NEW JAPANESE AMBASSADOR: KEIJI OMORI

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000470

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/B, EAP/J, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015
TAGS: PINR PREL JA MU
SUBJECT: NEW JAPANESE AMBASSADOR: KEIJI OMORI


Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
Reason: 1.4 (b).


1. (C) Japan's newly arrived ambassador-designate to Oman,
Keiji Omori, paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador on March

14. Omori's background is in military intelligence. Most
recently serving as Director General of the Defense
Facilities Administration Agency of the Japanese Defense
Agency, he characterized himself as having been among the top
4-5 special advisers to current PM Koizumi. He was
intimately involved in issues related to the Japan-US Defense
Treaty, and was one of the architects of clearing legal
hurdles that permitted the deployment of Japan's Self Defense
Force to the Middle East. He previously attended a U.S.
military training institute at Bolling AFB (note: possibly
the Defense Intelligence University).


2. (SBU) Omori, age 62, is married with three adult daughters
and several grandchildren. One of his daughters is
struggling to pass the bar exam back in Japan. Omori's
assignment in Oman is his first as a diplomat, and likewise
marks his first time in the region. He fervently believes
that the U.S. is Tokyo's most important bilateral
relationship. He looks forward to visiting other states in
the Middle East during his tenure in Muscat. He speaks
English with a heavy accent.
BALTIMORE