Japan-U.S. relations to be tested under an Obama administration

By Takehiko Kajita

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15 Comments

medievaltimes at 09:43 AM JST - 11th November

Note to Japan: Stop depending on the US like a child depends on a parent.
BrightEyes at 10:55 AM JST - 11th November

Attention Japan:

If you want to matter, then you should do more to make yourselves matter.

Right now all you do is demand respect you have not earned. With the rise of China, your demands are no longer as pressing as they once were.

The real pity is that if anyone in the country had some vision of the future behind which people could unite, Japan would truly be a force to be reckoned with.

Now it's not even a has-been. The best it measures up to is an "almost-was".
bebert at 12:53 PM JST - 11th November

if Japan is AWOL and is not there, it’s going to have a political effect in terms of Japan’s standing,

Japan doesn't have a Muslim problem and has never antagonized them as part of their foreign policy. Steer clear of Afghanistan. Let the Americans and their masters clean up their own mess.

Obama has a slight messianic complex. I can very well see him trying to be the President that "opened up" North Korea, as Nixon opened up China.
European1 at 01:31 PM JST - 11th November

First meeting and here we go:

A-so - "Hey Mr. Obama, lets get to the point and finally make some progress with abducted Japanese Citizens by N.K. Mr.Obama - Well, is not my first priority A-so - our relations wont be good then
TravelingSales at 01:56 PM JST - 11th November

Obama will soon give Japan an opportunity to contribute in a crisis. The South Korean stock market has bet the farm on the FTA going through. Obama will cancel it. The Korean economy will implode, and Japan will get to play a starring role in picking up the pieces.
1eyedjack at 03:34 PM JST - 11th November

"For Japan, the U.S.-originated global financial crisis is arguably the biggest headache."

Huh ??? Lemme see if I got this right, Japan has been banning American goods from it's shores for years... and subsequently putting millions of Americans out of work ! Seems to me if Japan wants Americans to buy their Toshibas, Sonys, and Hitachis, Japan has a vested interest in seeing that Americans are back at work... making money to buy ! Please note, this scenerio goes for every other nation out there that is running a trade deficit with the USA and insists on blaming American consumers... their best customers for dozens of years mind you... for the current economic mess.
TokyoVP at 05:36 PM JST - 11th November

Obama meets with Bush for transition briefing on Japan:

Japan held a trade surplus with the US for 26 consecutive years until the recent market meltdown. While Toyota became the world's largest producer of cars, domestic Japanese car sales declined 13 consecutive years, highlighting the parasitic nature of the economic relationship. Japan has been ruled by a single party for 50 years and top members of the Defense Forces believe Japan was tricked into World War II by President Roosevelt.

Obama: "Jeez, George, what should I do with Japan"

Bush: "Uhh...make Hillary the new Ambassador"
helloklitty at 08:42 PM JST - 11th November

Japan, China is your new sugar daddy. You don't need the U.S. anymore. Just trade with Asian countries. America is broke - can't buy your goods. What's that? Everyone in Asia still hates you?
Wolfpack at 11:49 PM JST - 11th November

The fact that Japan is averse to risk and not actively involved in all aspects of foreign policy in the world make it difficult for the US under any president to see Japan as a first level ally in the future. Japan will not provide any substantive military support to the US so their influence has a significant limitation. That being said, I hope that Obama doesn't look past Japan's recent history of good relations with the US and the strategic importance of our relationship. Usually, in the area of foreign policy there isn't much change from administration to administration. However, Obama amorphous "change" could mean just about anything because I haven't heard him say much of anything in the area of foreign policy except the fact that he wants to have negotiations with our worst enemies without pre-conditions. In this regard, I think Japan should be worried that Obama will seel out to North Korea and throw Japan under the bus with his grandma and the Rev. Wright. If you can't make yourself useful to him, look out!
mtt at 08:50 AM JST - 12th November

Unfortunately the US will not be able to afford the same old trade/consumption practice. I think it's time for every nation to go a little inward and work to put its house in order. This hectic pace of globalization has created a lot of damages socially and culturally everywhere, in addition to some positives. Free trade is wonderful as long as everyone gains from it, but now the US must learn to save and rebuild the whole manufacturing sector. Reaganomics were fine when it worked, but Mr.Obama must start restricting the trade to protect/rebuild the US industries and jobs.

Japan should prepare well for this change, which I think may prove as something good for Japan in the long run.
ptolemy at 03:34 PM JST - 12th November

Hey, that's not what they are saying in Obama, Japan. At Aso aircraft brokers in California they say they are looking forward to the Obama - Aso relationship. So I dont see a drastic change.
adaydream at 01:23 AM JST - 13th November

The Japanese gov't buckled under the bush's administration and followed him straight into Baghdad.

Now under the Obama administration they only have to help repair the damage done. < :-)
Xeno23 at 02:51 PM JST - 14th November

This is a perfect example of a completely content-free article. What's really in this thing? Nothing new whatsoever. None of these talking heads can possibly believe what they're saying: it's lip service.

What's America's policy wrt Japan? Cars and console games - as long as those keep coming, we're good. What's Japan's policy wrt America? Can we keep selling you cars and console games? Yes? Okay, we're good. How's this gonna change? And why would ya?

Japan as a market for American goods? Don't make me laugh, except for a few fanatical lobbyists on either side NOBODY CARES (all you theorists - you actually think there's a market here? Feh; it's hardly worth the paperwork!). Afghanistan? Iraq? What're you kidding me? NOBODY CARES. Japan's global role? Except for a bunch of cranky recidivists and panhandlers NOBODY CARES.

Japan, you just keep on keeping on. America will do the same. Everything will be fine. There's no test here.
teaabe at 06:49 AM JST - 16th November

Japan should know that Obama favors propping up the Big 3, despite decades of extremely poor quality, blatantly and at times violently racist auto workers (who had smashed Toyotas and Hondas to pieces in the 80's and 90's - they still do given the chance), and even commiting murder via the case of a Vietnamese man who'd been bludgeoned to death in a bar for being mistaken for being Japanese or for having driven a Japanese car.