On April 30, JCIE co-hosted a reception at the US Capitol in honor of visiting leaders from the Diet together with other organizations that are currently operating or funding US-Japan legislative exchanges. The event was attended by 180 people, including a dozen members of Congress, many of whom are alumni of JCIE’s political exchange programs. The reception also welcomed more than 20 Diet members, and a parliamentarian from Korea as the special guests of honor. Six of the guests of honor were traveling with JCIE’s 27th Diet Delegation.
The opening remarks were offered by Mrs. Heather Foley, wife of the late House Speaker Tom Foley, one of the godfathers of JCIE’s Parliamentary Exchange Program. Remarks were also offered by two PEP alumni, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR). They were followed by Hon. Shigeru Ishiba, Secretary General of the LDP, and Amb. Kenichiro Sasae, who offered a toast. The speakers recalled the critical role that JCIE’s late founder, Tadashi Yamamoto, played in the development of US-Japan political exchange and how important it is today to carry on that legacy.
Opening Remarks:
Heather Foley
Welcome Remarks:
- Hon. Greg Walden, Member, US House of Representatives
- Hon. Mazie Hirono, Member, US Senate
Response:
- Hon. Shigeru Ishiba, Member, House of Representatives; Secretary General, Liberal Democratic Party
Toast:
- H.E. Kenichiro Sasae, Ambassador of Japan to the United States
Guests of Honor
- Hon. Kenzo Fujisue, Member, House of Councillors
- Hon. Tatsuo Fukuda, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Motohisa Furukawa, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Takuya Hirai, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Kuniko Inoguchi, Member, House of Councillors
- Hon. Shigeru Ishiba, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Tatsuya Ito, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Naoki Kazama, Member, House of Councillors
- Hon. Shuhei Kishimoto, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Kenji Kosaka, Member, House of Councillors
- Hon. Masaharu Nakagawa, Member, House of Councillors
- Hon. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Senior Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office of Japan; Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Mitsunari Okamoto, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Keitaro Ono, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Keizo Takemi Member, House of Councillors
- Hon. Naokazu Takemoto, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Yuichiro Tamaki, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Kiyohiko Toyama, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Mayuko Toyota, Member, House of Representatives
- Hon. Kozo Yamamoto, Member, House of Representatives
Special Guest
- Hon. Soon-ok Chun, Member, National Assembly of Korea
JCIE thanks its co-sponsor, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, and the cooperating organizations, Japan-US Friendship Commission, US CULCON, the US-Japan Council, and George Washington University’s US–Japan–South Korea Legislative Exchange Program.
