Japan Information and Culture Center, EMBASSY OF JAPAN KOIZUMI EXPANDS ON HIS VISION IN NEW ASIAN TOUR rime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s foreign policy focus in recent weeks has been on Asia, as will be the world’s attention as the first-ever World Cup to be held in Asia opens May 31. He visited Vietnam, East Timor, Australia and New Zealand from April 27 to May 3. In each country, based upon his speech deliveredP in Singapore in January, Prime Minister Koizumi explained his concept of an Asian community epitomized in the phrase “act together and advance together.” He also made a major address in Hainan Island in China on April 12, entitled “Asia in a New Century, Challenge and Opportunity.” The essence of his vision is that Asia faces a bright future in the new century as well as challenges. The driving forces he foresees for the region are freedom, which advanced significantly in recent decades, diversity among cultures and an openness in bilateral dialogues, while the major challenges include the need for greater structural economic and social reforms, regional cooperation and the need to convey Asia’s message to the world. Among the details are harmonizing those reforms to maximize trade and investment, APRIL/MAY 2002 cooperation on energy and environmental policies and coordination of 4/5 financial and currency measures. Japan has been working with many CONTENTS nations in Asia on arrangements to help avoid any future monetary crisis such as the one which struck the region in 1998, and to reach free trade PM sees a new Asia community agreements to maximize the region’s competitive economic and human His latest regional trip firms up relations resources advantages. The Prime Minister also said that the fight against with more of Japan’s neighbors. 2 global terrorism must be addressed, strategic cooperation must be sustained to keep the region stable and that as Asia prospers it must Foreign Minister builds bridges On a visit to Europe and the Mideast, she concentrate on “sustainable development” to avoid the economic and covers a wide range of topics. 3 social disruptions of the past, while sharing its prosperity with the less developed nations of the world. (see page 2) Coalition support extended 3 ASIA ‘S FIRST WORLD CUP OPENS Business Trends Outsourcing catches on; private trips to space; Wal-Mart’s new foothold; automakers are prospering. 4 Viewpoint A leading Diet member discusses Japan’s role in the war against terrorism. 5 “Ethereal” Art Hideo Mori’s intriguing method is widely considered as timeless. 6 Beyond Differences Competition between the Minamoto and Taira clans in the samurai era. 7 The opening ceremony of the 2002 World Cup was held in Seoul, South Korea May 31, with World Cup snapshots Japan’s Prince Takamado, a cousin of Emperor Akihito in attendance. The two nations are co-hosting Hosting the event captures the nation’s the world’s most widely-watched sporting spectacle. Each will stage 32 matches, with the first imagination; schedules and more. 8 between France and Senegal in Seoul and the final in Yokohama, Japan on June 30. It was the first visit to South Korea by a member of the royal family in the postwar era. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are scheduled to attend the Yokohama final, along with Prime Minister Koizumi and South Korea’s President Kim Dae-Jung. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau) (see page 8) Japan Now is online! www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TIES he Prime Minister’s trip was his second to Southeast Asia in four months. In January, he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore, and visited the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, left, reviews Japanese troops on T U.N. peacekeeping duty in East Timor April 29. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) and Indonesia. On his latest trip, he expanded upon his proposals for the region’s future and touched on • IN AUSTRALIA, (April 30 to May 2), Mr. numerous bilateral questions. Koizumi had talks with Prime Minister Hon. John • IN VIETNAM, (April 27 and 28), Mr. Koizumi Winston Howard, and spoke at a lecture meeting had a meeting with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, sponsored by the Asia Society. Mr. Koizumi was given and paid courtesy calls on President Tran Duc Luong a full ceremonial welcome at parliament with an and Mr. Nong Doc Manh, Secretary General of the honor guard and a 19-gun salute. Vietnam Communist Party. The Prime Minister The two leaders exchanged views on the expressed his support for reform efforts underway situation in East Asia and the Korean Peninsula, the there, and discussed possible ways to develop the global war on terrorism, the World Trade Organization bilateral relationship further, particularly in light of (WTO) negotiations on global trade liberalization; the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which is also, bilateral issues and cooperative relations to be celebrated in 2003. confirmed under the Australia-Japan Creative Prime Minister Khai thanked Japan for its Partnership, which is based on the Prime Minister’s development assistance, and hailed bilateral ties as concept of “act together and advance together.” The a long-term “reliable partnership.” He also invited two sides agreed to work on an economic partnership the Emperor and Empress of Japan to pay an agreement, as Japan is Australia’s largest trading official visit to the country. In response, Prime partner with two-way trade exceeding $21 billion. Minister Koizumi said the invitation would be • IN NEW ZEALAND, (May 2- 3), the Prime conveyed to the Imperial Court. He noted that Minister met with Prime Minister Helen Clark, and Vietnam has become a “rising dragon” in Asia, and the two leaders reaffirmed their nations’ commitment that while the economic situation in Japan was to the Kyoto climate-change protocol aimed at cutting testing Japan’s ability to continue to be the world’s emissions of greenhouse gasses. On other issues, the largest overseas assistance donor, with the efficient Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to the allocation of aid, regular consultations with development of closer regional ties that could lead to Vietnam would continue in a variety of areas. an East Asian cooperative community including New • IN EAST TIMOR, the Prime Minister became Zealand and Australia, while noting that such an the first head of state to visit the territory (April arrangement must have a “global perspective.” Trade 29), since the election of Xanama Gusmao as was also discussed, as Japan is New Zealand’s third- President of the world’s newest nation – recently largest trading partner, although both sides have split off from Indonesia. After an enthusiastic differences over agriculture, and the technicalities of greeting of beaming children wearing white shirts the whaling issue, which the International Whaling and waving Japanese flags, Mr. Koizumi Commission was to take up in the Japanese city of congratulated the territory on its formal Shimonoseki on May 20. independence which took effect May 20. • THE PHILIPPINE’S President Gloria Macapal The Prime Minister also inspected camps of Arroyo also said May 21 that she wants to enter into the Japanese Self Defense Force (SDF) divisions, consultations on an economic partnership agreement which has deployed several hundred peacekeepers with Japan during the visit she made to Tokyo in May and election monitors to East Timor under Japan’s for talks with the Prime Minister. Japan already has JAPAN recently enacted International Peace Cooperation an economic partnership agreement with Singapore, NOW Law. He pledged that Japan will continue its efforts to and following a recent visit to Seoul and meetings “actively support East Timor’s national reconciliation with South Korean President Kin Dae-Jung, the two 2 and nation-building for achieving (economic) nations are also studying the possibility of another sustainability.” such agreement with South Korea. COALITION SUPPORT EXTENDED FM KAWAGUCHI TO The cabinet of the ruling coalition has decided to extend the period of logistical activities of the Self EUROPE, MIDEAST Defense Forces, for supporting the global coalition battling terrorism in Afghanistan for another six months until Nov. 19. The logistical activities by the SDF are based on the Anti-Terrorism Special oreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi visited Measures law, which was passed in the Diet on Europe and the Middle East from April 29 to Oct. 29, 2001. May 5, stopping in the U.K., Belgium, Based on this law, Japan has dispatched Afghanistan, and Iran. destroyers and supply ships to the Indian Ocean F • IN LONDON, she met with her to provide replenishment at sea of U.S. and counterpart Jack Straw for wide-ranging discussions British naval vessels. On June 8, two more on international developments, the Kyoto Protocol, warships were deployed to the regions to join the the World Summit on Sustainable Development and three already on station. As of May 10, 2002, the on ways to advance future bilateral cooperation. amount of fuel Japan had provided to those • IN BELGIUM, she met with Commissioner in vessels had amounted to approximately 124,000 Charge of External Relations of the European kiloliters. Commission Christopher Patten, and Javier Solana, The Air Self Defense Force of Japan has Secretary General of the Council of the EU. The also provided airlift support to the U.S. Forces by C-130 and U-4 transport airplanes. Japan agenda covered the Mideast and other regions, and completed 35 airlift transportation missions within the Action Plan for EU-Japan Cooperation. Japan between Nov. 29, 2001 and May 10, 2002, • IN AFGHANISTAN, the Minister met leaders of and 15 missions from U.S.