On Thursday, May 6th, JASSW members met with Mayor Ed Murray for an informal lunch and discussion on Japan. The Mayor is preparing to visit Tokyo and Kobe, Seattle’s Sister City since 1957. Joined by the Mayor’s International Affairs Director Paul Neville and Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim, Mayor Murray asked the Japan-America Society to give perspective on current issues in Japan.
After introducing some of JASSW’s education and business programs, the floor opened up to a discussion on a variety of issues, including Japan’s economic and political climates, the country’s strong allure for Asian and European tourists, the start-up culture in Seattle vs. Japan, and the lack of childcare despite the rising number of working mothers. When JASSW member Shinichiro Kawazoe from Mitsubishi Corporation Americas brought up Prime Minister Abe’s struggles to resolve the childcare issue, Mayor Murray raised the topic of universal pre-K – a goal that Murray shares with President Obama and one he achieved recently. In 2014, Seattle voters approved the Mayor’s universal pre-K initiative. Other members agreed that though there are progressive examples of preschool education in Japan, universal pre-K could help ease the childcare problem.
Members also asserted that Seattle, Tokyo, and Kobe have strong bonds. On a more mundane level than the countries’ obvious economic and political ties, Starbucks can be found on any street corner and even pictures of Pike Place Market are popping up around Tokyo. Kobe’s landscape and economy strongly resemble Seattle’s; JASSW Chair Tay Yoshitani pointed out that the sister ports of Seattle and Kobe can collaborate and learn from each other. Mr. Yoshitani also commented that Seattle can learn a lot from Kobe in the field of disaster preparedness.
Last pieces of advice? Bring up the Mariners and, if pressed for a topic that all Japanese people can understand, the Mayor can at least talk about Sleepless in Seattle.
We are all extremely grateful that our busy Mayor and his staff took time to meet with us.
We also thank Russell Investments for providing a beautiful discussion space and Hurry Curry of Tokyo for providing deliciously authentic katsu curry.
