COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY

UNCLAS TOKYO 005451 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA AMGT KNNP PREL MNUC KN CH JA SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER HILL AND EAP SPECIAL ASSISTANT CHRISTOPHER KLEIN REF: STATE 163398 ¶1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the December 7, 2007 visit to Japan by Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill and EAP Special Assistant Christopher Klein. ¶2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Political Officer Scott Hansen. He can be reached at: Office phone: (81-3)3224-5559 Home phone: (81-3)3224-6858 Mobile phone: 81-80-1020-2000 Fax: (81-3)3224-5322 E-mail: HansenSW@state.gov (unclassified) ¶3. (U) Control Officer Scott Hansen will meet A/S Hill and party at the arrival gate. The embassy is working with MOFA to finalize appointment details for December 7 meeting taking place at Narita Airport. -------------- Visa -------------- ¶4. (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports must have a Japanese visa to enter Japan. Travelers on a U.S. tourist (blue cover) passport may enter Japan as a tourist without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days. 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. -------------- Threat Assessment -------------- ¶5. (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). ¶6. (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. ¶7. (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