## Prime Minister Kishida Presents Gifts to President Biden
During his state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida presented President Joe Biden with a variety of gifts, including traditional crafts and popular character merchandise.
Among the gifts were a set of Wajima-nuri coffee cups and a ballpoint pen. Wajima-nuri is a traditional lacquerware craft from Ishikawa Prefecture, which was severely affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and tsunami in January. Prime Minister Kishida explained that young craftsmen impacted by the disaster had created the lacquerware specifically for this occasion.
Other gifts included Okinawan coffee beans and character memorabilia such as stuffed toys and cups from Nintendo's popular "Super Mario" video game. Prime Minister Kishida's wife, Yuko, also presented First Lady Jill Biden with a copper accessory made in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, another traditional craft from the Hokuriku region.
Following the gift exchange, the Kishidas and the Bidens rode together in the presidential limousine known as "The Beast" on their way to a restaurant in Washington, D.C., for dinner.