Tuesday, June 2, 2009
at Hotel Okura
It gives me so much pleasure to be invited here today to this commemorative luncheon celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the Japan-America Women's Club. In Japan, the age of sixty is called kanreki, when a person is considered to have come full cycle. I can tell that you know everything about it as I see a lot of red in the room today.
On this very special occasion, I would like to offer my warmest wishes to all the members of the Japan-America Women's Club for having completed your first full cycle. As you now take a new step into the future, I hope you will continue, as you have always done, your good work of fostering friendship between our two countries.
Please join me in a toast. To the Japan-America Women's Club.