海角大神

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

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

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

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

鈥淚n this age of rapid communications, the real decisions are made at home anyway,鈥� suggests Jun Okumura, a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group. 鈥淭he ambassadors are largely symbols these days. What it does say is that there are no major problems in the聽Japan-US relationship; it鈥檚 still a safe appointment, like to聽Britain听辞谤听France.鈥�

While ambassadorships to such key聽US allies, with聽Japan聽near the top of the list, have always been something of a thank-you from administrations, the appointment of big election campaign contributors with minimal political experience has become the norm. Ms. Kennedy has no recognized knowledge of, or connection to, Japan.聽

鈥淭he present ambassador wasn鈥檛 a聽Japan聽specialist, either, but he鈥檚 done a tremendous job,鈥� says Professor Koyama, referring to John Roos, who has served since the summer of 2009 and was a聽Silicon Valley聽law firm chief executive officer and contributor to President Obama鈥檚 first election campaign.聽In August 2010, Mr. Roos became the first聽US ambassador to attend the peace memorial ceremony in聽Hiroshima.

The following year his star rose further still in Japan聽due to his work in the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident. He was instrumental in implementing Operation Tomodachi, meaning friend in Japanese, which saw large sections of US聽forces stationed in the country go to work in the disaster zones, conducting search-and-rescue missions, clearing rubble, and making vital supply deliveries, including in areas around the stricken Fukushima聽Daiichi Nuclear Plant. Roos himself visited a number of towns on the devastated northeast coast and was involved in fundraising for recovery projects.聽

Kennedy was an early and highly active supporter of Mr. Obama in his 2008 and 2012 campaigns.聽

She聽will be the first female US ambassador to a country (and in a region) where women are largely notable by their absence in higher political and diplomatic circles.

鈥淭he fact she鈥檚 a woman should be good for Japan, and that she hasn鈥檛 taken her spouse鈥檚 name, which isn鈥檛 allowed under Japanese law, could be interesting,鈥� says Mr. Okumura.聽Providing Kennedy鈥檚 appointment, which is as yet unconfirmed by the White House, is approved by the Senate, she would arrive in聽Tokyo聽to take up the post this summer.