Caroline Kennedy, the only daughter of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy, arrived in Tokyo on Friday as the United States' new ambassador to Japan and presented her credentials to Emperor Akihito on Tuesday. The appointment of a member of America's most famous political family to this post shows that U.S. President Barack Obama attaches strong importance to Japan-U.S. ties. We hope that the new ambassador will serve as a firm bridge between the two countries and help strengthen mutual understanding at a time when the two countries face a host of sensitive issues such as chilly Japan-China and Japan-South Korea relations, Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks and a plan to move the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Ginowan City to Henoko on Okinawa Island.
In a historical coincidence, Caroline Kennedy started her new job just a few days before the 50th anniversary of the Nov. 22, 1963, assassination of her father. President Kennedy is still popular with the Japanese public and many Japanese remember her image as a cherubic five year old during that tragic time.
Upon her arrival at Narita airport, she said that Obama "is a great admirer of Japan" and went on to say, "I am also proud to carry forward my father's legacy of public service. He had hoped to be the first United States president to visit Japan. So it is a special honor for me to be able to work to strengthen the close ties between our two great countries." President Kennedy wanted to visit Japan to bolster bilateral ties, which had been rattled by mass opposition to the renewal of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty in 1960.