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Vol.09

Spring 2015

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receiving a courtesy call from First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, at the Prime Minister’s Office (March 2015).

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Feature

The Hina Dolls That Crossed the Sea

Fifty-three years ago a Japanese woman living in Kitami, a city in Hokkaido, Japan, wrote a letter to the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, congratulating him on becoming the president. As they were about the same age, she felt an affinity for him. Not long after, she received a thank you letter from the President Kennedy. Moved by the unexpected letter, she sent the president a set of traditional Japanese hina dolls to express her gratitude.

The Cherry Blossoms Blooming Friendship Between Japan and the United States

The cherry trees along the banks of the Potomac, blooming every year in late March and early April, are emblematic of spring in Washington DC. The roughly 4,000 trees are a treasure enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, which dates back to 1927, now attracts over 1.5 million people every year. 

Japanese Prime Ministers Who Have Delivered an Address at the United States Congress

The United States is a country of freedom and democracy. The first Japanese prime minister to deliver an address at the United States Congress was Shigeru Yoshida in 1954, more than 60 years ago. Later, Prime Ministers Nobusuke Kishi and Hayato Ikeda also delivered an address at the United States Congress. They all helped to strengthen the alliance between Japan and the United States and contributed to peace and prosperity in both countries and around the world.

Moments of Prime Minister Abe in Spring 2015

Prime Minister Abe attended the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan. During the conference he engaged in talks with world leaders and other notable figures (March 2015).

JFK’s Three Legacies and Japan

Excerpts from the Address by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Delivered in Tokyo, March 18, 2015

At “The Torch Has Been Passed: JFK’s Legacy Today,” a Symposium Jointly Organized by Waseda University and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation

Coastal Cleanup by People Who Are Embracing the Sea: Tackling Trash Washed Ashore on the Coast of Japan

To Change the Sea’s Name or to Protect Sea from Debris?

In a small coastal town on the Sea of Japan, a group of people is working diligently to keep the beaches clean. We followed the cleanup efforts led by a woman in the Hokuriku region.

Japanese People Contributing Worldwide

Mother and Child-Friendly Advanced Medical Care

In Miami, Florida, in the United States, a Japanese woman is dedicated to prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease. 

Japanese People Contributing Worldwide

Helping to Expand Indonesia’s Sewerage Network

Against a backdrop of steady economic growth of five to six percent per year, Indonesia’s cities continue to expand.

Japan’s Regional Strength

Okayama Prefecture has developed as a transport hub for western Japan and has fostered the growth of a range of industries and economic and cultural activities.

So Much to See and Do! Japan’s Regional Areas

Dignitaries from Overseas Visiting Various Places throughout Japan

Japan comprises a long string of islands stretching north to south, located in a temperate zone. Its climate and landscape vary greatly from region to region, and each town and village has unique charms.

Innovative Vehicle That Runs on Next-Generation Energy

The first mass-produced Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV)

The world’s first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle (FCV) went on sale in December 2014. It runs on hydrogen, takes only three minutes to refuel, and has a cruising range of 650 km (404 miles).

Tomodachi

友達 tomodachi
With this issue we celebrate one year of We Are Tomodachi, the official magazine of the Japanese government. 

Heralding the Spring

Cherry Blossoms (sakura ): Hirosaki Castle, Aomori Prefecture

The cherry blossom is the flower most representative of Japan, heralding the arrival of spring.

Friends of Japan
Tradition Meets Modernity—
the Japanese Way of Living and Working

My first encounter with a Japanese approach to business was in 1995 in Silicon Valley, California.

The JET Programme:
A Great Way to Experience Japan
Finding Shared Values and Building Lifelong Friendships

My interest in Japan grew after my freshman year at university in 1981 after I read a book called Japan as Number One, by Ezra Vogel.
 
 
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