JAPAN HIGHLIGHTS, 1-13 JANUARY 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP04T00447R000201150001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 16, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Central Intelligence Agency
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
16 January 1985
JAPAN HIGHLIGHTS, 1-13 January 1985
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US-JAPAN SUMMIT-
Nakasone's Goals: Press reports in the days leading up to
the 2 January summit suggested Prime Minister Nakasone had much
to gain from the meeting, and subsequent commentary indicates he
accomplished what he set out to do:
Further cultivate his friendship with the President.
Reconfirm strong bilateral ties.
Keep his visibility and popularity high. With businesses
shut down for the New Year's holiday, the Japanese people
were home to watch the extensive television coverage of
the Prime Minister's meeting with the President.
Personally sound out the United States on policy toward
the Soviet Union. According to Japanese political
observers, Nakasone still hopes to achieve a diplomatic
breakthrough with the Soviets before his term is over but
wants to keep in step with Washington.
This memorandum was prepared byl (Japan Branch,
Northeast Asia Division, Office of East Asian Analysis.
Information available as of 13 January was used in its
preparation. Comments and queries are welcome and may be
directed to the Chief, Japan Branch, Northeast Asia Division,
EA N 85-10011
Duplicate of C05422622:
RIP
CONFIDENTIAL
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Domestic reaction: Some commentators questioned the need
for the Prime Minister to make what they referred to as a
"pilgrimage" to the United States, but major newspaper
editorials--including those in the liberal Asahi Shimbun--have
generally reacted favorably to the results of he summit.
Although journalists have alerted readers to growing nationalism
in both the United States and Japan, which, if unchecked, could
further aggravate bilateral trade relations, and have pointed to
US inability and unwillingness to correct high interest rates,
the papers have not dwelt on criticism of the United States as
Japanese leftists have attacked Nakasone's "understanding"
of the SDI issue, but the Asahi--which rarely comes out in
support of the Prime Minister--has suggested that in fact it was
President Reagan's position on SDI that brought the Soviets to
the negotiating table. The paper also praises the President for
quelling anti-Japanese sentiment, and all editorials have pointed
The media warn, however, that the bilateral relationship
faces formidable challenges and repeatedly emphasize the need to
open the Japanese market. Most of the commentaries close by
urging the public to share with the Prime Minister the "heavy
out the benefit of the close "Ron-Yasu" ties.
Follow-up: Press reports suggest a mixed outlook for
fulfilling those promises. Without exception, the media predict
prospects for formulating concrete measures-to ease friction in
the medical equipment, pharmaceutical, and forest products
sectors by March are bleak. Both the Medical Association and the
lumber industries are powerful financial backers of the Liberal
Democratic Party. During the past two weeks, faction leaders and
former Prime Ministers Suzuki and Fukuda have been quoted as
commenting that some of the bilateral issues raised during the
ur en of keeping the promises made to the President.
On the other hand, the press reports the special Cabinet
committee to stu-dy external trade problems wfll place priority on
electronics--and telecommunications and by March hopes to come up
with measures that will satisfy Washington. The president of the
powerful Keidanrer business association recently urged Japan to
accept US demands to help reduce the trade imbalance, arguing
that Tokyo cannot simply stand idly by and call on Washington to
support the free trade system and reject protectionism. His
comments are the strongest public'statements on trade friction
summit are too difficult to solve."
Meanwhile, the chairman of the US-Japan Economic Cooperation
Council reportedly believes trade issues should be discussed and
solved not by politicians but by private businessmen, who can
made by a Japanese business leader to date.
"% " r r nr?
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PREVIEW: 16-31 JANUARY
Nakasone returns home from a trip to Australia, New Zealand,
Papua Guinia, and Fiji on 20 January. Reporters speculate that
Japan's cooperation with the Pacific Basin nations will continue
to be an important agenda item for Nakasone, although some
observers suspect his Pacific Basin project will not live up to
its publicity. Some in the media consider the Prime Minister's
stop in Canberra primarily an attempt to pacify the Australians,
who have complained for years about the trade imbalance between
the two countries and about Japan's attaching too much importance
to the United States when making trade concessions.
After a busy diplomati& schedule during the first part of
January, Nakasone will turn to domestic politics,when'the 102nd
regular Diet session reconvenes--the date is tentatively set for
25 January. The opening ceremonies, featuring speeches by the
Emperor and the Prime Minister, will be followed by introduction
of the JFY 1985 budget. The opposition parties are likely to
focus on such controversial topics as defense spending, the
annuity bills held over from December, and political ethics--with
Nakasone ally former Prime Minister Tanaka as a target.
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1' MI C T 11 17 AI T T A I
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VI\I l UL-11 I lY1L
Distribution: Japan Highlights, 1-13 January 1985.
C/OEA/NA
C/OEA/NA/K
C/OEA/NA/J
OEA/Research
D/OEA
DDI
NI0/EA
D/OMPS
C/EA/0
OCR/ISG
CPAS/IMC/CB
Donald Gregg,
Desaix Anderson
William Brooks,
, Department of State
Department of State
Defense Intelligence
Byron Jackson, Department of Commerce
Agency
1 -
1 -
1 -
DDI/OEA/NA
Douglas Mulholland, Department of Treasury
Lew Cramer, United States Trade Representative
/Japan/MM:meo
al Security Agency
(16 January 1985)
25X1
25X1
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