Informal Dinner between Prime Minister Kishida, Mrs. Kishida, President Biden and Dr. Biden (Summary)

On April 9th, commencing at 6:10 p.m. (local time, 7:10 a.m. on April 10th, Japan time) for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan and Mrs. KISHIDA Yuko, the spouse of the Prime Minister of Japan, during their official visit to Washington D.C., visited the White House and attended an informal dinner with President Biden and Dr. Biden upon invitation.

Prime Minister & Mrs. Kishida and President & Dr. Biden held intimate exchanges with each other in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with Prime Minister & Mrs. Kishida receiving a guide of the White House from President & Dr. Biden. They also visited the cherry blossom tree planted by Mrs. Kishida and Dr. Biden, and Prime Minister & Mrs. Kishida presented a cherry blossom sapling from Japan.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Kishida also presented President Biden Wajima-Nuri coffee cup and pen, coffee beans from Okinawa and Japanese toys. Prime Minister Kishida, introducing the characteristics of Wajima-Nuri, explained that the Wajima-Nuri items were made for the occasion of this official visit with special care with over 100 processes by the young craftsman of Wajima-Nuri, which are the traditional crafts of Noto, the area damaged by the earthquake. Mrs. Kishida also presented Dr. Biden Takaoka copperware accessories.

Gifts were also presented from President & Dr. Biden to Prime Minister and Mrs. Kishida.

Prime Minister & Mrs. Kishida and President & Dr. Biden also took photos before a model of a pressurized lunar rover which is under joint development by JAXA and Toyota. The participants confirmed the expectations and importance of Japan’s contributions to the Artemis program.

Prime Minister & Mrs. Kishida and President & Dr. Biden left the White House together and held an informal dinner together in a restaurant in the city. Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden as well as Mrs. Kishida and Dr. Biden sat in the same vehicle along the way and deepened their relations. At the restaurant, They spoke about their memories together and deepened their friendship in a relaxed atmosphere, having a conversation on their family, hobbies and daily habits.