JERUSALEM (JTA) — Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Makiko Kikuta toured the Israeli army’s medical clinic in the city of Minami-Sanriko.
Kikuta said that the good relationship between Israel and Japan will be strengthened due to the arrival of the medical delegation to help in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in March.
"Your excellent work here, which was impossible to ignore in media reports throughout Japan, is very much appreciated by us and the Japanese people," Kikuta said during Monday’s tour. "Your success and the cooperation that you have been able to establish with local medical officials will create an opening for additional delegations in the future."
Kikuta added that she recognized many members of the Israeli army’s medical delegation due to the wide media coverage the delegation has received on Japanese television broadcasts.
During her visit, Kikuta was interested in learning about the patients who have come to the clinic and asked to hear about the medical issues they are facing as well as the care they are receiving.
Kikuta praised the Israeli medical team for being the first to offer aid to the Japanese people and promised to tell other Japanese government officials about what she saw during the visit.
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