July 29 - Today's guest blog is by Marc Jackson who formerly worked in the U.S. Embassy's Tokyo Administrative Section, and also on the State Department Japan desk. He currently serves in China but retains his love of Japanese culture. He writes about attending a Japan Society festival and visiting a Maritime Self Defense Forces ship while vacationing in San Diego.
Jim
U.S.-Japan "Marriage" Stays Strong
Cracking open the sake cask to kick off the Japan Society event
The tremendous sound of taiko drums impressed us all.
On June 23, the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana held its 9th annual Beer and Sake Festival in downtown San Diego. The festival raised money for exchange, education and cultural programs with Japan.
Among the 37 vendors participating in the festival were 12 restaurants, eight beer brewers, 10 sake brewers and a shochu maker. Over 800 participants enjoyed the superb food and drink. What struck me most was the seamless fusion of traditional Japanese cuisine with other American culinary traditions. I particularly enjoyed the braised pork tacos and the different (and often surprisingly spicy) variations of sushi offered to the guests. Both Japan and the United States have a reputation for adopting culture and knowledge from abroad, and this festival reminded me of the important contributions Japanese culture has made to the United States.
All in attendance were thrilled with the taiko drum performance by a local San Diego group, and we also enjoyed an excellent shamisen performance. Clearly Americans have a great passion and respect for Japan and Japanese culture, and this is coupled with an appreciation for Japan's importance as an American ally in Asia. The strength of the alliance was underscored by the attendance at the festival of 90 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force officers and cadets from the training vessel Asagiri and destroyer Mineyuki, which were making a port call in San Diego during a six-month training cruise.
My wife and I appreciate what an international relationship is really like.
Here I am with Japanese sailors aboard their ship.
The next night, my wife and I attended a reception hosted by Rear Admiral Otsuka Umio, Commander of the Japan Training Squadron, on board the two Japanese ships. We were so impressed with the diligence and intelligence of the young men and women serving on board. They were proud of their ships and served as excellent tour guides and hosts.
Rear Admiral Otsuka's superb welcoming speech - given to a large crowd that included U.S. naval admirals and other officers as well as local officials and the Japanese Consul General - compared the United States and Japan to a married couple. The Rear Admiral observed that while we have had differences at times, our fundamental view of the world, our shared values, and our mutual respect and affection have provided a strong bond. Rear Admiral Otsuka was especially pleased to introduce the American family who hosted him when he made his first cruise to San Diego as a cadet in 1984. Their attendance at the party underscored the vital importance of people-to-people exchanges to the continuity of our alliance.
I had a chance to chat with the Admiral for a few moments, and he was pleased to hear that I had once been a member of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program before joining the Department of State and serving tours in both Tokyo and Washington, D.C. to work on U.S.-Japan affairs.
My friend, who is head of the Japan Society in San Diego, was also on the JET Program, and the Admiral was delighted to meet our wives, both of whom are from Shimane Prefecture.
More than most on board that evening, we understood the Admiral's allusion to the U.S.-Japan "marriage" and the challenges and rewards that it represents.
- Marc Jackson
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