COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR AMBASSADOR MICHAEL W.

UNCLAS TOKYO 004691 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA PREL JA SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR AMBASSADOR MICHAEL W. MICHALAK REF: HANOI 01734 ¶1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the October 9, 2007 visit to Japan by Ambassador Michalak. ¶2. (U) Point of contact is Political Officer Marc Forino, Tel: (03) 3224-5467, Mobile: 090-5578-0102. ¶3. (U) Post understands that the meeting with Diet Member Shiozaki is private. Mr. Shiozaki has agreed to meet for a private lunch at Shunju (Sanno Park Tower) at 12:00 noon on October 9, 2007. It is not possible to arrange a call on CCS Machimura. ¶4. (U) Regret Embassy will not be able to provide transportation from the airport. -------------- Visa -------------- ¶5. (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports must have a Japanese visa to enter Japan. Travelers on a U.S. tourist passport may enter Japan as a tourist without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days. -------------- Embassy Laptop Policy -------------- ¶6. (U) Official visitors are reminded that personally owned or non-controlled USG-issued electronic equipment (including all PDAs, cell phones, pagers, radios, records) may not enter the controlled access areas. Additionally, all classified and sensitive materials must be secured at the embassy visit control office upon arrival in country. -------------- Threat Assessment -------------- ¶7. (U) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. As the U.S. Government has reported in public announcements over the last several months, U.S. citizens and interests abroad may be at increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups, which may target civilians and include suicide operations. The Department maintains information about potential threats to Americans overseas which is available to travelers on the internet at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page: http://www.travel.state.gov. The Embassy takes all threats seriously. U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours a day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000 (internationally). ¶8. (SBU) The general threat from crime in Tokyo and throughout Japan is low. Crime is at levels well below the U.S. national average. Violent crime is rare, but does exist. The Japanese National Police report continued problems with pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded shopping areas of Tokyo. Although street crime is low, common sense security measures are advised for all American citizens traveling in Japan. ¶9. (U) Also be advised that under no circumstances may weapons be brought into Japan. Carrying a pocketknife (including Swiss Army-style knife, craft or hunting knife, box cutter, etc.) in public is forbidden. Under Japanese law, carrying any such item in public, with a size exceeding 8 cm in length, 1.5 cm in width or 2 mm in thickness, can subject the person to arrest or detention. DONOVAN