Tokyo ? Japan is looking to Toyota president Akio Toyoda’s appearance before U.S. lawmakers next week to help burnish an image marred by a flood of recalls — and to prevent grievances over the issue from fanning broader political tensions.

With his company facing the worst crisis in its 70-year history, Toyoda will appear before the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee next Wednesday. By issuing an invitation, the committee had essentially forced Toyoda, who earlier had said he did not plan to attend, into testifying.

Commentaries today and statements by officials here since Toyoda announced he would accept the request to testify reflect the unease over possible wider damage from Toyota Motor Corp.’s troubles.

“I hope Toyota will soon regain the trust of their customers around the world,” Japan’s Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters Friday.