Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
April 17, 2023

On April 17th (16th, local time), Mrs. KISHIDA Yuko, the spouse of the Prime Minister of Japan, visited Washington, D.C. at the invitation of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. She visited the Sakura Matsuri – Japan Street Festival and the National Museum of Asian Art.

1. Visit to Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival

Mrs. Kishida who visits Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival and receives an explanation from the organizer
A group photo of Mrs. Kishida, First Lady Dr. Biden, and the organizer in Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival
A commemorative photo of Mrs. Kishida and staffs in Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival
A commemorative photo of Mrs. Kishida and staffs in Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Kishida visited Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival which showcases Japanese culture. She received an explanation from the organizer while observing the bustling festival. The organizer of the festival, the Japan-America Society of Washington D.C., explained that the festival has a long history, with this year marking its 61st anniversary, and has provided an opportunity for many U.S. citizens to experience Japanese culture and society. Mrs. Kishida expressed her respect for the efforts of those involved in the Festival to promote understanding of Japan, and her hope that the encounters with Japan at the Festival will lead many people to develop a stronger interest in Japan.

At the booths of the Mansfield Training Program and the JET Program, the organizer of the festival explained that the participants of these programs have contributed to the friendship and goodwill between Japan and the U.S. in various ways after their participation in the programs. Mrs. Kishida expressed her hope that the programs will lead to further development of exchanges between the two countries.

Read the full press release here.

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. It fosters the grassroots relationship between the United States, Japan, and 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 celebration of Japanese culture, to educational events such as the National Japan Bowl, an annual Japanese language competition.