Obama to nominate Caroline Kennedy as U.S. ambassador to Japan

For years she’s been the intensely private scion of a family synonymous with American public life.

Now, in her appointment as US envoy to Japan, Caroline Kennedy is finally hitting the big stage.

The sole surviving child of assassinated president John F. Kennedy takes over the ambassador’s residence in Tokyo at a time when Asia couldn’t be more important to US foreign policy.

Washington has its eyes on a newly belligerent North Korea, rising rival power China, and, as always, its close alliance with Japan.

Even before she was named, many Japanese were excited at the prospect.

The government spokesman said her appointment “would deepen people’s feeling of friendliness” to the United States, because the “late President Kennedy was a figure familiar to many Japanese.”

For Caroline Kennedy, 55, a plum diplomatic appointment by a friendly Democratic president might hardly seem a surprise.

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/24/obama-to-nominate-caroline-kennedy-as-u-s-ambassador-to-japan/