President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and wife Yuko Kishida to the White House on April 9, 2024 in Washington, DC.
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Dry aged rib eye steak, cherry blossoms and music Paul Simon More than 200 guests are expected to visit the luxurious White House state banquet Wednesday celebrates the relationship between the two countries United States and Japan.
luxurious state banquet A tool of American diplomacy, it is a high honor rarely awarded and only to America’s closest allies. For his part, President Joe Biden has chosen to celebrate the ally, which he sees as a cornerstone of his Indo-Pacific policy.
Biden and his wife Jill are hosting the prime minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko during an official visit to the United States this week. On Tuesday, the first lady described the “thriving” relationship between the United States and its Pacific partners as she hosted a media preview of the dinner, which included menus, décor and entertainment.
She said: “As technology erases the distance between us and we face challenges that cross borders and oceans, our two countries are partners in building a world where we choose creation over destruction, peace over Instead of bloodshed, choose democracy over dictatorship.”
A media preview shows the venue layout before Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida host a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., April 9, 2024.
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Kishida will become the fifth world leader after Biden to receive a state dinner France, South Korea, India and Australia.
More than 200 guests with ties to both countries will enjoy a first course of homemade salmon and a main course of dry-aged rib-eye steak with pepper butter, broad beans, mushrooms and onions. Dessert was salted caramel pistachio cake with matcha ganache and cherry ice cream.
first lesson
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida showed off the first course consisting of homemade salmon, avocado, red grapefruit, watermelon radish, and cucumber fritters during a media preview before the state banquet held at the White House. Washington, DC, April 9, 2024.
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main course
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida present a dish of dry-aged rib-eye steak, blistered shishito pepper butter, fava bean stew, morels and cipolini sesame oil sabayon during a media preview ahead of the state banquet. main course. , at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2024.
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dessert
Desserts of salted caramel pistachio cake, matcha ganache and cherry ice cream with raspberry drizzle are shown during a media preview ahead of a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko Kishida. April 9, 2024.
Drew Angler | AFP | Getty Images
Some of Jill Biden’s favorite flowers, including roses and peonies, were used along with imported cherry blossoms to decorate pink round and rectangular tables, with some floral centerpieces reaching 6 feet tall.
The tables will be set with a mix of venues representing the administrations of Presidents Lyndon Johnson and George W. Bush. Glass and silk butterflies will flutter on tables, and the state floor hallways will be arranged to give guests the feeling of walking on a koi pond.
After the dinner, Simon, who the White House said is one of the first lady’s favorite musicians, will perform a series of his signature songs. The White House said she chose the singer-songwriter as a special tribute to Kishida because Prime Minister Kishida was also an admirer of Simon’s work.
First Lady Jill Biden (L) arrives at the White House in Washington, DC, April 9, 2024, to speak during a media preview ahead of a state dinner hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko Kishida.
Drew Angler | AFP | Getty Images
Simon’s career spanned 60 years and included performing in a duo with childhood friend Art Garfunkel. The 82-year-old New Jersey native has won numerous honors, including numerous Grammy Awards and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Entertaining guests after dinner were the “President’s Own” Marine Corps Chamber Orchestra, Army Rolling Band and Air Force String Band.
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