KUDOS ON JAPANESE REPORTING AND ADVOCACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 110754

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: ECON ETRD PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: KUDOS ON JAPANESE REPORTING AND ADVOCACY

REF: A. TOKYO 241

B. TOKYO 1230

C. TOKYO 1383

D. TOKYO 1477

E. TOKYO 1495

F. TOKYO 1505

G. TOKYO 1541

H. TOKYO 1817

I. TOKYO 2105

J. TOKYO 2108

K. TOKYO 2110

L. TOKYO 2122

M. TOKYO 2168

N. TOKYO 2187

O. TOKYO 2206

P. TOKYO 2238

Q. TOKYO 2303

R. TOKYO 2400

S. TOKYO 2416

T. TOKYO 2443

U. TOKYO 2503

V. TOKYO 2596

W. TOKYO 2631

X. TOKYO 2639

Y. TOKYO 2729

Z. TOKYO 2780

Classified By: EAP Acting A/S John Norris


1. (U) As we in Washington are well aware, the last few
months have been very challenging ones for staff at Embassy
Tokyo and the consulates. You have been forced to juggle
responsibilities associated with Japan's G-8 year, a busy
summer transfer season, and Washington's need for information
about recent political changes -- all at the same time. We
know that this has not been easy, and we want you to know how
grateful we are for your hard work in the field. We would
like to call attention to Mission Japan,s exemplary work.


2. (U) We would like to start by expressing appreciation for
the efforts of all of Embassy Tokyo -- particularly its GSO
section -- for managing the many responsibilities associated
with Japan's G-8 Summit in Hokkaido. Despite a shortage of
available funding and officers, you provided an outstanding
level of support to U.S. Government visitors to a variety of
summits in locations throughout Japan. A special thanks to
those officers from Embassy Tokyo and the consulates who
traveled to Hokkaido to pitch in and help.


3. (U) On that note, our Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) wished to
contribute the following for inclusion in this kudos message:

"Robert Cekuta, Kevin Maher, Bart Cobbs, and Ronald Cherry
provided substantive information and support on important
issues relevant to the G8 Science and Technology Ministerial
Meeting (G8 STMM) held in Okinawa on June 15, 2008. The
topics of the G8 STMM included international cooperation on
research and development for the realization of a low-carbon
society, science and technology cooperation with African
countries and other developing countries, and cooperation of
research and development resources. These officers were
instrumental in contributing to the success of the ten-member
USG delegation to the G-8 STMM, which was headed by DOE Under
Secretary of Science Raymond Orbach. Additionally, Chimi
Miyajima, FSN at Embassy Tokyo, provided unparalleled
superior logistical support for the delegation, and deserves
to be commended for her hard work."


4. (U) We would also like to call attention to the excellent
scenesetter cables prepared by economic, political and EST
staff for U.S. Government officials who participated in G-8
meetings. Tokyo 841, Tokyo 1230, Tokyo 1383, Tokyo 1505,
Tokyo 1817, and Tokyo 2303 all provided insightful analysis
of major issues that was useful not only in preparing U.S.
Government visitors for the summits. Those cables have also
helped prepare new officers in EAP/J and in other bureaus and
offices who arrived during the busy summer rotation. As a
set, they will make an excellent briefing book on U.S.-Japan
economic issues for some months to come, which will be of
particular utility in briefing the transition teams. One
senior official in EAP praised Tokyo 1505 as "an outstanding
message that explains some of the political context for
changes in Japan,s policies in ways that affect our
interests."

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5. (SBU) Tokyo's press section also did a remarkable job in
reporting on G-8 developments; your press reports on the G-8
agricultural ministerial, for example, gave us an early heads
up about the work Japan was undertaking with Russia to plan
the ministerial at a time of heightened sensitivities due to
Russia's actions in Georgia. This allowed us to work with the
NSC to quickly reach out to the Japanese Government at a
critical time to better coordinate our policies on
communicating with Russia.


6. (U) Had managing the G-8 been your only job this summer,
you would already have had your hands full. But it was not --
in addition to those responsibilities, you had to continue
doing your own jobs as well. And those jobs became remarkably
more demanding as a result of the recent political turmoil in
Japan, which has increased our need in Washington for
information about the changes that are taking place.


7. (U) For example, when Former Prime Minister Fukuda
announced on August 1 that he would reshuffle his Cabinet,
you drafted, on that same day, a lengthy cable (Tokyo 2122)
providing in-depth analysis of each of the most important new
appointments that had been announced. This allowed us to
comprehensively brief our seventh-floor principals (as well
as principals in other agencies) on the news right when it
happened. Tokyo 2122 was also praised by staff at other
agencies; it seemingly contained something for everyone, from
agricultural specialists at the Department of Agriculture to
military analysts at the Pentagon. In the days that followed,
you delivered us even more first rate analysis of what the
appointments were likely to mean for us -- analysis like
Tokyo 2238, which considered the views of the business
community in determining what the new cabinet would mean for
the economic reform agenda.


8. (SBU) PM Fukuda's abrupt resignation announcement
September 1 challenged Post to quickly provide insights on
what this development would mean for U.S.-Japan relations.
Post rose to the challenge, sending us a comprehensive cable
(Tokyo 2400) that same day outlining what the resignation
would mean for us. Thanks to your hard work, we were able to
answer questions from seventh floor principals on the same
morning we learned about the news, helping us to once again
look smart. You followed this up with a series of cables such
as Tokyo 2416, Tokyo 2443, and Tokyo 2780 predicting the
timing of likely scenarios that agencies such as USTR have
praised as instrumental in helping us to plan our future
engagement with the Japanese government. Tokyo 2503 and Tokyo
2639 were particularly noteworthy for their timeliness and
utility to readers in Washington.


9. (U) Other cables are deserving of praise as well,
including the following:

(SBU) Tokyo 1477 provided a very timely explanation of the
challenges and opportunities for Japan-China relations. It
generated high levels of interest within various offices here
in State, and was eventually used to brief the Secretary
herself.

(U) Tokyo 1495, which reported on the recent ousting of the
directors of a mid-sized Japanese company by a group of
investors led by controversial U.S. fund Steel Partner, was
read with great interest by a number of policymakers in
Washington. We welcomed the cable's report not only on the
development itself, but also its inclusion of the views of
respected figures in Japan on what this will mean for the
future of corporate governance in the country.

(C) Tokyo 1541 ("Japanese Prime Minister Meets President
Ahmadinejad") was an extremely timely message that enabled us
to brief Secretary Rice on this important subject prior to
her discussion on this topic with new Japanese Ambassador
Fujisaki. In particular the embassy,s insightful comment
helped us explain the reasons PM Fukuda agreed to this
meeting, information that helped us suggest an appropriate
reply by the Secretary.

(U) Sometimes the nature of fast-moving events requires us to
request immediate action and advocacy on an issue, such as
the July 31 occasion when Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare (MHLW) instructed importers to implement mandatory
testing for PSP toxins in lobster originating in the
northeastern United States. At a time when we were under a
great deal of pressure on this issue from Members of Congress
and other interested parties, your immediate advocacy and
daily updates (including Tokyo 2105 and 2187) were
instrumental in helping defuse this problem. Your outstanding

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response won praise from a variety of offices both here in
Washington (including Members of Congress) and in New
England.

(SBU) Tokyo 2108 was an insightful cable that was praised by
our Economic Bureau and by officials at the Department of
Commerce for its profile of Japan's new civil aviation
leadership. This kind of proactive reporting is of great use
in preparing negotiators from EEB for their continuing talks
with their Japanese counterparts.

(SBU) Tokyo 2110 ("Japan's Agenda on Regional Economic
Integration") provided a fascinating analysis of Japan's
strategy for regional economic integration. It was also
delivered at a crucial time -- just before serious
discussions began in Washington on the possibility of
initiating expanded P-4 FTA negotiations with Japan. As such,
it played a major role in informing our discussions about
this issue. Please keep up the good work by continuing to
report on Japan's FTA/EPA strategy, including its ongoing
negotiations with Australia. This cable was also selected for
kudos by staff at the Department of Commerce.

(C) Tokyo 2168, on Japan's declining business with Iran, was
read with great interest by various offices here in State. We
called attention to it in morning meetings with senior
officials and used it for other briefing materials we later
produced. We are very appreciative of reporting that covers
the Iran angle, and urge you to continue looking into this
issue.

(SBU) Tokyo 2206 ("First Look at Japan's New Consumer
Agency") covered an issue that is of great interest to
various agencies in Washington -- the formation of Japan's
new consumer agency and what it will mean for U.S. business
interests. The cable was timely and well-researched, and was
selected for kudos by staff at the Department of Commerce.
Continued outstanding analysis like this will play a major
role in shaping USG strategy for advocacy on this issue.
Please keep up the good work.

(SBU) Tokyo 2729 provided a sobering but useful look at new
Prime Minister Aso's economic priorities, including his views
on the reform agenda. We appreciate your continuing reporting
on this crucial issue.

(SBU) Various agencies here in Washington have commented on
your outstanding response to the tainted rice issue. Tokyo
2596 provided an excellent look at the real causes of this
crisis, and what its repercussions would be for U.S.
interests. It was praised by staff in EAP/EP and in other
agencies such as USDA for the comprehensive insights it
provided to policymakers in Washington. We also appreciated
your sustained and effective advocacy on this issue, the
results of which were reported in Tokyo 2631.

(SBU) Tokyo 2745, a scenesetter for PACOM Commander Admiral
Keating was a model of clarity and conciseness, ably
describing and assessing the challenges posed by Japan's
fluid political environment. The cable provided excellent
context and grist for the Desk's contribution to a briefing
paper on Japan prepared for use by the transition team in
November.


10. (U) As always, we appreciate your hard work in Embassy
Tokyo, and assure you that your cables are read with great
interest by officials and analysts in the interagency here in
Washington, and your efforts in the field to support U.S.
foreign policy are much appreciated. Please keep up the good
work.
RICE