The Palaceside Building New Year gathering, where tenants and building staff deepen ties, was held on the 22nd at Josui Kaikan next door. About 100 attendees mingled and celebrated the New Year. Professor Mieko Nakabayashi of Waseda University (U.S. politics) spoke on “The Return of the Trump Administration: Its Impact and Challenges.” From the expected cabinet lineup she forecast that President Trump would prioritize economic measures, and she argued that Japan should emphasize its contribution as the largest investor in the United States.
The gathering began in 2013; this year was the 11th. In a two-part program of lecture and reception, Professor Nakabayashi said of President Trump, who took office on the 20th of this month: “He says what he thinks, and he is extreme. You never know what he will do. That unpredictability is his strength.”
At the reception that followed, guests exchanged cards and deepened friendships in a relaxed atmosphere.