The More We Know's video: U S Ambassador Presents Credentials To Japanese Emperor

Caroline Kennedy handed Emperor Akihito her credentials at the Imperial palace on Tuesday (November 19), officially beginning her post as the U.S. ambassador to Japan. In ceremony befitting for royalty and under unprecedented media attention, the daughter of slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy took a horse drawn carriage to the palace as thousands lined the streets. Ambassadors arriving in Japan are allowed to choose whether to take a normal car or the traditional horse drawn carriage, but the media attention was unprecedented and most of the time crowds do not line the streets for one of these ceremonies. "This was the first time I saw such a ceremony. I am enthralled," one Tokyo resident, Ryuichi Nishizawa said after the ceremony. Others said they were already impressed by her style. "As she is from America, from the super power of the world, I expected her to be flaboyant but instead I found her rather modest," said retiree Takashi Sawayama. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, ambassadors are not regarded as having officially taken up their duties until the accreditation process is complete and presented to the head of state - the Emperor in Japan's case. After the ceremony Kennedy gave a short statement. "I was honored to present my credentials to his Majesty and I am eager to begin work as Ambassador. So it was a wonderful ceremony and I am honored to represent my country," she said. The first female U.S. ambassador to Japan, the 55-year-old lawyer takes up the post a week before the 50th anniversary of her father's assassination.