Biden's Warm Welcome: A Diplomatic Affair with Japan's State Visit

President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden are set to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his wife, Kishida Yuko, to the White House on Wednesday. The visit will be a carefully planned official state visit that celebrates the close relationship between the United States and Japan, showcasing elements of both American and Japanese cultures such as the music of Paul Simon and beautiful cherry blossom branches.

During the visit, the White House will pull out all the stops to highlight the strong alliance between the two countries. President Biden has prioritized his Indo-Pacific strategy and efforts to counterbalance China as key components of his foreign policy agenda, even amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza that have dominated headlines during his first term.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met at the White House on January 13, 2023. Fumio visited Biden to strengthen the strategic relationship between the U.S. and Japan in the Indo-Pacific region as military tensions escalate.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America/Getty Images

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Biden's efforts to counter China's aggression were highlighted by visits from Japanese and Filipino leaders.

"We are excited about the strong bond between the United States and Japan," Jill Biden expressed during a media preview on Tuesday evening.

She emphasized the importance of our nations working together to promote creation over destruction, peace over bloodshed, and democracy over autocracy.

The Bidens hosted the prime minister and his wife at the White House on Tuesday evening for a relaxed dinner at BlackSalt, a local seafood restaurant. The official activities will begin on Wednesday morning with an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn, featuring a military review, national anthem performances, and speeches from both leaders. Following this, they will have bilateral meetings in the Oval Office and later hold a joint news conference in the afternoon.

In the evening, 230 guests are expected to attend a glamorous black-tie dinner. This event has been carefully organized over several weeks by the White House social team, the East Wing, the State Department, and event planner Bryan Rafanelli.

Jill Biden mentioned on Tuesday that every aspect of the dinner has been meticulously planned by a talented team of individuals from various government departments.

The first lady collaborated with White House executive chef Cris Comerford and executive pastry chef Susie Morrison to create Wednesday's menu, combining American and Japanese influences.

Guests will enjoy a vibrant first course inspired by a California roll, featuring house-cured salmon, avocados, grapefruit, watermelon radish, cucumber, and shiso leaf fritters.

For the main course, we have a delicious dry-aged ribeye steak served with shishito pepper butter and a fricassee of fava beans and morels.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, our pink and green dessert course will perfectly complement the color scheme. Enjoy a salted caramel pistachio cake, matcha ganache, and cherry ice cream topped with a raspberry drizzle.

The White House plans to offer wines from the Willamette Valley and Columbia Valley in the Pacific Northwest.

The first lady put a lot of thought into the décor for the evening, focusing on spring and a significant symbol of the US-Japan relationship: cherry blossoms.

Guests will enjoy their dining experience in the East Room “garden,” featuring a beautiful floral design with sweet peas, roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and cherry blossom branches. They will be seated on light pink velvet chairs, with tables covered in metallic pale green and white tablecloths decorated with florals, pink glassware, and china from the George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson collections. Custom place cards and menus created by the White House calligraphers’ office will add a personal touch to the dining experience.

The fan will play a significant role in the décor, symbolizing the beginning of life and the various paths our lives can take. Social secretary Carlos Elizondo explained that each pleat of the fan represents the different journeys we may embark on. The fan will also serve as a backdrop for the leaders' toasts during the event.

Guests strolling through the Cross Hall on their way to the State Dining Room for a post-dinner show will walk on a vinyl floor designed to look like a koi pond.

According to Elizondo, Paul Simon will be entertaining guests with "a variety of his famous songs" during the performance.

During Tuesday's official gift exchange, the Bidens showed their attention to diplomatic detail by presenting their counterparts with a three-legged black walnut table. This table was handmade by a Japanese American owned company in Pennsylvania and features a special plaque commemorating the visit.

In addition to the table, the president gifted the prime minister a custom framed lithograph and a two-volume LP set autographed by musician Billy Joel. He also included a vintage vinyl record collection. The first lady, on the other hand, gifted Kishida Yuko a painting of a cherry tree they planted together. She also gave an autographed soccer ball signed by the US Women's National Soccer Team and the Japanese Women's National Football Team before a SheBelieves Cup semifinal match last weekend.

Wednesday’s celebration will be the fifth state dinner hosted by the Biden administration. The White House has welcomed leaders from Australia, India, France, and South Korea for state visits in the past.

This report includes contributions from CNN’s Arlette Saenz, Kayla Tausche, and Sam Fossum.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the White House is a testament to the strong and enduring alliance between the United States and Japan. The visit will be a carefully orchestrated affair that showcases the close cultural ties between the two nations, with elements such as cherry blossom branches and the music of Paul Simon. The visit also underscores the Biden administration's commitment to strengthening its relationships with key allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

The visit comes amidst heightened tensions with China, and it is expected that the two leaders will discuss ways to counter China's growing influence. The United States has identified China as a major strategic competitor, and the Biden administration has made it a priority to counter China's efforts to expand its influence in the region. The visit of Prime Minister Kishida is an opportunity for the two leaders to reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.