Another good US Ambassador
During the past 75 years, the US and Japan have emerged from a bitter war to become 2 of the strongest nations on earth. Their strength was insured as they worked together. The US and Japan have built 2 of the world’s strongest economies- together. Never in history have 2 former enemies done so.
Now, during these times of political uncertainty, is it conceivable to think that Japan may doubt the sincerity of the US to continue this relationship.
During the election campaign, Donald Trump raised issues of currency and market manipulation and has now rebuked the TPP agreements. Hillary Clinton, too, made comments and overtones that suggested her own “protectionist” leanings. This new American sentiment should worry Japan.
How can President Donald Trump assure Japan of a continued relationship? By naming a US Ambassador to Japan that understands Japan. One that Japan trusts.
The current Ambassador, Caroline Kennedy has done a wonderful job. She has worked hard to strengthen these relationships. The question is- “who can be trusted to continue this work”?
Enter a little know gentleman from Birmingham, Alabama.
Mark Jackson was appointed as Honorary Consul General of Japan in July on 2014. Until then, he founded and grew a global teleconference service and volunteered his time serving on many community boards, in the US and abroad. He has chaired the Birmingham Sister Cities Commission and strengthened his city’s ties and raised its global profile.
He has also developed solid relationships within Japan. His father’s served in the Navy in the pacific theater and later returned to Japan to climb Mt Fuji. Before he passed away in early 2104, he was informed that Mark would be named Honorary Consul General. The elder Jackson’s response was “I am glad the world has changed. I fought the Japanese and now my son will be their diplomat.”
Following his father, Mark has a love for Japan. He has worked tirelessly to strength the economic and community ties between Alabama and Japan. Incidentally, Alabama is home to 142 Japanese-owned companies, including Honda, Toyota and Dai Ichi.
He has worked with current and past consuls general, mayors and ambassadors. He has helped develop new relationships between cities in Japan and Alabama. In short, he has proven his dedication to strengthening the bilateral relations between Japan and Alabama.
Can he do this for the US and Japan? I believe he can. He understands the Japanese culture and the US culture. He has an unwavering respect for his culture and Japan’s. He understands global business and economies. He supports fair and free trade and feels that mutual respect is the basic foundation of all relationships.
It has been proven that the US and Japan are allies but will this relationship continue? Naming an Ambassador with Mark’s experience will insure that it will.
Some will ask if it is safe to trust such an important relationship to a “diplomatic greenhorn” honorary consul general. I say yes. Mr. Jackson has the talent and drive needed. He has the global relationships. He has the relationship base in both countries. And like his father, he has a deep love and respect for the US and Japan.
This election season has proven that uncertainty is a scary thing. It is important to assure our allies of our support. By naming a newcomer to this position, I am sure we will prosper together.
Doug Wead 
So true we need to continue our strong global relationships and I feel the HCG Mark Jackson, is the leader for continuing this progress!
Doug, this is the place where ambassadorship-hopefuls and other patronage-seekers submit all their personal info — https://www.greatagain.gov/serve-america.html — which lists the various caveats and restrictions and then points one unto http://apply.ptt.gov which may stand for potus transition team?
Apparently, in previous administrations ambassador-nominations (which need Senate advice-n-consent through at least a voice vote if not a full roll call vote) tend to be pretty pokey, with Obama it was June before those finally started happening and with GWB it was May… but also note that Trump is naming his cabinet *way* faster than Obama, and faster than anybody in the last forty years than GHWB (who “cheated” by inheriting all his early cabinet-picks from the Reagan administration).
Also perhaps worth mentioning is https://action.trump2016.com/survey/100-day-plan-action-survey , which is a fundraising pitch described as a survey of which of the trump-contract-with-the-american-voter is most important to we the people, and ought to start happening during the first hundred days. The original is here, https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/CONTRACT_FOR_THE_VOTER.pdf , and was officially unveiled at the gettysburg photo-op event in late October. (That was roughly a week after trump’s approval-rating bottomed out, and may have had something to do with his rapid climb back to nearly-even-with-hillary in favorability during the final two weeks of the campaigns.) There are a couple of additional planks mentioned in the survey-form, however, such as an america-first-no-foreign-entanglements-no-more-nationbuilding option. Unknown whether anybody in the Trump HQ will pay the slightest attention to the survey results, but you could give us YOUR take in a posting here, on which bits you think are high priority; that would be much appreciated.
Thanks, great info.
I would wholeheartedly endorse Mark Jackson as the next US ambassador to Japan. I met Mark about 14 years ago when he was on business in the UK. He and his family have since become great friends.
Mark may well be a diplomatic greenhorn but he is a globalist in the true sense and, I believe, has all the diplomatic skills required for this important job. Mark has made many friends in Japan and even more worldwide as he is unfailingly engaging, patient and polite yet decisive.
I met Mark Jackson recently and thoroughly enjoyed our time together. After spending 24 years in Japan, I am confident that the spirit and expertise of Mark Jackson is the kind of leadership that would serve well as the Ambassador to Japan. It takes a special spirit to work within the culture of the Japanese. The Japanese are wonderful people and hard working! Mark Jackson would be great help bridging the gap between two great nations! –David Harris, Far East Director, Baptist International Missions, Inc.
I have never met Mark Jackson personally but have heard and read a lot of impressive information about him. We need good leaders and ambassadors for the US like Mark Jackson.
Mark’s background and what he has done in the US Japan relationship points to the right ingredients in a key partnership. The history of his involvement is key to making policy stick, and to be able to put forward US interests with credibility. I think Mark would make a great ambassador.
From: Barton Foster, the Barton Group Inc., Search and Recruiting
Re: Mark Jackson as Ambassador for Japan
I have been active in the republican Party for 40 years and STRONGLY supported Trump during this battle. In my capacity of President and owner of the Barton Group Inc since 1989. The majority of the people and companies that I work with and that are clients are Japanese people and companies with companies is the USA.
In my strong association with Mark Jackson in many capacities,: I know him to be a very good man who has and does successfully walk the territory of Japanese and American relationships with very positive APPROPRIATE influence for all involved as well as being a supporter of the TRUMP presidency.
I STRONGLY support Mark Jackson as Ambassador for Japan.
Bart
Barton Foster
President
The Barton Group Inc
Search and Recruiting
http://www.thebartongroup.com
How We Work
Who And What We Are
Although I’ve known Mr. Jackson, a short time, I see his kindness and integrity as reaching out to the people not only in the U.S.A. but in all global consciousness. His enthusiasm to learn other cultures, like Japan, I think he will strengthen the economy with good relationship between U.S. and Japan. With his personality and vitality, he will be great Ambassador.
I have been active in the republican Party for 40 years and STRONGLY supported Trump during this battle. In my capacity of President and owner of the Barton Group Inc since 1989. The majority of the people and companies that I work with and that are clients are Japanese people and companies with companies is the USA.
In my strong association with Mark Jackson in many capacities,: I know him to be a very good man who has and does successfully walk the territory of Japanese and American relationships with very positive APPROPRIATE influence for all involved as well as being a supporter of the TRUMP presidency.
I STRONGLY support Mark Jackson as Ambassador for Japan.
Bart
Barton Foster
President
The Barton group Inc
Guv Branstad, the anti-liberty-candidate guy from Iowa (who backed Christie in the caucuses this year) is supposed to be ambassador to China, as the king of pork(barrel)-chow-mein.
Haven’t heard anything about ambassador to other places, besides Nikki Haley for the U.N. (usSen Tim Scott who is borderline-pro-liberty as one of the top five people in the Senate nowadays was planning to run for governor of SC in 2018 but now it seems likely that Henry McMaster the sitting LtGuv will take over for Haley in that role.)
The relationship between the United States and Japan will be of the utmost importance in the years ahead, It is my belief that Mark Jackson will cherish and embrace that growth as our Ambassador to Japan.