As of today, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris (no relation to your author) were respectively elected as the 46th President and the 49th Vice-President of the United States. This was the end result of a tumultuous election season, bombarded by a record number of mail-in ballots, the Trump Administration’s blatant contempt for said mail-in ballots, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The victory is historic for multiple reasons. For one, Biden has received the most votes in US Election history, topping that of Obama’s in 2008. Even more notably, Senator Harris will be the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian person to serve as Vice President.
Upon hearing the news, top politicians from Japan, one of the United States’ major allies, sent their congratulations to the winning duo on their Twitter accounts. Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide of the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) tweeted the following earlier today on his Twitter:
ジョー・バイデン氏及びカマラ・ハリス氏に心よりお祝い申し上げます。日米同盟をさらに強固なものとするために,また,インド太平洋地域及び世界の平和,自由及び繁栄を確保するために,ともに取り組んでいくことを楽しみにしております。
–Suga Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan
Warm congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the Japan-US Alliance and ensure peace, freedom, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Reactions to his diplomatic gesture were mixed. It’s important to keep in mind that the LDP’s conservative politics are analogous to that of the US’ Republican Party, so the following responses do not come as too much of a surprise.
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Some of the comments–specifically on the Japanese version of his tweet–remind Suga that neither Biden nor Harris have taken office yet, implying that congratulations are premature:
“Suga, I know you’re being polite, but this is much too soon!” [crying emoji]
“Suga is no fool. He didn’t say anything about them ‘winning’ or being ‘elected’.”
“It’s not decided yet.” [attaches infographic of confirmation and inauguration process]
The left side of Japan’s political aisle sent their congratulations as well. Representative Edano Yukio, head of the newly-consolidated Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), had this to say on his Twitter:
バイデン氏が次期大統領として勝利宣言をされました。バイデン氏と、初の女性副大統領となるハリス氏に心からの祝意を表します。多様性を尊重すると共に、コロナ禍の中、国内外の融和を取戻す政治を展開されるよう祈念しています。気候危機や、東アジアを巡る課題など、共に議論を深めていきましょう。
Mr. Biden has emerged victorious as President-Elect. I would like to offer my most heartfelt congratulations to both him and Ms. Harris, the first female Vice President. With regards to diversity, I pray for political developments that lead to domestic and international harmony in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. I look forward to having further discussions on issues such as the climate crisis and additional issues surrounding East Asia.
–Representative Edano Yukio, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan
Reception towards Edano’s words were generally more receptive, seeing as how the CDP’s politics are analogous to the US’ Democratic Party, of which both Biden and Harris are members. Some also expressed that Edano would too, experience his own victory someday:
“Edano! Japan’s up next! Let’s take a leaf out of America’s book!“
“Seems like you guys see eye-to-eye when it comes to renewable energy.”
Biden and Harris are set to be inaugurated on January 20, 2021.