Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1511
2008-06-02 22:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

DIET MEMBERS TO THE AMBASSADOR: CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Tags:  PREL PGOV KCRM KOCI PHUM JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4724
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RUCNCLC/CHILD LABOR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNCRI/VIENNA CRIME COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001511 

SIPDIS

JUSTICE FOR CEOS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM KOCI PHUM JA
SUBJECT: DIET MEMBERS TO THE AMBASSADOR: CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
LAW WILL PASS IN THE FALL


TOKYO 00001511 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001511

SIPDIS

JUSTICE FOR CEOS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM KOCI PHUM JA
SUBJECT: DIET MEMBERS TO THE AMBASSADOR: CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
LAW WILL PASS IN THE FALL


TOKYO 00001511 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (C) Summary: Legislation criminalizing child pornography
possession will not pass this Diet session, the ruling
coalition's project team told the Ambassador May 28.
However, it will be on top of the agenda for the fall Diet
session, the Diet members promised. Although debate
continues over the extent of Japan's child pornography
problem and the necessity of a new law, the LDP/Komeito team
will push ahead with the amendment. The United States is
grateful for the ruling coalition's efforts on this vital
international problem, replied the Ambassador, offering the
continued assistance of the U.S. government. End Summary.

Not enough time left in the Diet session
--------------

2. (C) Revisions to Japan's child pornography law will not
pass this Diet session, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Representative Mayumi Moriyama told the Ambassador May 28.
Although the differences between the LDP/Komeito joint
project team's bill and the competing bill drafted by the
Democratic Party of Japan are not large, there is not enough
time to reach a consensus. The United States is grateful for
the ruling coalition's efforts to pass legislation
criminalizing child pornography possession, the Ambassador
replied, offering the continued assistance of the Embassy in
this area.


3. (C) Given the situation in the Diet today, a new law is
especially difficult to pass, LDP Rep. Chuko Hayakawa added.
The ruling coalition needs "much more time" to sufficiently
debate the contents of the legislation with the DPJ. Because
there has not been any progress in these negotiations, there
will be no outcome soon. "It's not that there's not
progress, the negotiations have not even begun," interjected
LDP Rep. Masatoshi Kurata. The LDP/Komeito project team
appreciates the Ambassador's encouragement, Kurata continued,
noting that "it is essential for Japan to be in step with
other advanced countries." The United States understands the

time pressures of the Diet session coming to a close, the
Ambassador responded, expressing his hope that the momentum
can be maintained so the Diet can take action when it comes
back in session.

DPJ situation "difficult"
--------------

4. (C) There are many different kinds of people within the
DPJ, Moriyama pointed out. Some people are very suspicious
of the proposed legislative amendment and some people are
very opposed. Although Moriyama is optimistic that the
legislation will pass, "we will not know until the last
moment," she said. The DPJ is strong, agreed Komeito
Councilor Akira Matsu. Although there are rumors that
opposition to the amendment is decreasing within the DPJ,
they cannot be evaluated because the DPJ proposal has not yet
been released. Discussing the issue will be priority-one at
the beginning of the extraordinary Diet session in August,
Matsu stated. Based on his conversations with the DPJ, there
seemed to be great support for the proposed amendment, the
Ambassador explained. Hopefully all sides can come together
and create a bill with widespread support that can pass in
the fall Diet session, the Ambassador stated, noting that
"this is a decision for Japan to make."

Some reluctant LDP Diet members share their perspective
-------------- --------------

5. (C) There is a gap in the perception of Japan that needs
to be resolved, Hayakawa suggested. Although some people say
that Japan is a "major" child pornography country, said
Hayakawa, "Some people don't agree. I don't agree." There
is less damage from child pornography in Japan than in the
United States, Kurata contributed. But Japan does not want
to create a "blank area" in the world, so efforts to
criminalize simple possession should proceed. "I have no
statistics," said Kurata, "but this is my impression." Among
consumers of child pornography, fewer Japanese people go on
to abuse children than American people, Kurata asserted.


TOKYO 00001511 002.2 OF 002



6. (C) It is possible that there are more U.S. pedophiles
than Japanese pedophiles, replied the Ambassador, but it is
also possible that the United States has a better reporting
method for this crime. Child pornography is a problem all
across the world, the Ambassador continued. There is a grave
problem in Japan, as demonstrated by the number of items
confiscated at borders as Japanese citizens enter the United
States. This problem exists in the United States, Japan, the
United Kingdom, France -- across the world. Japan and Russia
are the only countries of the Group of Eight (G8) that do not
criminalize possession. We cannot turn a blind eye to the
crime, the Ambassador asserted, and we must consider not only
victims in Japan or the United States, but also victims
everywhere else in the world. The trauma these victims
experience will last all of their lives. We must protect
these children regardless of which country has more
pedophiles, the Ambassador concluded.

Ending on a positive note: the voice of the committed
-------------- --------------

7. (C) It is very regrettable that some people feel that
Japan is not a major child pornography country, Matsu
interjected. We cannot blame people who do not believe the
extent of Japan's problem because they haven't seen the
images themselves, she continued, telling the Ambassador that
because simple possession is legal in Japan, more children
are victimized not only in Japan and the United States but
also in developing countries. Because of the widespread
availability of the internet, millions of people can see the
images once they're uploaded. People don't understand the
issue until they see the images. But because of legitimate
legal restrictions, using the images to advocate for stricter
laws is impossible. Matsu had deeply hoped that the
legislation would pass before the G8 summit in July, and
feels very frustrated that it did not, she told the
Ambassador, swearing that it would be the "first thing the
Diet would take up" in the fall session.


8. (C) Many people are not aware of the problem because they
have never looked at the images, the Ambassador concurred.
It's unfortunate when Japan is portrayed as a country that
doesn't care about this issue. The overwhelming majority of
Japanese people find the crime reprehensible. It is not a
problem only for Japan or for the United States, but for the
whole international community, the Ambassador finished.


9. (U) The following participants were present during the
meeting:

U.S. Participants:
Ambassador Thomas Schieffer
Political Minister Counselor Mike Meserve
Legal Attach Larry Futa
ICE Attach Mike Cox
Political Officer Scott Hansen
Interpreter Fumiko Gregg

Japanese Participants:
LDP Rep. Mayumi Moriyama
LDP Rep. Masatoshi Kurata
LDP Rep. Chuko Hayakawa
Komeito C. Akira Matsu
Komeito C. Yoko Wanibuchi
SCHIEFFER