J@pan Inc Newsletter<br><div class="gmail_quote">The 'JIN' J@pan Inc Newsletter<br>A weekly opinion piece on social, economic and political trends<br>in Japan.<br>Issue No. 471 Wednesday June 25, 2008, Tokyo<br><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Every PBXL wireless phone comes standard with:<br>a big color screen,<br>a 03 Tokyo number,<br>voicemail,<br>and more!<br><br>Everything you expect from the best office phone system<br>on the market.<br><br>Call today! 03-4550-2557<br>
Get your new phone system in 3 steps: <a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/plans" target="_blank">http://www.pbxl.jp/plans</a><br><br>PBXL is Hosted Business Telephony<br>Monthly seminars at Cisco HQ: <a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt" target="_blank">http://www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt</a><br>
More about PBXL: <a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/aboutus2" target="_blank">http://www.pbxl.jp/aboutus2</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br><br>North Korea: abductions and the nuclear threat<br>
<br>There are good grounds for saying that something of a shift is <br>
taking place in Japan's approach to North Korea. As the US <br>considers removing the North Korean state from its terrorism <br>black list, many media reports suggest that the Japanese <br>government is likely to show an increased flexibility in its <br>
dealings with Pyongyang. For example, according to an AFP <br>article a few days ago, reporting on the nuclear issue, Foreign <br>Minister Masahiko Komura has hinted that Japan may not be 'as <br>thorough as previously hoped' in terms of the declaration in <br>
requires from the North on the abandonment of its nuclear <br>weapons program.<br><br>On top of this, Japan has also eased some of its economic <br>sanctions on the North, seemingly as a response to Kim Jong-Il's<br>
agreement to re-open investigations into the abduction of <br>
Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s – an issue that is <br>constantly in the press and on TV and a focus for anti-North <br>Korean sentiment. Mr Fukuda commented earlier this month that, <br>'Our hope is to have a normal relationship with the DPRK,' a <br>
further sign that there is something of a thaw in bilateral <br>relations.<br><br>A closer look at the realities of the situation reveals that any<br>softening of stance on the Japanese side is most likely a result<br>of the geopolitical environment that, since the end of the war, <br>
has dictated that Japanese foreign policy generally echoes that <br>of the US. In Japan, popular opinion and a large contingent of <br>the political establishment remain committed to a tough line on <br>Pyongyang. Fukuda will need to tread carefully.<br>
<br>In relation to US policy, the recent actions, perceived as <br>showing a softer approach, can only be understood in the context<br>of the US' drive to reach a settlement. Condoleeza Rice will be <br>in Japan from tomorrow for the G8 summit and Japan's political <br>
leaders realize that when it comes to North Korean policy they <br>must either follow the US lead or risk isolation from the <br>negotiating process altogether. <br><br>Already, there have been some notable voices of concern, from <br>
noisy nationalists on the street to the deputy political editor <br>of the Yomiuri Shimbun. In an opinion piece published last week <br>the latter warned: 'While it is crucial to join forces with the <br>United States, China, South Korea and Russia to resolve the <br>
North Korean nuclear issue, the government should not allow <br>Pyongyang to take what it wants and run without reciprocation.' <br>Additionally, websites such as 'Pride of Japan,' a right wing <br>blog (<a href="http://www.prideofjapan.jp/" target="_blank">www.prideofjapan.jp/</a>), have already started to attack <br>
Prime Minister Fukuda for his "betrayal of the people."<br><br>Further evidence of the deep-seated feeling against the North <br>can be seen in the recent decision to allow Koji Kawae, a former<br>banker who attempted to swindle the Chongryon (association of <br>
Korean residents in Japan) out of its Tokyo property, to get off<br>with a suspended sentence. This scandal involved some very high <br>level members of the establishment including Shigetake Ogata, <br>former head of the Public Security Intelligence Agency.<br>
<br>The US is aware of this feeling and Condoleeza Rice is careful <br>to show it making broad statements on the abduction issue as, <br>'it's not going away for Japan; it's not going away for the <br>United States and we're going to continue to press North Korea <br>
to make certain that this issue is dealt with.' Such statements <br>may go some way in appeasing the public but many will be ready <br>to protest loudly if they don't see action to back up these <br>remarks. Contrarily, a realist might argue that resolving the <br>
abduction issue and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula <br>removes the rationale for an expanded military role for Japan's <br>Self-Defense Forces. Indeed, there may well be those on the far <br>right of the Japanese establishment who in their zeal to push <br>
forward constitutional reform, see the North Korean threat as <br>necessary in justifying their position. However, surely the <br>prospect of a non-nuclear North is also greatly in the interests<br>of national security and thus a settlement on the nuclear issue <br>
would be a relief to most. But is this something Japan is <br>willing to trade for dropping the abduction issue? <br><br>Ultimately, Japanese foreign policy is still very much wed to <br>decisions made in Washington and therefore it will be <br>
interesting to see what kind of pressure this new US attitude <br>will put on the US-Japan alliance. Crucially, this pressure may <br>finally test the ability of the abduction issue to influence <br>Japan's international relations. This was anticipated in a US <br>
Congressional Research Service report earlier in the year that <br>forecasted, 'If the Japanese public views Washington as <br>abandoning the abductees, Japanese leaders may have difficulty <br>convincing their public to continue to support the United States<br>
on a range of strategic interests, including the hosting and <br>realignment of US military bases in Japan.' Even though most <br>political leaders and Japanese citizens would most likely be <br>very happy to see the end of a nuclear North Korea (except <br>
perhaps the ultra-militant minority) old sentiments, stirred up <br>by media that trades on criticizing the government, mean that <br>this domestic issue must be factored into policy. Hopefully, <br>when it comes down to it, denuclearization will be made the top <br>
priority.<br><br>Peter Harris<br>Editor-in-Chief<br><br>++FEEDBACK<br><br>Want to comment? It is now even easier to voice your opinion<br>than ever before! Simply post a comment below the article<br>online at <a href="http://www.japaninc.com/jin471" target="_blank">www.japaninc.com/jin471</a>.<br>
<br>--------NEW GADGET BLOG: TEKRONOM<br><br>++EVENTS<br><br>-------------------- ICA Event - June 25 ------------------<br><br>Speaker: Henry Ng, Head of Professional Security Services<br>-Asia, Verizon Business<br><br>
Topic: Bridging the Security Management Gap:<br>
How to Move from Point Solutions to Process<br><br>Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www.icajapan.jp/" target="_blank">http://www.icajapan.jp/</a><br>(RSVP Required)<br>Date: Thursday, June 25, 2008<br>Time: 6:30 Doors open includes light buffet<br>
Cost: 4,000 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members)<br>Open to all-venue is The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan<br><a href="http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map" target="_blank">http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map</a><br>
<br><br>---------- Metropolis and eigoTown.com Party --------------<br>
<br>July 26, 2008 - Hundreds of party people out for a good time<br>@ Alife, Nishi-Azabu. Alcohol, food and music!<br><br>What you get:<br>All-you-can drink<br>Live Shows<br>Prizes: **Trip for two to Macau courtesy of Viva Macau**<br>
DJs<br>+ Single people<br><br><a href="http://www.metropolis.co.jp/iparty/" target="_blank">http://www.metropolis.co.jp/iparty/</a><br><br>Nearest stn: Roppongi. <a href="http://www.metropolis.co.jp/party" target="_blank">www.metropolis.co.jp/party</a><br>
<br>CORPORATE SPONSORS WELCOME<br><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>++END<br>
</div><br><br>