Washington, DC -- Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki will discuss Japan’s experience in dealing with a financial and lending crisis in a lecture titled “Lessons Learned: Good and Bad.” Ambassador Fujisaki will address financial, environmental and security issues facing the world today and offer his insights about the future direction of Japan and other nations.  

  The event will take place at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 2 in the Whittall Pavilion of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, located at 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Library’s Asian Division and its Friends Society, the lecture is free and open to the public but seating is limited. Those wishing to attend should respond to Mari Nakahari (mnak@loc.gov).  

  Appointed in June 2008, Ambassador Fujisaki brings a wealth of experience to the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States. Since 1969, he has served in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as director-general of the Ministry’s North American Affairs Bureau and permanent representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva. 

  Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its Web site at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a new, personalized Web site at www.myLOC.gov.

  The Library of Congress is a central repository for all types of Asian publications that are not broadly available at other locations in the United States. Initiated in 1869 with a gift of 10 works in 934 volumes offered to the United States by the Emperor of China, the Library’s Asian collection of more than 2 million items is the largest and most comprehensive outside of Asia. For more information about the Asian Division and its programs, including the Florence Tan Moeson fellowships for visiting researchers, go to www.loc.gov/rr/asian/.