A Business Consultant to Japan

Newspapers reported that incoming administration of United States, topped by President-elect Donald Trump, decided to choose William Hagerty for next Ambassador to Japan. Having a long experience as an investor, Hagerty is supposed to enhance business ties between U.S. and Japan. However, is it economy that will be the biggest problem between them in coming years?

Hagerty is from Nashville, Tennessee, where Japanese major manufacturers, Nissan Motors or Bridgestone, have factories. He had worked for a major investment firm, Boston Consulting Group, which was well known in Japanese business sectors, before he established his own investment firm, Hagerty Peterson and Company. As a businessman with Boston Consulting, Hagerty stayed in Japan for three years.

Not only business carrier, Hagerty has experiences as a White House staff in George H. W. Bush administration. As director of Presidential appointments, Hagerty has been working with Trump before the election day. Hagerty told local newspaper in Tennessee, Tennessean that he involved in oversight of more then 5,500 board, commission, Cabinet and other appointments.

Japanese businessmen welcome the appointment of Hagerty as an important decision based on economic aspect. He is recognized as a member of inner circle of Trump with close relationship with Republican Senator Bob Corker from Tennessee who was once listed as a candidate for Secretary of State in incoming Trump administration. “Hagerty was the third pick for Ambassador in Trump administration, following China and Israel. This quick choice indicates Trump’s commitment to Japan as a reliable ally, not making vacancy in Japan-U.S. diplomatic relationship,” told Professor of Sophia University, Kazuhiro Maejima, to Mainichi Shimbun.

Trump actually told during his Presidential campaign that Ambassador to Japan was an important post, because he needed tough negotiator in trade issues. It is told that Hagerty worked actively to move Japanese Consular General from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Nashville. It is still unclear how Hagerty will deal with frustration of Japanese exporters with Trump protectionism shown in criticism on Toyota.

Immediate job for Hagerty will not only business, but security. While public protest against U.S. Force in Okinawa is growing, there is no prominent data of Hagerty on security issues. Japanese people will closely watch whether next Ambassador is going to attend annual memorial ceremony for war victims in Hiroshima, Nagasaki or Okinawa. Even Trump looks to have no idea on those complicated issues.