Congressman Tom Suozzi: “Prime Minister of Japan Proves Queens to Be One of the World’s Most Diverse Spots

Washington, DC - Today, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed a Joint Session of Congress. Congressman Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) attended and invited Queens resident and former Japanese language instructor at the Long Island Japanese Culture Center in Roslyn Heights, Geoffrey Shibahara, as his guest. PM Kishida shocked the entire chamber when he told us he spent his early childhood in Queens!

“As global threats continue to endanger peace and prosperity, the relationship between the U.S. and Japan is as important as ever. The U.S.-Japan relationship is built on the strength of decades of cooperation and has proven to be a force for good,” said Suozzi. “Prime Minister Kishida gave a warm, funny, visionary speech with a firm commitment to our alliance.”

But here’s where it gets interesting:

Unbeknownst to many, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also has a strong connection to Queens, NY. In the early 1960s, Kishida’s father, a government trade official, was appointed to a post in New York and he moved his family to Queens. Then six-year-old Fumio Kishida attended P.S. 13, a public school in Queens. Wow!

In his address, Prime Minister Kishida reminisced about his years in Queens including rooting for the Mets and the Yankees and enjoying hot dogs in Coney Island. “After 60 years, I have a message for the good people of Queens. Thank you for making my family and me feel so welcome. I have never forgotten it,” Kishida added.

Prime Minister Kishida is only the second Japanese prime minister to have the honor of addressing both Houses of Congress; the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered the first historic address in 2015, 70 years after the end of World War II.

In his speech, Kishida said, “As we meet here today, I detect an undercurrent of self-doubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be.”

He reminded the legislators of the leading role the U.S. has played globally since World War II. “When necessary, it made noble sacrifices to fulfill its commitment to a better world,” Kishida said of the U.S.

"I want to address those Americans who feel the loneliness and exhaustion of being the country that has upheld the international order," Kishida said. “The leadership of the United States is indispensable. Without U.S. support, how long before the hopes of Ukraine would collapse under the onslaught from Moscow? Without the presence of the United States, how long before the Indo-Pacific would face even harsher realities?"

The Prime Minister also offered reassurances that Japan is also committed to global security and human rights. He said that since recovering from the “devastation of World War II,” Japan has transformed from a reticent ally to a strong partner “standing shoulder-to-shoulder” with the U.S.

Suozzi’s guest for the address, Kenta Geoffrey Shibahara, is a Queen’s resident of Flushing, and was raised in Nassau County. Shibahara embarked on a diverse professional journey marked by a commitment to cultural enrichment and financial expertise. Shibahara followed his passion for Japanese language and culture and started his career as a Japanese language instructor at the Long Island Japanese Culture Center in Roslyn Heights. Shibahara helped transform the center into a thriving hub for cultural exchange and education.

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