Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO4927
2007-10-22 09:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY

Tags:  OTRA PREL JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #4927/01 2950921
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 220921Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8811
UNCLAS TOKYO 004927 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EAP/J SCHLAEFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY
ALEXANDER ARVIZU

REF: A. SECSTATE 145131


B. SCHLAEFER-LEE EMAILS

UNCLAS TOKYO 004927

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EAP/J SCHLAEFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY
ALEXANDER ARVIZU

REF: A. SECSTATE 145131


B. SCHLAEFER-LEE EMAILS


1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the
October 29-November 1, 2007 visit to Japan by DAS Alexander
Arvizu.


2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Political
Officer Sangmin "Simon" Lee. He can be reached at:

Office phone: (81-3)3224-5337
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6815
Mobile phone: 81-90-4837-5822
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: LeeS@state.gov (unclassified)

--------------
Hotel Reservations
--------------


3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made at the Hotel
Okura 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8416, Tel:
(81-3) 3582-0111 Fax: (81-3) 3582-3707. Post has modified
trip dates per Schlaefer-Lee emails. Details as follows:

Alexander Arvizu
Arrive: October 29, 2007
Depart: November 1, 2007
Conf. No.: 634503

--------------
Airport to Hotel Transportation
--------------


4. (U) Control Officer will meet DAS Arvizu at the gate and
assist to an Embassy vehicle.

--------------
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.


6. (U) As of November 20, 2007, all foreign nationals
entering Japan, with the exemption of certain categories, are
required to provide fingerprints and a facial photograph at
the port of entry. This requirement does not replace any
existing visa or passport requirements. Official U.S.
travelers will have to submit to the photograph and
fingerprinting requirement unless they travel with a valid
diplomatic or official visa or a Note Verbale. The nature of
the passport onto which the visa is pasted is not relevant,
i.e. a tourist passport holder with a diplomatic or official
visa will not have to submit to the biometrics collection
process. SOFA personnel are exempt under SOFA Article 9 (2)
from the new biometrics entry requirements.

--------------
Embassy Laptop Policy
--------------


7. (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
--------------


8. (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).


9. (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.


10. (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.
SCHIEFFER