In a recent interview by Jiji Press, Japanese management consultant Koichi Hori said he does not expect Hagerty to be a tough negotiator who will demand compromises in trade and other negotiations, but thinks he will rather be good at coordination work to provide a bridge between Japan and the United States.

Hori, 72, described Hagerty, 57, as "a gentleman and sophisticated."

Hagerty spent about three years from the late 1980s to the early 1990s in Japan as an employee of the Boston Consulting Group. According to Hori, then manager of the group's branch in Japan, Hagerty requested to work in Japan.

"He worked seriously but was not exceptionally outstanding," Hori said, looking back on Hagerty's performance.

Hagerty seems to have been offered a cabinet post but applied for the post of ambassador to Japan, according to Hori.

"I think he grew fond of Japanese people after three years of stay in Japan," Hori said.

He added that Hagerty has stronger feelings for Japan than Caroline Kennedy, his immediate predecessor, who served in the ambassadorial post from November 2013 during then US President Barack Obama's tenure.

Hori said he believes that Hagerty, thanks to his truthful personality, will be able to serve as the face of the United States in Japan and "neutralize" the negative image of US President Donald Trump, who is known for his controversial words and actions.

Hori advised the Japanese government to explain its stance to the new ambassador squarely and honestly and get along with him open-heartedly until the very end. (Jiji Press)