate Teaching Professor of Georgetown University
3. Mrs. Kaoru Kimura, Lower School Japanese Language Teacher of the St. Paul’s Schools
4. Ms. Saori Kobayashi, Executive Director of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC
5. Ms. Ayaka Monheim Sano, Japanese Immersion Teacher of the Great Falls Elementary School, VA
6. Mr. Chikara Tasaki, General Manager of the Washington Japanese Language School (WJLS)
7. Ms. Nichole Mayfield, Treasurer of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Teachers of Japanese (MAATJ)/ Japanese Language Teacher of South Lakes High School, VA
8. Mr. Youichi Mihara, Principal of the Washington Japanese Language School (WJLS)
9. Dr. Tomomi Miyajima, Principal of the Washington Japanese Heritage Center
10. Dr. Yoshiko Mori, President of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) / Professor of Georgetown University
11. Mr. Hikaru Yamauchi, Vice-Principal of the Washington Japanese Language School (WJLS)

Mrs. Kishida participated in an Ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement, workshop with about 60 members of the Cherry Blossom Princess Delegates under the “Cherry Blossom Program,” a program related to the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Mrs. Kishida exchanged views with the Princess Delegates as well as with Ms. Teresa Downs, President of the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS), one of the main organizations of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Ms. Ursula Kondo, President of Ikebana International, Washington, D.C. Chapter No. 1 and staff members of the Ikebana International.
Through the Ikebana workshop and exchanges with those involved in the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Mrs. Kishida said, “The friendly foundation of Japan-U.S. relations is based on these people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and that the relationship between the two countries has been deepened through these efforts. I thank you all once again for your dedication to promoting the understanding of Japanese culture.”
Mrs. Kishida also said, “I believe that the interest in Japan among the younger generation, such as the princesses, will deepen the relationship between Japan and the U.S. for years to come. I am deeply impressed by the fact that not only representatives from all over the U.S., but also from several other countries and regions were selected as princesses to serve as a bridge between Japan and their respective contribution” and deepened the friendship with the participants.
Through the exchanges, Mrs. Kishida asked the princesses to describe Japan in one word, and in response various images were raised such as “beauty,” “art,” “resilience,” “peace,” “re-birth,” “hospitality (omotenashi),” “innovation” , “sushi” and “sakura”.

Mrs. Kishida, together with Prime Minister Kishida, attended an informal dinner with President Biden and Dr. Biden upon invitation.