New US Ambassador Will Put Communication Powers To Use

Caroline Kennedy will be assuming the post of America’s new ambassador to Japan. It is hoped that the bonds between the U.S. and Japan will grow ever stronger.

Prior ambassadors have worked in several capacities — as important figures in the political world, practical diplomats and close friends to the president. None of these are applicable to Ms. Kennedy, who has few connections to foreign diplomacy and has never held public office. There are those who would call her abilities into question.

That said, as the eldest daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated, there is not a person in the U.S. who does not know of her. These sorts of connections are being incessantly reported on in the U.S. in a way that cannot even compare to previous ambassadors.

Dozens of U.S. media outlets came out to cover the acceptance reception at the Japanese ambassador’s residence in Washington. It was probably because this month marks a turning point, exactly 50 years since the Kennedy assassination, but she will have to use this advantage to be a good communicator.

Japan’s presence on the global stage, as felt by other countries, has declined as a result of a 20-year economic stagnation. Considering the unstable conditions in East Asia, a voice that can make an appeal for Japan, not only to President Obama, but also in the field of U.S. public opinion is quite valuable. It might be said that, for Japan, there is no better person for the job.

However, strong powers of communication can wield a double-edged sword. Ms. Kennedy has come to take part in activities for the advancement of the place of women in society. While the Abe administration is evasive on the problem of comfort women, she will probably deem the issue a violation of human rights without reservation.

Attempting to disentangle the problems of the past and pushing for an understanding of the value of Japan’s efforts in the establishment of things like the Asian Women’s Fund are of fundamental importance.

President Obama sent John Roos, the first ambassador to Japan in his administration, to attend memorial ceremonies at Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the first time. It was probably his intention to impress his deeply held belief in the importance of nuclear disarmament, as with his appointment of Ms. Kennedy, who visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum when she was 20 years old.

If the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, who was engaged in a life or death struggle with the Japanese military in the South Pacific 70 years ago, can become an intermediary for the two countries and if the current U.S. president visits the bombing sites, it could really open a new page in the history of Japan-U.S. relations. I am hoping that it really happens.