The eight members of the 21st US delegation to Japan visited Tokyo, Hachioji, Nagoya, and Kyoto over the course of a two-week visit. In Tokyo, they received briefings from diplomats and economic analysts, met with 13 Diet members, and took part in a roundtable discussion with Diet policy staff on the operations of the Diet and their role in the policymaking process. Former US Speaker of the House and former US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Foley joined the group for a small luncheon, and current Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker and his wife, Senator Nancy Kassenbaum, hosted a reception for the delegation. The participants also spoke to an audience of over 100 opinion leaders as part of a panel discussion on “The Changing Political Dynamics in the United States as Seen in the Midterm Elections.”
In addition, the delegates met with members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly before traveling to nearby Hachioji for discussions with city leaders about Japan’s local government system. At the third destination, Nagoya, Representative Motohisa Furukawa arranged a home-stay program, and the group also visited a local school, toured a Toyota automotive plant, and received briefings at a Japanese Self-Defense Force base.
Participants
Delegation Leader: ANDREW KETCHINGS, Member, Mississippi House of Representatives (Republican)
VANESSA KRAEMER, Program Officer, American Council of Young Political Leaders (Democrat)
THOMAS McCARTHY, Member, City Council, Bridgeport, Connecticut (Democrat)
DAMON PORTER, Chief of Staff, Office of the Speaker of the House, State of Missouri (Democrat)
KASIM REED, Member, Georgia House of Representatives (Democrat)
JENNIFER COWEN, District Director, Office of Congressman Ed Royce, California (Republican)
HOWARD MILLS, Member, New York State Assembly (Republican)
ROBERT STIVERS, Member, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate (Republican)
