DIET MEMBERS TO THE AMBASSADOR: CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

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" �A; -------------- ¶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