President Biden’s ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, will leave his position in Tokyo on Monday and return to the U.S., a traditional changing of the guard ahead of the swearing-in of a new administration.
Emanuel, who was floated as a potential candidate for chair of the Democratic National Committee, will next embark on a lecture tour of service academies of the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force in the spring, the U.S. Embassy in Japan said in a statement.
“Last year, I spoke at the U.S. Naval War College and found it both rewarding and reaffirming,” Emanuel said in a statement.
“These lectures are a chance to pass on my experiences and insights from my time in Japan but also, crucially, to recognize the service and commitment of our future military leaders, many of whom will be called upon to protect and preserve American interests in the Indo-Pacific, a fast-developing and critically important region of the world.”
Emanuel said his lectures will draw on his three years serving as ambassador to Japan, sharing thoughts and perspectives on the U.S.-Japan alliance and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
Throughout his time as ambassador, Emanuel detailed his lessons learned and insights into the region in his “Tokyo Takes” newsletter, which went out to an estimated 180 members of Congress, chiefs of staff and professional staff of committees, including Armed Services and Foreign Affairs panels.