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Glass and silk butterflies added to the decor and ribeye steaks were slathered with blistered shishito butter as President Joe Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife to a celebratory dinner at the White House on Wednesday.
State banquets are often seen as an attractive tool in the arsenal of diplomacy, a charm offensive launched against allies and even adversaries desiring greater partnership.
Preparations for the meeting had been underway for some time. A week before the guests arrived, a large, unmissable banner depicting the flags of both Japan and the United States was hung on the Eisenhower Executive Office Building., Located next to the west building. On Tuesday, First Lady Jill Biden previewed a menu and decorations that will transform the State Capitol into a “vibrant spring garden” celebrating the “thriving friendship” between the two countries.
What were the decorations for the state dinner?
In keeping with the spring garden theme, guests were seated in a flower garden, with glass and silk butterflies from both countries “dancing on the tables,” the first lady said.
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“Their graceful flight reminds us that as our nation weathers the winds of change, we do so together as partners in peace and prosperity,” she said.
After dinner, guests entered Cross Hall, a wide hallway on the first floor of the White House, and found themselves surrounded by purple, pink and blue hydrangeas, which are native to Japan and the United States. Some grow up to 6 feet tall. Floor coverings depicting carp, a symbol of friendship, peace, good luck and patience, completed the look.
What was on the state dinner menu?
A three-course meal featuring Japanese-American fusion cuisine.
White House Executive Chef Chris Comerford said during a preview that the first course was the inspiration for the American California Roll, served with house-cured salmon and avocado, red grapefruit, watermelon radish and cucumber.
Guests were served main courses of dry-aged ribeye steak with shishito pepper butter, fava beans, morel mushrooms, cipollini fricassee, and sesame oil sabayon.
For dessert, guests were offered salted caramel pistachio cake, matcha ganache, cherry ice cream, and raspberry drizzle.
The dinner was served on china purchased by the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson, while Grammy Award-winning singer Paul Simon performed for the guests.
Who were some of the famous guests at the state dinner?
Among the guests at the soirée were former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actor Robert De Niro, Amazon founders Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, Olympic champion figure skater Christy Yamaguchi, and Apple. CEO Tim Cook, JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon, and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors attended. Chairman Jerome Powell.
Gift to Japan’s Prime Minister and Mrs.
As an official gift, the president and his wife presented the Japanese prime minister with a three-legged table handmade by a Japanese-American business in Pennsylvania. The 17-inch table is crafted from American black walnut, one of the most precious woods native to North America, and includes a plaque commemorating the official visit.
Biden also gave a custom framed lithograph and a two-volume LP set, both signed by music artist Billy Joel.
Kishida said Wednesday that after gifting 3,000 cherry trees more than 100 years ago to Washington, D.C., which symbolizes spring blooming, Japan will gift another 250 cherry trees to the United States, including those around Washington’s Tidal Basin. He said it would be planted in
The gift commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which the United States will celebrate in 2026.
“And just like our friendship, these trees are timeless, inspiring and thriving,” President Biden said.
Mr. Kishida, who gave a toast at the dinner, said, “We are now at a turning point in history, and by stepping onto new frontiers, we will take the unshakeable Japan-U.S. relationship to even greater heights and pass it on to the next generation.” I’m going,” he said.
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is USA TODAY’s White House correspondent. You can follow her at X (formerly Twitter) @SwapnaVenugopal.
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