Snow as far as the eye could see from the Lincoln Memorial down to the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
(Photos courtesy of Rob Allison)
March 9 - Washington, D.C. was covered in snow and ice when I arrived for my consultations on U.S.-Japan relations. Backhoes loaded prodigious amounts of snow onto trucks for carting away. Snowplows worked furiously to clear the streets. They pushed the snow into huge piles 2 meters high between the road and sidewalk. It was very cold.
During my stay I met with a large variety of government officials and academics interested in Japan. These included representatives from the Departments of State and Defense, the White House and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. At night, I met with academics and people from think tanks for intense discussions on Japan and U.S.-Japan relations. They asked many questions about the status of our relationship, about the new government and about prospects for our global partnership.
Even police cars struggled to get through the snow.
The snow created many headaches for home owners, including falling branches snapped off the trees.
Among the people I met were experts who monitor closely Japanese political and economic developments. Many others, however, while not experts on Japan, recognize the benefits to the United States of working closely with a like-minded friend and ally on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. They wanted to know how we can intensify our cooperation to resolve pressing global problems such as stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons, promoting global economic recovery, responding to natural disasters such as occurred in Haiti and Chile, and combating climate change.
In contrast to the cold, forbidding weather of Washington, D.C., my consultations indoors occurred in a warm and friendly atmosphere. I found my counterparts in Washington interested in Japan, eager to engage, and willing to continue working diligently to strengthen our bilateral partnership.
Until next time,
Jim
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