Exclusive: First Lady Biden Receives State-Level Welcome in Japan During Private Trip

▲ Dr. Jill Biden

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Dr. Jill Biden, who embarked on her first solo overseas trip since becoming First Lady, is receiving a 'state guest-level' welcome in Japan.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun on the 23rd, the Japanese government is giving Dr. Biden, who arrived in Japan the previous afternoon to attend the Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony held that evening, an extraordinary reception at the 'state guest' level, which is higher than that for other heads of state.

It is pointed out that the Japanese government is emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance by showing generous hospitality to Dr. Biden on behalf of President Joe Biden.

This is the first time Dr. Biden has visited a foreign country alone since becoming First Lady with President Biden's inauguration in January this year, and Japan is the first country she has visited solo.

The Japanese government sent Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, who had just returned from a tour of Central American and Caribbean countries, to welcome Dr. Biden upon her arrival at Yokota U.S. Air Base in Tokyo the previous afternoon via a private plane.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide scheduled a dinner with Dr. Biden as the last meeting of the day on the 22nd with foreign dignitaries at the summit level.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Prime Minister Suga met in the 'Hiroma' (large hall) of the State Guest House in Motoakasaka, Tokyo, with high-level officials visiting Japan, including Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, Vice President of South Sudan; Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); and Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, Prime Minister of Mongolia.

However, it is said that the place where Prime Minister Suga welcomed Dr. Biden was not the Hiroma in the State Guest House but a Japanese-style annex.

This annex, which features a pond with swimming koi carp, was the location where then-Prime Minister Abe Shinzo hosted former U.S. President Donald Trump for lunch during his first visit to Japan in 2017.

Mrs. Mariko Suga, the wife of Prime Minister Suga, also attended the dinner with Dr. Biden and the Prime Minister.

Dr. Biden is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Emperor Naruhito on the afternoon of the 23rd, attend the opening ceremony in the evening, and return home on the 24th.