From a luncheon to a Toyota factory: What the Japanese prime minister did in North Carolina

The Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida came to North Carolina April 11-12 to discuss jobs, business investment and the country’s relationship with the Southeast United States.

Kishida landed in the Tar Heel State on Thursday, April 11 after attending a White House State Dinner with the Bidens and many other star-studded guests. On Friday, Kishida traveled around the state with Gov. Roy Cooper to talk jobs and business investments, according to a press release.

To solidify the leaders' relationship, Cooper proclaimed April 12 as North Carolina and Japan Friendship Day.

Cooper has been working to bring Japanese business and jobs to the state during his time in office, and this visit signals North Carolina's economic ties with Japan.

According to Cooper, more than 30,000 people work for Japanese-owned companies in the state mostly in the areas of aerospace, electric vehicles and biotechnology. According to a press release from Cooper's office, "Japan is the largest source of foreign direct investment in North Carolina."

Cooper has made two trips to Tokyo and this October he will be hosting the annual Southeast U.S. - Japan Conference in Charlotte.

It was also announced recently that Japanese-owned company FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies North Carolina, Inc. is investing just over $1 billion more in the Tar Heel state and adding almost 700 jobs.

Here’s the timeline of the prime minister’s visit.

Landing in North Carolina

Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida landed in Raleigh on Thursday and were greeted by the governor and first lady Kristin Cooper. Also in attendance were Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Shigeo Yamada, the North Carolina Central University marching band and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Honor Guard.

Visit to Toyota and HondaJet plants

The prime minister and Roy Cooper visited Toyota’s battery factory in Randolph County and the Honda Aircraft Company plant in Greensboro.

Japanese tea and Museum of Science

Yuko Kishida, and Kristin Cooper enjoyed tea at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens and visited the North Carolina Museum of Science. At the museum, they viewed a traditional Japanese Friendship Doll gifted to the state by the people of Japan in the 1920s.

Luncheon at the executive mansion

The Coopers and the Kishidas enjoyed a luncheon served by award-winning chef Ashley Christensen and Sam Jones BBQ. The event also included live bluegrass music from Unspoken Tradition in the garden.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits North Carolina