Rahm Emanuel to be appointed US ambassador to Japan

[brooklynite]

Source: Financial Times

Joe Biden has chosen Rahm Emanuel, a former congressman and Chicago mayor, to be US ambassador to Japan, according to eight people familiar with personnel discussions inside the White House.

The US president will name Emanuel, who was chief of staff to Barack Obama and has close ties to Biden, this month in a big package of ambassadorship nominations, several of the people said.

Foreign policy experts had expected Emanuel, 61, to be given a high-profile post. There was early speculation that he was being considered as the envoy to China but that job is expected to go to Nick Burns, a former top US diplomat.

Tokyo is one of Washington’s most important diplomatic postings, particularly as the US and Japan work together to tackle challenges from China. Highlighting the importance of their alliance, Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s prime minister was the first foreign leader to meet Biden at the White House.

Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/c4173360-03d9-4f22-8e0a-d4e1b311d004

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[reACTIONary]

1. I wonder if...

... He's learning how to say "fuck you" in Japanese .

(He is reputed to be less than diplomatic in his word choices at times.)

[onetexan]

2. LOL Rahm's not known for his patience, but for his ability to get things done

Guy's a good pick & im glad Biden's lured him back to federal service.

[HUAJIAO]

3. In that case I hope he knows or learns something about Japanese culture.

Being impatient and 'getting things done' in the Western way is NOT very compatible with Japanese culture and social interaction. Japanese are much more indirect...
Does he speak Japanese? Does he understand the difference in 'levels of politeness' in the language, let alone daily behavior?

[elleng]

4. Ditto

[nycbos]

8. When I studied abroad...

... I took a business class called "cross-cultural negotiation." It was about the challenges that business people have when they are from completely different cultures. One of the examples we use was the vast difference between the US and Japan. We are extremely informal and they are very formal. In our culture one of the rudest things you could do is waste someone's time. In Japan they want to take a lot of time to get to know you, and it's considered rude to use the word no in a business setting so you have to read between the lines.

So what's is polite in our culture is considered rude in their culture and vice versa.

I personally found that to be fascinating.

So I don't know if Rahm is the best person for Japan,

[HUAJIAO]

15. Not saying "no" is not only frowned upon in business but in daily life.

I have spent a lot of time in Japan, probably 90% of it in Kyoto and the Kansai region in general-Osaka, Nara, Kobe-- but mostly Kyoto.

You are absolutely right in all you say... and Rahm is dubious, in my view for just these reasons..

[nycbos]

18. To my understanding...

... The Japanese also like prominent former figures so that may be why POTUS picked Rahm?


But it's fascinating how something could be polite and one culture and rude another culture and vise versa.

[onetexan]

25. They certainly liked Caroline Kennedy, and she had no political experience other than being a former

president's daughter. She does not speak Japanese.
https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/why-caroline-kennedy-was-appointed-u-s-ambassador-to-japan

[greenjar_01]

5. Why not Mongolia?

What's the farthest point on Earth from Hermitage Avenue?

[Doc Sportello]

6. Still the funniest line ever delivered at the WH correspondents dinner

President Obama telling the story of the repub congressperson complaining about a naked Rahm haranguing him in a lockerroom.

Obama replied: "Welcome to my world."



Props to Daily Show writer(s) for that gag.

[Withywindle]

27. I also liked the line about his missing finger

Don't remember the exact words but it was about how he lost one of his middle fingers .... "which rendered him functionally mute."

[TygrBright]

7. I understand Japanese has a fairly rich vocabulary of profanity, so this should work. n/t

[rpannier]

30. I live in Japan and have for three years now

It's not endearing to have a rich vocabulary of profanity in this country in government or business dealings

[PoliticAverse]

9. Excellent move by Biden to get Rahm out of the country...

so he can do less damage.

[DonCoquixote]

10. exactly

now where can he send Joe manchin?

[PoliticAverse]

12. The problem is if Manchin needs to be replaced the Republican governor would make an appointment.

So no easy way out of the Manchin problem.

[DonCoquixote]

20. to quote Cicero

"let him be promoted so he can be kept out of the way."

[HUAJIAO]

16. He can probably do more damage in our relationship with Japan.

[milestogo]

11. Because being mayor of chicago prepares you perfectly for that.

[onetexan]

26. Emanuel was a member of the House Chamber from Chicago 2003-2009, so he experienced at the federal

level, not to mention Obama's chief of staff & senior advisor to President Clinton in 1993. He's been in politics for a very long time, including having worked on presidential campaigns.

[Submariner]

13. I'll miss him beating up on Chris Christie on Sunday's "This Week" political panel

[LittleGirl]

14. Really? Is this good? Nt

[Mosby]

17. Cool. Good appointment.

Dude gets shit done.

[former9thward]

24. That is not what the people of Chicago thought.

He did not run for re-election because he was going to lose.

[Withywindle]

28. He gets shit done alright

Like corrupt real-estate development deals to his cronies, he was very efficient at that.

Less good at coverups of police murders, but hey, he tried!

[Carlitos Brigante]

31. .

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. Rahm Emanuel? This fuckin guy?

Link to tweet

[Withywindle]

29. WOW

Always knew he was awful (Chicagoan) but I keep learning about new depths.

[irisblue]

21. that guy sucks. I think this is a bad move

[NurseJackie]

22. Congratulations, Rahm!

[choie]

23. Blech

I don't think he's a great representative for our country - and hardly a diplomat.

[murielm99]

32. I love Rahm.

He gets things done.

We need ten more just like him.