"Interest in Yuko, Wife of Japanese Prime Minister, an English-Proficient International Figure"

Prime Minister Kishida and Spouse Depart on the 8th
"First Lady Dedicates Efforts to Diplomacy"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida completed his 1-night, 2-day visit to Korea and departed, drawing attention to his wife, Mrs. Yuko. Fluent in English, Mrs. Yuko is recognized for demonstrating diplomatic capabilities as the prime minister's spouse.

On the 8th, Prime Minister Kishida departed through Seoul Airport in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, accompanied by Mrs. Yuko. The day before, Kishida visited the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, to pay respects, held a summit with President Yoon Seok-yeol, and on this day, met with members of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League and representatives of Korean economic organizations.

During the visit, Mrs. Yuko spent separate social time with First Lady Kim Geon-hee. According to the Presidential Office on the 7th, Mrs. Kim and Mrs. Yuko visited Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. This meeting came about 50 days after Mrs. Kim was invited to the Japanese Prime Minister’s official residence during President Yoon’s visit to Japan on March 16, where she experienced making wagashi sweets with Mrs. Yuko.

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, is having tea together with Yuko Kishida, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is visiting, at Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul on the 7th.
[Image provided by Yonhap News Agency, Office of the President]

Mrs. Yuko hails from Hiroshima, where Prime Minister Kishida inherited his political legacy from his father and has been elected nine times. She graduated from Hiroshima Girls' High School and Tokyo Woman's Christian University. She met Prime Minister Kishida through a matchmaking arrangement, married in 1988, and they have three sons.

Known as an international figure fluent in English, Mrs. Yuko guided the spouses of foreign ministers at the G7 meeting held in Hiroshima in April 2016 and has demonstrated diplomatic skills by hosting tea gatherings with the spouses of various ambassadors to Japan.

Recently, she made a solo visit to the United States at the invitation of Dr. Jill Biden. On the 17th of last month, Mrs. Yuko met with Dr. Biden at the White House for lunch and a tree-planting event. It is reported that Dr. Biden, who was unable to accompany the Kishida couple during their visit to the U.S. in January due to health reasons, extended a solo invitation to Mrs. Yuko. This was the first time a Japanese prime minister’s spouse visited the U.S. alone. At the time, Japan’s Jiji Press positively evaluated Mrs. Yuko’s efforts in first lady diplomacy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.