Trump to choose Hagerty as next U.S. ambassador to Japan

"He is not even a millionaire. For change, Trump chose a middle levelsalaryman background man."

toshiko: Middle level salaryman? He's a multimillionaire hedge fund founder and manager.

Seems about as well qualified as all Trump's other picks. No doubt there is something in this for the multimillionaire class in the US.

@toshiko, If Trump liked Japan, he would have chosen at least a millionaire. But Trump does not like Japan. He wanted to become a big player in the Japanese property market after the bubble, but nobody would pay attention to him. You know he has a very weak ego. I thought he would chose a gas station attendant.

His photo is great,. He looks like he will fit right in here.

We shouldn't even be talking about a Trump pick for ambassador to Japan. The American people clearly and overwhelmingly chose Hillary and the Democrats to lead them, but the Electoral College gave the election to The Chump. What a messed up system.

"Shouldn't be" is irrelevant. That's an ideal. The reality is that Trump won, and that a new ambassador is coming. Time to deal with that.

many? 4 at most I would say.

It does not matter. There is very little to do for any US ambassador to Japan (or Japanese ambassador to US). The relationship between the two countries is already as good as one can expect.

Meh, ambassadorships don't usually decide policy between two nations. I'm all for scrutinizing Trump appointments for Trumpian-style corruption, but ambassadors are really just standard-level corruption: a cushy job for someone who helped you out. They just don't really matter that much.

TBH, an ambassador with a business background doesn't seem like a bad choice, especially seeing as it looks as though there will be changes to the business and trade relationship between the 2 countries, however it would have been better to choose a woman as ambassador to Japan as well

Bye bye to Carolyn who is expert in Kokura Hyakunin Isshu Japanese cards game. Hope Hagaty is practicing chopstick eating Japanese style now. Many years he will be stuck in Japan

Aw, what happened to Trump family friend Bobby Valentine? Turned it down or not offered the job?

As stated above, William Hagerty is no stranger to Japan. The article says he spent three years in Japan with the Boston Consulting Group management consultancy. And according to other reports, he has close ties to Trump ... so perhaps he can have a direct line of communication with Trump. Let's see what he can do here.

One thing for sure, he will have a hard time topping America's present ambassador here, Caroline Kennedy. She did a great job ... and was here, there and everywhere throughout the country and even in the U.S. when duties called for her to be present.

No age was given for Hagerty in the above story ... but if he is as young as he looks in the photo, perhaps he will have as much or more energy than Ambassador Kennedy did.

DTS

Donald Trump sucks???

"Many years he will be stuck in Japan" ... "many? 4 at most I would say."

Hey, if Trump wants the guy to remain in his post for the full 8 years, probably he'll remain in his post for the full 8 years.

Heck, the Ministry of Economics,Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Finance will be pleased with Trump's choice here.

Four years in Japan is many years for Americans. Carolina kept busy visiting and communicating Japanese. Haggerty might do same as he knows how to sit Japanese way at meeting. Republican neighbor said he knows how to eat sushi with his two fingers.

@Chales: I live in Japan and Nevada USA. Where do you live?

He is not even a millionaire. For change, Trump chose a middle levelsalaryman background man.

@gokai: Trump hate JapaSo what.n?

Toshiko -

How did you come with up with this statement? - " He is not even a millionaire. For change, Trump chose a middle level salaryman background man...."

Couldn't be more wrong on more counts.

But on saying that - we will have to wait and see if he is "productive" for US - Japan relations. He certainly has the economic / law / business / leadership background which would hold him in good stead, but an ambassador is more than just credentials.

The first 6 months will tell a lot.

We shouldn't even be talking about a Trump pick for ambassador to Japan. The American people clearly and overwhelmingly chose Hillary and the Democrats to lead them, but the Electoral College gave the election to The Chump. What a messed up system.

There are more republican lawmakers that confirmation of he may be shoo In.

At least he has lived here.

Some people go to Japan for a week and say they know everything about japan.I lived Okinawa and main land Japan for 12 years and been married to an Okinawan woman over 44 years still a lot I don't known about Japan

A far cry from Edwin Reischauer...

@tomorrow: many people know Japan without marrying an Okinawa for 44 years. You think you know Japan because you lived in Japan for twelve years t but there are many peope who study Japan and know Japan.

Couldn't the US run Japanese diplomacy from China, thereby scrapping the cost for one whole embassy and its employees?

I mean most international corporations slowly but surely do it (run Japanese ops through their Chinese HQs), why not the US?

A far cry from Edwin Reischauer...

Wow, I can just imagine the smart retort had Trump picked the progeny of an old political dynasty with no real experience in government, business, or who had barely ever set foot in Japan before being appointment ambassador.

Yes far better choice than Caroline.

He spent three years in Japan with the Boston Consulting Group management consultancy

WOW! 3 whole years?? He must be an expert on Japan..

So much for change... Another "yes-man" for the status quo.

Anything better to the deep bowing, apologetic, and remorse driven Caroline Kennedy.

My guess is he knows Tokyo accented Japanese and excellent in Math such as statistical analysis and he was employed to the Boston group. Don't know his schooling but can't be uneducated to be employed in this Boston group