| R 190 |
| 2025 -- S 0934 Enacted 04/01/2025 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CELEBRATING THE 171ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. -- JAPAN TREATY OF PEACE AND AMITY |
Introduced By: Senators Ujifusa, Gu, Felag, LaMountain, McKenney, Britto, Urso, Burke, Appollonio, and Raptakis |
| Date Introduced: April 01, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, The month of May is recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander |
| (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States, and is a time to recognize and celebrate the |
| contributions, achievements, and cultural heritage of AAPI throughout our nation's history; and |
| WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island and Japan share a rich history of cultural and |
| people-to-people exchanges, cooperation, and friendship; and |
| WHEREAS, The first official diplomatic contact between the United States and Japan |
| took place in 1853, when Commodore Matthew Perry, born in South Kingstown, led an |
| expedition of "Black Ships" to Japan under orders from President Millard Fillmore; and |
| WHEREAS, The Perry expedition eventually led to the signing of the Treaty of Peace |
| and Amity between the United States and Japan on March 31, 1854, which marked the beginning |
| of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries and paved the way for increased |
| interaction and trade; and |
| WHEREAS, Today, Japan is the United States' fourth largest trading partner, and for the |
| last five years, Japan has been the number one investor in the United States, and the United States |
| has been the number one investor in Japan; and |
| WHEREAS, The relationship between the United States and Japan is marked by mutual |
| respect, admiration, and a commitment to promoting peace, understanding, and collaboration; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island and Japan have established numerous partnerships in various |
| fields including commerce, academia, education, technology, arts, and culture; and |
| WHEREAS, The Rhode Island-Japan connection is further strengthened by the presence |
| of Japanese companies investing in Rhode Island and contributing to the State's economic |
| vitality, as well as by Rhode Island-based businesses engaging in trade with Japan, promoting |
| global commerce and innovation; and |
| WHEREAS, Educational and cultural exchanges between Rhode Island and Japan have |
| provided invaluable opportunities for students, scholars, artists, and professionals to learn from |
| one another, share experiences, and build lifelong connections, thereby enhancing cross-cultural |
| understanding and fostering global citizenship; and |
| WHEREAS, Through diverse festivities such as the annual Black Ships Festival by the |
| Japan-America Society of Rhode Island, the Cherry Blossom Princess Crowning Ceremony by |
| the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, the Providence AnimeCon, and the birthday celebration |
| of Hachiko in Woonsocket, Rhode Islanders continue to promote an appreciation of Japanese |
| culture, arts and a warm friendship with Japan; and |
| WHEREAS, In Japan, tens of thousands of people continue to attend an annual Black |
| Ships Festival in Shimoda, a sister city with Newport, and a Perry Festival in Yokosuka, |
| celebrating connections with Commodore Perry and the United States; and |
| WHEREAS, The Naval War College in Newport and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense |
| Force work closely together to promote national security and regional stability through shared |
| resources, strategies, and commitments; and |
| WHEREAS, In February of 2025, President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru |
| Ishiba held their first official meeting in Washington, D.C., where they affirmed their |
| determination to pursue a new golden age for U.S. – Japan relations that upholds a free and open |
| Indo-Pacific; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates the |
| longstanding and meaningful relationship between the United States and Japan, recognizing the |
| contributions of individuals, organizations, and institutions that have worked tirelessly to promote |
| friendship, cooperation, and understanding between our two countries; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby honors the 171st Anniversary of the signing of the |
| U.S.-Japan Treaty of Peace and Amity and declares March 31st when the treaty was signed in |
| 1854 as “Japan Day”, and encourages continued collaboration and partnership between the |
| United States and Japan, reaffirming our commitment to strengthening the ties that bind us |
| together and fostering a future of peace, prosperity, and mutual respect for generations to come; |
| and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, Donald J. |
| Trump, Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Seth Magaziner, |
| Congressman Gabe Amo, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, Rhode Island Lt. Governor |
| Sabina Matos, Rhode Island Treasurer James Diossa, Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg |
| Amore, and the Honorable Seiichiro Takahashi, Consul General of Japan in Boston. |
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| LC002352 |
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