WASHINGTON, DC Japan-America Society of Washington DC President Ryan Shaffer announces that The Honorable Rahm Emanuel, former US Ambassador to Japan, has agreed to serve in the role of Honorary Chairman of the Society. Ambassador Emanuel joins Senator Bill Hagerty and Ambassador John V. Roos in the role. Japan’s Ambassador Shigeo Yamada serves as the Society’s Honorary Patron.

 

Ambassador Emanuel commented, “The United States’ alliance with Japan will determine our future in East Asia. That is why, though my time as ambassador has ended, I remain committed to this important relationship. I am pleased to continue supporting Japan-America Society of Washington DC, and the important role that it plays in strengthening the people-to-people bonds that help the US-Japan relationship endure.”

 

Ambassador James P. Zumwalt, Chairman of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, remarked, “I am grateful to Ambassador Emanuel for his ongoing support of the Society. Ambassador Emanuel was a remarkably effective and dedicated emissary to Japan, and we are honored Ambassador Emanuel will continue to support our efforts to expand the people-to-people ties between our two nations that form the bedrock of our important relationship.”

 

Rahm Emanuel served from 2022 to January 2025 as United States ambassador to Japan. Ambassador Emanuel has served senior positions in the United States and local governments, including Mayor of Chicago, United States Representative from Illinois, and White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama.

 

About the Japan-America Society of Washington DC

The Japan-America Society of Washington DC is a non-partisan, non-profit organization based in the US capital of Washington, DC, which fosters the grassroots relationship between the United States and Japan as well as its citizens. The Society promotes this friendship through more than 70 annual programs and events from cultural activities such as the Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival, the nation’s largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture, to educational events such as the National Japan Bowl, an annual Japanese language competition.