Why Caroline Kennedy is likely to get a warm welcome in Japan (+video)

The Kennedy name is well known in Japan. Ms. Kennedy would be the first female ambassador to the close US ally if her likely appointment is approved.

Despite a lack of experience in foreign policy, or any other kind of politics, Caroline Kennedy looks set to receive a warm reception in Japan if her appointment as the next US ambassador to the country is confirmed.

The name of America’s premier political clan is well known in Japan and analysts believe she will bathe in the reflected glory of her father, former President John F. Kennedy.  

“This will be welcomed by the Japanese people. The fact that she is the daughter of J.F.K., who is fondly remembered in Japan, will give her a very positive image,” says Takashi Koyama, a foreign-policy specialist at Akita International University. 

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Although there are serious issues to be dealt with, from opposition to the presence of American bases onOkinawa to strained relations with an increasingly assertive China to an unpredictable North Korea, the real day-to-day work will mostly be handled behind the scenes by career diplomats on both sides.