A spring-themed menu inspired by American and Japanese cuisine and decor evocative of a koi pond were all features of Wednesday night’s White House state dinner honoring Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife.
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden recognized the long alliance between the United States and Japan with the rare, time-honored tradition of a state dinner that draws from the traditions of both countries.
President Biden, center right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center left, and his wife Yuko Kishida for a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. Susan Walsh / AP
Singer-songwriter Paul Simon, who counts both the first lady and the prime minister as fans, performed.
Musician Paul Simon, right, performs during a state dinner in honor of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the East Room of the White House on April 10, 2024. Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actor Robert DeNiro, and billionaire Jeff Bezos were all on the guest list.
President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida raise their glasses during a toast at a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. Evan Vucci / AP
The theme and decor
The theme was “celebration of spring,” a symbol meant to mirror the friendship between the two countries. A garden displayed blooms native to both nations, including sweet peas, peonies and hydrangeas. Glass and silk butterflies appeared on the dinner tables, too.
The starring element of the decor for the dinner was the floor, covered to make it appear as if guests are walking over a koi pond with lily pads and cherry blossoms. The colors green, blue and pink were central to the theme — green to represent the growth of friendship, blue to represent stability and security and pink to represent spring’s essence.
Glass butterflies decorate the dinner table during a preview at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, for the State Dinner for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday. Susan Walsh / AP
The menu
The food is the center of any good state dinner. According to the White House, guests were served a first course of house-cured salmon; a salad of avocados, red grapefruit, watermelon radish and cucumber; and shiso leaf fritters.
Dry-aged rib eye steak with blistered shishito pepper butter, fava beans, morels and cipollini was the main course, with a sesame oil sabayon.
White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, left, and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison, right, hold the dishes to be served during a press preview at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, for the State Dinner for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday. Susan Walsh / AP
Dessert included salted caramel pistachio cake, a matcha ganache; and ice cream — cherry ice cream, with raspberry drizzle.
Samples of the desert are passed out during a press preview at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, for the State Dinner for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Susan Walsh / AP
The evening’s wines were from Oregon and Washington.
The guests
From Hollywood celebrities, to billionaires, to key political allies, the guest list was exclusive.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, April 10, 2024, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin / AP U.S. figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi arrives at the White House for a state dinner on April 10, 2024 in Washington. Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images CEO of JP Morgan Chase Jamie Dimon (L) and wife Judith Kent arrive for a state dinner in Washington, DC, on April 10, 2024. DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff arrive to attend a state dinner in honor of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 10, 2024. Julia Nikhinson/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bill Nelson, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Grace Nelson arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin / AP Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin / AP Former President Bill Clinton listens as President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida exchange toasts during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. Evan Vucci / AP
