U.S. Navy admiral of the Japanese people first.

" Nice to meet you . Hello "
The beginning of the press conference was held at a hotel in Tokyo on the 18th . I came out with the Japanese in the somewhat awkward feeling . After taking office in Pacific Fleet commander on the 16th last month , Conference for the first time with the foreign media was held in Japan that he was born . He is a U.S. Navy admiral of the Japanese people first .
My father in the military of the U.S. Navy who served also in World War II , the Japanese mother of Kobe from . I moved to the United States in 1958 and grew up in southern Tennessee , Florida in both state .
Some of the grandfather and father of playmate , some people who fought with the Imperial Japanese Army in the war . You do not speak much Japanese as well , " mother that tried to adapt to the environment my son , because he did not teach the Japanese " and . It must have been difficult environment in the boy , but look back to be " surmounted thanks to the mother " .
Values ​​that are taught from a young age to his mother " law (duty) " . Speak "It was very heavy concept children of 6 and 7 -year-old to understand " . Sometimes my father was a soldier , it was decided that wearing a posture that "Of course people to serve when the nation needs " that , with the aim of Navy in high school .
Such as African- Americans and Hispanics have been appointed to the main post of the United States Armed Forces . " Diversity is strong in the United States . Want you to know even hostile nations potential , even in friendly countries this point " . Occasionally , hail-fellow-well-met expression floats .
The writings of American women who aim is married to a Japanese diplomat in large pre-war , to become a bridge of peace in Japan and the U.S. favorite book , " Bridge Over Troubled Water Sun ( Dai ) " . Strong feelings of not to repeat the tragedy has been transmitted .
I think I want you to do my best as a bridge for the future of Japan and the United States .



「こんにちは。はじめまして」
　１８日に都内のホテルで行われた記者会見の冒頭。ややぎこちない感じで日本語を口にした。先月１６日に太平洋艦隊司令官に就任後、海外メディアとの初めての会見は自分が生まれた日本で行われた。日系人初の米海軍大将でもある。
　父は第二次世界大戦にも従軍した米海軍の軍人で、母は神戸市出身の日本人。１９５８年に米国に移り、南部テネシー、フロリダ両州で育った。
　遊び相手の父親や祖父の中には、大戦で旧日本軍と戦った人もいた。日本語をあまり話せないのも、「息子を環境になじませようとした母が、日本語を教えなかったからだ」という。少年には難しい環境だったに違いないが、「母のおかげで乗り越えられた」と振り返る。
　その母に幼少の頃から教えこまれた価値観は「義理（ｄｕｔｙ）」。「６、７歳の子供が理解するにはとても重い概念だった」と話す。父が軍人だったこともあり、「国民は国家が必要とするときに奉仕する」ことを当然とする姿勢を身につけ、高校時代に海軍を目指すことを決意した。
　米軍の主要ポストにはヒスパニック系やアフリカ系米国人などが就任してきた。「多様性が米国を強くする。この点を潜在的な敵対国にも、友好国にも分かってもらいたい」。時折、人懐こい表情が浮かぶ。
　好きな本は、大戦前に日本人外交官と結婚し、日米の平和の懸け橋になることを目指した米国人女性の著作「太陽にかける橋（邦題）」。悲劇を繰り返さないとの強い思いが伝わってきた。
日米の未来の架け橋としてがんばっていただきたいと思います。