LDS missionaries tie Utah to Japan, ambassador says
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Relationships between Japan and the United States have been enhanced by the Church's missionary program, according to Japan's ambassador to the United States, Takakazu Kuriyama.
During an interview in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City on Sept. 12, Ambassador Kuriyama said: "Utah has a long history of relationship with Japan through the Church and its missionaries. Many missionaries have been to Japan and have been a source of ties of friendship between Japan and the United States."The ambassador's short visit - less than two days - to Utah included a visit with the First Presidency and other Church leaders, a lecture at BYU, and meetings with Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and business and civic leaders. He also visited one of Salt Lake City's high-tech firms and Park City.
The purpose of his visit, he said, was to reach out to Utah and emphasize the importance of the relationship between the state and Japan.
Recently, interest has been growing in developing economic, business and cultural relations between Utah and Japan, the ambassador said.
He spoke at the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies on the BYU campus. He said BYU is a well-known university and added: "I think many of the graduates have been to Japan through the missionary program. I'm also told that the university also has some strong interest in accepting more Japanese students as well."
The ambassador and his wife, Masako Kuriyama, arrived in Salt Lake City from Denver the morning of Sept. 11. They left for Albuquerque, N.M., the afternoon of Sept. 12.
Ambassador Kuriyama said he particularly enjoyed visiting Olympic facilities at Park City in light of the fact that his country will be hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics.
