Visit to the United States by Mrs. KISHIDA Yuko, the Spouse of the Prime Minister: Fourth Day (Summary)
[Provisional translation]
On April 12, 2024 (local time), Mrs. KISHIDA Yuko, the spouse of the Prime Minister, who is visiting the State of North Carolina in the United States with Prime Minister Kishida, visited Chapel Hill High School and interacted with the high school students studying Japanese.
Mrs. Kishida then visited the Japanese Garden at Sarah P. Duke Gardens with Mrs. Kristin Cooper, First Lady of North Carolina, before attending a luncheon hosted by Governor Cooper and Mrs. Cooper of North Carolina with Prime Minister Kishida.
Next, Mrs. Kishida exchanged views with Japanese students at the Nagoya University Global Campus and with Japanese language learners at North Carolina Japan Center, respectively.
Afterwards, Mrs. Kishida visited the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences with First Lady Kristin Cooper, and lastly, together with Prime Minister Kishida, had dinner with Japanese nationals and others who are active in North Carolina.
1. Exchange with Local Japanese Language Teachers and High School Students Studying Japanese
Mrs. KISHIDA Yuko visited Chapel Hill High School. Mrs. Kishida observed a class taught by Ms. AOYAGI Yoshimi, a local Japanese language teacher, and interacted with the high school students studying Japanese. The students asked many questions in Japanese about Japan and Hiroshima, and Mrs. Kishida introduced the wonders of Japanese culture and the attractiveness of Hiroshima in a friendly exchange.
At the end of the event, Mrs. Kishida said, “I believe that by learning Japanese, you will be able to get firsthand information from Japan and expand exchanges and connections with Japan even further. I hope that you will continue your studies cheerfully, and that you will play an active role in the future.”
2. Visit to the Japanese Garden in Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Mrs. Kishida visited the Japanese Garden at Sarah P. Duke Gardens with Mrs. Kristin Cooper, First Lady of the State of North Carolina. They participated in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony hosted by Ms. SUEYOSHI Chizuko, a tea ceremony master who is dedicated to promoting Japanese culture, at a tea room in the Japanese Garden. Mrs. Kishida also exchanged views with and heard stories from the staff who maintain the Japanese Garden.
3. Luncheon meeting with Governor Roy Cooper and First Lady Kristin Cooper of the State of North Carolina
Mrs. Kishida, together with Prime Minister Kishida, attended a luncheon meeting with the Honorable Roy Cooper, Governor of the State of Carolina, and Mrs. Kristin Cooper, First Lady of the State of North Carolina, and exchanged views on deepening the friendly and cooperative relationship between Japan and the State of North Carolina.
4. Prime Minister Kishida and Mrs. Kishida’s Talks with Japanese Students Studying Abroad
Mrs. Kishida, together with Prime Minister Kishida, held talks with Japanese students studying abroad at Nagoya University Global Campus at North Carolina State University. Prime Minister Kishida and Mrs. Kishida were briefed by the participating Japanese students on their study abroad experiences and had an exchange of views.
5. Prime Minister Kishida and Mrs. Kishida’s Talks with Japanese Language Learners
Mrs. Kishida, together with Prime Minister Kishida, visited the North Carolina Japan Center at North Carolina State University. They received a briefing on the activities of the Center and held talks with university students in the State of North Carolina and adults who are studying Japanese at the Center. They then held talks with junior high school students from North Carolina who had visited Hiroshima Prefecture this March, and exchanged views on their experience in Hiroshima and Japan-U.S. youth exchanges.
6. Visit to North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Mrs. Kishida visited the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences with Mrs. Kristin Cooper, First Lady of the State of North Carolina. Mrs. Kishida received a briefing that "Miss Kagawa", a Japanese doll gifted by Japan, continued to be exhibited even during World War II as a wish for peace, and that some Americans became interested in Japan thanks to "Miss Kagawa". Mrs. Kishida expressed her pleasure that "Miss Kagawa," a symbol of Japan-U.S. friendship, has been carefully preserved.
7. Dinner between Prime Minister Kishida, Mrs. Kishida and individuals who have ties with Japan residing in the State of North Carolina
Mrs. Kishida, together with Prime Minister Kishida, had a dinner with individuals with ties to Japan (athletes, cultural figures, among others) who have ties with Japan residing in the State of North Carolina.
