[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 73 (Friday, May 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA AND JAPAN AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR. HIRO KURASHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2004

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 150th 
anniversary of the beginning of relations between the United States of 
America and Japan. One hundred and fifty years ago, Commodore Perry 
opened the doors of a country and started a relationship that would 
eventually grow into an alliance between two of the largest economies 
in today's world. A country which had largely isolated itself from the 
rest of the world, Japan, in a very short span of a century and a half, 
now has a strong international presence as a strong ally of the United 
States and advocate for freedom and democracy in the world.
  Today, America and Japan enjoy strong trade relations, economies that 
support each other, and equally as important, social and cultural ties 
that bridge the Pacific Ocean and span differences in languages and 
custom. The alliance between Japan and America is strong and stable. We 
both fiercely defend freedom and democracy and we both promote human 
rights in the world.
  The friendship between America and Japan is magnified and continually 
strengthened by its peoples and their willingness to work with each 
other for the common goal of improving the quality of life for all 
citizens of the world. Both America and Japan freely extend helping 
hands to each other and to the most needy of the world. Both America 
and Japan use their combined economic might to cure disease, feed the 
hungry and explore the unknown in search of greater knowledge and 
resources.
  In these efforts certain citizens of both of our great nations shine 
and become role models for all of other citizens to emulate. Dr. Hiro 
Kurashina is such a man. Motivated by the desire to make a better 
future by learning from the past, Dr. Kurashina, a native of Japan, has 
devoted many years to the development of the Micronesian Area Research 
Center, the premier archive and repository of the history of the 
Pacific Islands and its people. Dr. Kurashina's work has helped to 
ensure that the story of the islands will always be preserved and 
promoted among its peoples and shared with the world.
  Through these efforts, Dr. Kurashina has created a strong bond 
between Japan and the islands of Micronesia and through his efforts, 
the University of Guam has become an active participant in the growth 
of knowledge about this region and its people. Dr. Kurashina has 
contributed greatly to making the University of Guam a valuable 
resource for Guam, Micronesia, and the world at large.
  I consider it an honor to take this opportunity to praise Dr. 
Kurashina for his work and to thank him for all that he has done for 
our islands and people and all that he has done to continue the 
strengthening of the bonds between Japan, America and the islands of 
the Pacific.

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