TOKYO —

The Foreign Ministry insisted Tuesday that some Japanese media have issued an ‘‘inaccurate’’ translation of recent remarks by U.S. President Barack Obama on U.S.-China relations. ‘‘Some media in our country have reported that (the U.S. president said) ‘the U.S.-China ties are more important than any other bilateral ties in the world’...but that is an inaccurate translation,’’ Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kazuo Kodama said at a regular press conference.
   
What Obama said during a recent U.S.-China ministerial dialogue was that ties between the two countries are ‘‘as important as any bilateral relationship in the world.’’ Kodama denied he was pointing out the mistranslation out of concerns that it may give an impression that Obama believes the U.S.-China ties are more important than ties between Washington and Tokyo. ‘‘It’s not like that at all,’’ Kodama said. ‘‘We have contacted the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and hope that we want you media to understand correctly.’‘
 
Obama made the comments as opening remarks of the first round of the ministerial U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, which took place on July 27 and July 28. Obama said, ‘‘The relationship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world.’’

© 2009 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

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15 Comments

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  some14some at 07:33 AM JST - 5th August

  Foreign Ministry's clarification itself is the live proof that translation was perfect and was well understood by the people !

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  chotto at 08:50 AM JST - 5th August

  Let's bilateraling important!

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  smithinjapan at 09:14 AM JST - 5th August

  I heard endlessely for a week about how the US thought China was 'more important' than Japan, and it was by the same old whiners. Why is it Japan feels it needs the praise fo the world all the time, and sulks like a child when it doesn't get it? This should be a wake-up call, if anything, for Japan to start getting out of the complacent funk it's in and KEEP itself at the top! Problem is, nothing beats the motivation of the underdog, and China hands down has a whole lot more resources than Japan.

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  OssanAmerica at 10:02 AM JST - 5th August

  This should be a wake-up call, if anything, for Japan to start getting >out of the complacent funk it's in and KEEP itself at the top!

  Japan's limited size and population will not allow it to compete with China on the same level. Japan reached the "top" in Asia decades ago by first using it's low labor costs, undervalued yen, and exporting like mad. This phase is exactly what China has been and continues to emulate. But Japan has gone past that and relies on it's fully developed industries with a high level of R&D and technological abilities not to mention the highest standard of living in east asia for decades. While parts of China and a paret of her population has certaibly risen economically, the largest portion of her people have not. The Chinese government itself still calls itself a "developing country". China still has a long way to go before it has a domestic economy on a par with Japan.

  China hands down has a whole lot more resources than Japan.

  Yes it does. It has a huge nuclear armed military that trains with the United States as the designated "enemy".

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  gogogo at 10:38 AM JST - 5th August

  The media will say anything to sell their wares. The US does the same, foxnews being the worst.

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  timorborder at 10:52 AM JST - 5th August

  *Why is it Japan feels it needs the praise of the world all the time, and sulks like a child when it doesn't get it? *

  Smith you might want to get hold of a copy of the book by Takeo Doi (died recently). Not quite sure of the title in English, possibly called "The anatomy of dependence" (?).

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  Beelzebub at 11:27 AM JST - 5th August

  There's still a controversy over whether or not the US mistranslated the Japanese "Mokusatsu" (to treat with silent contempt) response to the Potsdam declaration in 1945. Jeepers, some insist, if you had really understood what we meant there wouldn't have been any point in dropping those nasty nukes. Somehow, I suspect, the Allies were hoping for a reply a little bit closer to "cease fire" or "we surrender."

  When in doubt over nuances, the proper procedure is to request a clarification. The media isn't just dumbing down, it's become lazy as well.

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  LFRAgain at 08:36 AM JST - 6th August

  Why is it Japan feels it needs the praise fo the world all the time, and sulks like a child when it doesn't get it?

  Because Japan makes a considerably number of financial, political, and social concessions to accomodate the United State's desire to maintain a strong military presence in the area.

  If I found out the person I've been hosting at tremendous cost for the past 60 years suddenly turned around and said, "I think your next door neighbor is far more fun to party with," I'd be a little torqued too.

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  Sarge at 10:20 AM JST - 6th August

  Of course Obama's remarks were mistranslated. There is no more important bilateral relationship in the world than the one between the U.S. and Japan. Right?

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  zurcronium at 10:25 AM JST - 6th August

  Back of the bus, welcome Japan. When DPJ takes over perhaps things can improve and more forward. With Aso in place, forget about it.

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  realist at 06:46 PM JST - 6th August

  Takeo Dois book offers a real insight into why the Japanese act like this, feeling the necessity to be "Nambaa Wan" all the time and especially feeling the need to be dependent on America, like Americas lapdog. The Foreign Ministry has made a fool of itself in even commenting on Obama`s remarks. The origonal translation was correct. Japan no longer matters to America like it did before, it is no longer the "flavour of the month" and has been replaced by China. The Japanese government and people have to come into the real world. Their day has past.

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  LFRAgain at 07:34 AM JST - 7th August

  Reaist,

  Please share. What, exactly, does Takeo Doi have to say about this supposed Japanese propensity for wanting to be "numbaa wan?" I'd love to hear your take take on Doi's take. And if you truly think Japan has faded from the world stage, much less that Obama's words had some sort of hidden meaning that supports your silly premise, you might want to reconsider changing your username to avoid any more irony.

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  mushroomcloud at 11:38 AM JST - 7th August

  It is pretty sad that Japan's nervous Foreign Ministry had to step in and make the claim that Obama's remarks were mistranslated. It's as though they needed to broadcast Japan's glaring insecurity in being perceived as a fading power by the world, and that includes the United States. Worse yet, they had to call the US Embassy for permission to make their claim.

  The leaders in Beijing must be laughing even harder than when that Japanese rocket exploded one month after China sent their first man to space.

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  hworta269 at 10:37 AM JST - 9th August

  Obama pretty much said that exact thing.

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  hworta269 at 10:39 AM JST - 9th August

  I dont think Japanese people really want Obama thinking highly of them.

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