The U.S.-Japan 150th Anniversary Ceremony

1. On April 3, from 11:00 to 11:55, a ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the Japan-U.S. relationship was held at Kaiko Hiroba in Yokohama City. The event was organized by the U.S.-Japan 150 Year Committee and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the City of Yokohama.

2. On March 31, 1854, the Treaty of Peace and Amity, the first treaty between Japan and the United States, was signed. This year marks the 150th anniversary of this treaty. The ceremony is a series of Japan-U.S. 150th anniversary related events held throughout Japan and the U.S. These events are aimed at further advancing our bilateral relations.

3. Under beautiful weather conditions, more than 750 people attended the ceremony. From the Japanese government, participants included Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan, Ms. Yuriko Koike, Minister of the Environment, Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kazunori Tanaka, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs. From the U.S. government, Ambassador Howard H. Baker Jr., Lt. Gen. Thomas C. Waskow, Commander of the U.S. Forces Japan and others participated.

   During the ceremony, Prime Minister Koizumi, President Bush (video message), Ambassador Baker made remarks. Then a dogwood tree was planted in the hope of our lasting friendship and music was performed by Japanese and U.S. musicians. The ceremony was concluded by the remarks of representatives of students from both countries, Senior-Vice Foreign Minister Aisawa, and Mayor Nakada of Yokohama City.

   Message by Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan
   Video message by George W. Bush, President of the United States of America (Cabinet Website)
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   Message by Ichiro Aisawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs

4. On March 31, 2004, a commemorative ceremony was also held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Ambassador of Japan Ryozo Kato, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England, and Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage, and others attended the ceremony. Prime Minister Koizumi sent a congratulatory video message for this ceremony. Also, A facsimile of the original treaty was presented to Ambassador Kato by Deputy Secretary Armitage as a replacement for Japan's original copy, which was destroyed by the Edo Castle fire of 1859. Following the ceremony, a cherry tree was planted on the U.S. Capital grounds in honor of our lasting friendship.

         Video Message by Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan (Cabinet Website)
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