Japan’s first lady Hatoyama visits nationality room

By Keith Gillogly

Japanese first lady Miyuki Hatoyama stopped by earlier this afternoon at the Cathedral of… Japanese first lady Miyuki Hatoyama stopped by earlier this afternoon at the Cathedral of Learning to visit the Japanese nationality room during her stay in Pittsburgh for the G-20 Summit.

Members of the Japanese nationality room committee and several students greeted her in the room.

As a welcoming notion, Hatoyama participated in a gift exchange. Hatoyama presented gifts, including an ornate tea set, while Maxine Bruhns, the director of the Nationality Rooms Program, gave her a book on the nationality rooms and some souvenirs. The first lady also received a portrait of the Cathedral.

After Bruhns provided a brief explanation of the room’s history, those in attendance had a chance to ask the first lady questions.

Miyuki Hatoyama is the new first lady of Japan after her husband, Yukio Hatoyama, took office as prime minister on Sep 16.