Watanabe was invited by the White House Office of Public Engagement to attend Prime Minister Abe’s offical arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn. Watanabe will also attend a private luncheon at the State Department hosted by Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry.

Watanabe is the fourth-ever Japanese born basketball player to play at the NCAA Division I level, and started 10 games for the Colonials this season. He will be joined by GW head coach Mike Lonergan and fellow international student athlete Kevin Larsen, who is from Denmark.

Watanabe’s rookie year was followed closely in his hometown of Kagawa, and around Japan where The Japan Times nicknamed him the country’s “Chosen One”. Watanabe has suited up for the Japanese National Team in the past and both his parents have played professional basketball there.