Comments on: Japan must stand tall http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/01/14/japan-must-regain-confidence-and-stand-tall/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:50:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Margarethttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/01/14/japan-must-regain-confidence-and-stand-tall/comment-page-1/#comment-5414 Margaret Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:17:56 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=1225#comment-5414 Interesting article, but I found the comment about meeting "arranging a meeting with Ichiro Ozawa, the leader of the main opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan)" to have a different nuance compared with articles written in 2007 when the DPJ achieved a majority in the upper house. Not to sound like Emily Post -- but did Schieffer ever attempt to meet Ozawa before the 2007 election? Schieffer did invite Ozawa for a first meeting at the American Embassy after the 2007 election, Ozawa countered (media reports) with a suggestion to meet at the DPJ headquarters. The resulting photo op shows an oversize smiling Ozawa (campaign posters) behind the real Ozawa and Schieffer. The photos were in stark contrast to the typical US-Foreign Office PR shot showing Schieffer's obvious leadership mien. Sample above. I don't read Japanese and only have access to the Internet versions of the Japanese media. If anyone else has insight on the relationship between Schieffer and Ozawa, please comment. Maybe now both the United States and Japan can work together and use a little "Smart Power" to update the alliance for this century. Reference source for Schieffer / Ozawa meeting: Japanese poll stokes US security fears By David Pilling in Tokyo Published: July 31 2007 19:57 | Last updated: July 31 2007 19:57 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1cf13c42-3f97-11dc-b034-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 "Mr Schieffer said he had never met Mr Ozawa, an indication of how thin relations are between Washington and a party that has never seriously vied for power before. The ambassador said he thought the importance of the alliance went far deeper than individual relationships, but he conceded that the defeat of the LDP had changed the situation." Interesting article, but I found the comment about meeting “arranging a meeting with Ichiro Ozawa, the leader of the main opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan)” to have a different nuance compared with articles written in 2007 when the DPJ achieved a majority in the upper house. Not to sound like Emily Post — but did Schieffer ever attempt to meet Ozawa before the 2007 election?

Schieffer did invite Ozawa for a first meeting at the American Embassy after the 2007 election, Ozawa countered (media reports) with a suggestion to meet at the DPJ headquarters. The resulting photo op shows an oversize smiling Ozawa (campaign posters) behind the real Ozawa and Schieffer. The photos were in stark contrast to the typical US-Foreign Office PR shot showing Schieffer’s obvious leadership mien. Sample above.

I don’t read Japanese and only have access to the Internet versions of the Japanese media. If anyone else has insight on the relationship between Schieffer and Ozawa, please comment.

Maybe now both the United States and Japan can work together and use a little “Smart Power” to update the alliance for this century.

Reference source for Schieffer / Ozawa meeting:

Japanese poll stokes US security fears
By David Pilling in Tokyo
Published: July 31 2007 19:57 | Last updated: July 31 2007 19:57

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1cf13c42-3f97-11dc-b034-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

“Mr Schieffer said he had never met Mr Ozawa, an indication of how thin relations are between Washington and a party that has never seriously vied for power before. The ambassador said he thought the importance of the alliance went far deeper than individual relationships, but he conceded that the defeat of the LDP had changed the situation.”

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