Marking the historic Japan-US bond and how we can keep building on it
As cherry blossoms bloom each spring, we are reminded of the enduring friendship between Japan and the United States.The sakura were one of Japan’s first gifts to the United States.In 1912, Japan shipped thousands of flowering cherry trees to the US to be planted in public parks.Today, cherry-blossom festivals are held in cities like New York, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and nationwide as tributes to this lasting relationship, rooted in deep trust.These community celebrations, and the quiet Sakura Park tucked away in Upper Manhattan, are reminders that the bonds between Japan and the United States are continuously forged at the grassroots level.
Our bilateral ties, and our efforts to better understand one another, grow increasingly crucial as the geopolitical environment becomes more severe and complex.Ongoing discussions and negotiations are occurring right now that will shape our nations’ future economic relations.Yet the relationship between our two countries has advanced on the ground for decades, particularly in New York City.The MTA’s newest subway cars, made by a Japanese company’s local plant established in 1986, were tailor-made to meet the needs of this gigantic city.
They feature security cameras, LED lighting, open gangways and wide doors to smooth passenger flow.Throughout my tenure as ambassador, I have visited many Japanese plants — from food production to heavy industries — that have demonstrated to me the tireless efforts of Japanese businesses to integrate into American society. Anchored in local communities, they create jobs and respond quickly to economic fluctuations, fulfilling the trust the US has placed in Japan as an economic partner.The strength and interwovenness of our economic bonds at all levels is evident: Japan has been the world’s largest investor in the US for five consecutive years.Of course, we mirror each other’s appreciation.
When I attend Anime NYC each year, I’m greeted by thousands of charac...