RAFU WIRE SERVICES
WASHINGTON —Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the first Japanese leader to visit the U.S. as a state guest in nine years, made self-deprecating jokes at a dinner hosted Wednesday by U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife Jill.
“Before I came here, my protocol staff told me that no one had ever complained that my speech was too short. This is probably good advice. So, I’ll keep my speech short,” Kishida said at the event in the White House, drawing laughter from the attendees.
“My wife Yuko” just told “me that it was hard to tell who the guest of honor is, so I was relieved when I was shown the seat right next to the president,” Kishida added.
The prime minister’s trip to Washington came as the approval ratings for his Cabinet have plunged to their lowest levels since he took office in October 2021, due largely to a political funds scandal that has significantly eroded public trust in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Quoting the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Kishida said, “The Pacific Ocean does not separate Japan and the United States. Rather, it unites us.”
“I like this line. I use it so many times that my staff tried to delete it,” he said, also provoking laughter from the guests, including Japanese celebrities such as pop music duo Yoasobi and retired wheelchair tennis great Shingo Kunieda.
Notable Nikkei at White House dinner
A number of Japanese Americans attended the State Dinner, according to a list released by the White House.
Among the attendees were: Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), furniture maker Mira Nakashima, Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama of n/naka, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside), former U.S. Trade Representative Glen Fukushima, gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and Olympic figure skaters Alex and Maia Shibutani.