Repost: It took nearly three hours to translate and analyze Prime Minister Kishida's speech at the U.S. Congress.

As the first Japanese prime minister to address the U.S. Congress in nine years since Abe, Kishida faces more severe challenges and more complex objectives:

1. The U.S. doesn’t know him well enough.

2. Japan is undergoing its most significant changes in 30 years.

3. Japan needs to break more shackles and secure more resources.

4. The U.S. is also in a turbulent period, with a presidential election this year.

5. Japan needs both long-term stability and mutual trust with the U.S. while seeking breakthroughs.

6. He must satisfy both American and Japanese politicians.

So, Kishida and his team structured the speech as follows:

1. Opening hook: "I’ve never received so much applause in the Japanese Diet."

(Politicians in the room shared a knowing laugh and applause.)

2. "You may not know me, but I spent my first three years of elementary school in Queens, New York—eating hot dogs, cheering for the Yankees, and remembering the American cartoons our generation grew up with."

3. "Before getting to business, as America’s old friend, isn’t your 250th anniversary coming up? We’re gifting 250 cherry trees as a symbol of friendship."

(What are you waiting for? Stand up and applaud!)

4. "Let’s revisit America’s core values: safeguarding individual freedom. We all agree on that, right?"

5. "But I’ve heard some Americans questioning their global role."

(Huh? This Japanese guy gets us?)

6. "Friends, your self-doubt often arises at historical turning points." (Shifting America’s concerns to Japan’s key message.)

7. "Yes, this is a turning point. Let me emphasize: the situation is fluid, and America is stretched thin."

8. "The world needs America, but America is tired. Some feel the burden is too heavy."

9. "But can you drop it? No. Without America, wouldn’t Ukraine have fallen to Moscow?"

(What are you waiting for? Stand up and applaud!)

10. "If the burden can’t be dropped, friends must step up. Who? Your old ally, Japan."

11. "Our values align, and our interests don’t clash. You are not alone; we are with you."

12. "But Japan helping comes with conditions. We were a low-profile nation crippled after WWII. Now, we must grow stronger."

13. "We’re increasing defense spending, supporting Ukraine, partnering with NATO, and strengthening ties with U.S. allies."

14. "So, you in Congress wouldn’t oppose our efforts in the Pacific, right?"

(What are you waiting for? Stand up and applaud!)

15. "Wait, I’m not just here for global issues. Let’s talk domestic U.S. problems."

(Oh?)

16. "Japan is America’s top direct investor—$800 billion, creating 1 million high-quality jobs." (Translation: No matter who’s next president, even the "America First" guy, don’t mess with us.)

(What are you waiting for? Stand up and applaud!)

17. "Speaking of the next president, let’s talk about the current one. President Biden and I announced yesterday that we’ll send Japanese to the moon. Here today are a Japanese astronaut and a Japanese-American astronaut." (Translation: We announced it yesterday, progress today—that’s our efficiency and reliability.)

……