CSGJ Previews G7 Summit Issues

This morning, The Congressional Study Group on Japan convened an off-the-record roundtable to preview the G7 Summit, hosted next week in Japan. 

The discussion was moderated by Ms. Yuki Tatsumi of Stimson Center, and was joined by Members of Congress, senior staff, State Department officials, and representatives of the Japanese Embassy.

Hosted by our Congressional co-chairs, the breakfast offered a platform of reflection for Members who visited Japan in February through our 3rd Annual Member Delegation, and was particularly timely for Chiefs of Staff, who will travel to Okinawa and Tokyo later this month on our 3rd Annual Senior Congressional Staff Study Tour.

Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly delegation visits CSGJ on Capitol Hill

On May 10th, just a few hours after the White House confirmed the President's visit to Hiroshima later this month, The Congressional Study Group on Japan was joined by the delegation of Hiroshima Prefectrual Assembly for a discussion with a dozen senior Congressional staff.

The participants -- including two hibakusha (被爆者), survivors -- exchanged their views on how the presidential visit to Hiroshima would be received in both countries and may impact the bilateral relations. 

The Congressional Study Group on Japan visited Hiroshima twice in 2015 during our annual Congressional Member Study Tour and our Senior Congressional Staff Study Tour.
 

This isn’t Ambassador Schuwer’s first assignment in the United States. In the 1980’s Schuwer was stationed in Los Angeles at the Consulate General. Schuwer admits L.A. has all the trappings of a wonderful city, with the added bonus of nice weather.

However, D.C. may be more similar to his homeland than L.A. D.C. is home to politics, civil servants, think thanks and lobbyists, while LA has Hollywood and the film industry. 

Despite having lived on both coasts of the U.S., Schuwer is mindful of what lies between them. The United States is a large country with a diverse citizenry. “If you want to know who next U.S. president will be, you cannot stay within the beltway.”