Jay Rockefeller: “as someone who has had a tremendous interest in Japan throughout my life, I have gained a great deal by maintaining…”

“as someone who has had a tremendous interest in Japan throughout my life, I have gained a great deal by maintaining direct and meaningful contact with Japan as a country, a people and a fascinating culture since my days as a student there in the 1950s. And although it is tested constantly, I truly believe the relationship between Japan and the United States continues to be strong. It is a relationship based on shared interests in democracy and the market economy, as well as mutual respect and fundamental friendship. It is from that perspective--as a friend of the Japanese people--that I feel it is so important to introduce this resolution today with my esteemed colleagues. It was not very long ago that Americans were up in arms about the trade deficit and Japan in particular--blaming the Japanese and other foreign countries bitterly for plant closings, job losses and our long list of economic ills. It was a very difficult time for our relationship with Japan, and a very difficult time for America as we struggled to get our own economic house in order.”