OSAKA — John Roos, the lawyer President Barack Obama has picked as next U.S. ambassador to Japan, will likely emphasize closer public and private cooperation on developing clean and "green" technologies and take an interest in bilateral health care issues, U.S. sources close to him said Friday.
But while acknowledging the designated ambassador's wishes are likely to take a back seat to defense and regional security issues, especially given North Korea's recent actions, they also dismissed concerns over Roos' lack of Japan expertise.
The sources suggested such criticism was motivated partly by jealousy in certain quarters that Obama is appointing someone unknown rather than an established expert.