From My First Flight to Japan to the Japanese Ambassador's Residence
Twenty-seven years ago, I boarded an airplane for the first time and headed to Japan. I could not have imagined that the journey would eventually bring me to the residence of Japan’s ambassador in Washington, D.C., speaking to hundreds of people about the U.S.-Japan relationship.
That moment arrived during Sister Cities International’s 70th Anniversary Homecoming welcome reception, graciously hosted by the Honorable Shigeo Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to the United States. Standing there, I was reminded that the most consequential experiences in our lives rarely announce themselves in advance. A first trip, a new relationship, or a decision to enter an unfamiliar culture can redirect an entire life.
My relationship with Japan has shaped how I understand hospitality, communication, and citizen diplomacy. Government relationships matter, but lasting international trust is also built by teachers, students, host families, volunteers, business leaders, and ordinary citizens who are willing to know one another. Those personal connections give formal partnerships their resilience and humanity.
This is the idea at the heart of “Finding Your 1993”: one experience can change the direction of a life. We cannot always predict which experience will become the turning point. We can choose, however, to remain curious, say yes to unfamiliar opportunities, and create meaningful experiences for others.
I am deeply grateful to Ambassador Yamada for welcoming the Sister Cities International community into his beautiful residence and for recognizing the enduring importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship.
Japanese hospitality at its finest. 心から感謝申し上げます。
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