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Delegation Reports
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO JAPAN
18 TO 23 FEBRUARY 2008
Report by Kenneth Courtenay
Delegation
Roger Godsiff MP - Leader
Paul Farrelly MP
Lord Faulkner of Worcester
David Wilshire MP
Robert Walter MP
Lord Taylor of Warwick
Kenneth Courtenay, Secretary
British Group IPU
On Monday 18 February, the delegation arrived at Narita International
Airport at 0905. After checking into the hotel, they had lunch and an
informal briefing on the itinerary by Mr Yoshihiko Kamo, the Director
General of International Affairs Department of the Japanese Parliament.
In the afternoon, the first meeting was with Mr Saburo Kawabuchi, President
of Japan Football Association. Japan’s professional football league
was established in 1993.
In 2002 Japan co-hosted the World Cup with Korea. Japanese football clubs
have the support of local communities, local government and companies.
However, half the stadia built for the World Cup are not financially viable.
Football is overtaking baseball in terms of popularity in Japan but has
a long way to go. The meeting concluded with a tour of the Japan Football
Museum.
The next meeting was with Members of the House of Representatives Committee
on Foreign Affairs.
The delegation was informed that the refuelling of warships from the US,
UK and other allies in the Indian Ocean was to be resumed. In the absence
of an equivalent to NATO in the region, dialogue on defence is direct
with the US.
There was a brief discussion of the world economy and Japan’s candidature
of UNSC.
Questions were asked on healthcare in the UK, UK’s relations with
DPRK, the impact of the US sub-prime loan issue in the UK and the possibility
of tax cuts, UK policy on nuclear power, whether UK would allow GMO imports
from the US and should there be a new approach to Africa.
It was suggested that the private ownership of major airports (eg Heathrow)
is a lesson for Japan.
The prospect of Japan making a stronger security contribution within the
bounds of the constitution is a difficult subject domestically. Japan
is involved in peace-building activities but if Japan cannot solve the
issue of the use of its armed forces, should it be a UNSC member?
There was a short meeting with the House of Representatives Chairman of
the Committee on Environment, as the planned meeting on the following
day had to be cancelled.
Next there was a tour of the British Council. The delegation met some
students, both young and old, who were participating in the English language
programmes.
The day’s programme ended with an informal dinner with the British
Ambassador and senior colleagues which included a briefing on Japan.
The programme the next day started with a breakfast hosted by the British
Council at which the delegation met several alumni of scholarship and
fellowship programmes.
The first formal meeting was with His Excellency Mr Yohei Kono, Speaker
of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Takahiro Yokomichi, Vice-Speaker,
Mr Takashi Sasagawa, Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration,
and Mr Tokuichiro Tamazawa, member of the HR and Adviser to the IPU Parliamentary
League of Friendship.
The Speaker explained the management of the business of the Diet and asked
how it was done in the House of Commons. The British parliament’s
party whip system was explained, as was the handling of conscience issues.
The Speaker said that the party line can be relaxed in Japan.
Mr Kono then showed the Assembly Hall of the House to the delegation.
At the meeting which followed with His Excellency Mr Satsuki Eda, President
of the House of Councillors, it was explained that the House of Councillors
structure is very similar to the House of Representatives. The President
was interested in the relationship between the Houses of Commons and Lords
in the UK. He noted that 2008 was the 150th anniversary of first diplomatic
ties between the UK and Japan.
The current political issue was the deadlock on the appointment of a new
Governor of the Bank of Japan. If the Houses of the Diet do not agree,
the present nominee may have to be withdrawn. The independence of the
Bank of Japan on monetary matters is important and the policy board sets
interest rates.
After the meeting, the delegation witnessed a Plenary Session of the House
of .Representatives.
The afternoon’s programme began with a tour of the Control centre
of the Central Japan Railway Company’s Shinkansen Superexpress between
Tokyo and Osaka. Impressive statistics were the absence of fatalities
since the network opened, average delays of less than a minute and a train
every three minutes at peak times.
In the evening, the delegation members were honoured to attend a dinner
hosted by His Excellency Mr Yohei Kono, Speaker of the House of Representatives,
at his residence.
The programme on Wednesday, 20 February started with a meeting with Members
of the Japanese IPU Parliamentary League of Friendship. The House of Representatives
was represented by: Mr Tokuichiro Tamazawa (Ind), Mr Yoshio Yatsu (LDP),
Mr Kyogon Hagiyama (LDP), Mr Yasuhiro Hanashi (LDP), Mr Issei Koga (DPJ),
Mr Tetsundo Iwakuni (DPJ), Mr Kazufumi Taniguchi (New Komeito). From the
House of Councillors were: Ms Meiko Kamimoto (Democratic Party), Mr Hiroshi
Okada (LDP), Mr Issei Kitagawa (LDP), Ms Atsuko Shimoda (Democratic Party).
The Agenda for the discussions included:
• An Overview of the Japanese parliamentary democratic process and
current topics. A comprehensive overview was given by Mr Hanashi. Discussion
covered privileges for parliamentarians, electoral systems, sizes of constituencies
and televising of parliament.
• Defence and Security issues and economic concerns in relation
to neighbouring countries. After an introduction by Mr Tamazawa, the discussions
covered the increasing assertiveness of Russia and the encroachment of
Japanese airspace, the introduction to JSDF of AEGIS and Patriot systems,
thanks to UK for support to Japanese resolution at the IPU on the occasion
of the DPRK nuclear test, the refusal of DPRK to return Japanese abductees,
the military expansion of China and its annexation of some islands, the
strategic importance of Taiwan for control of “the inner island
chain” and Chinese ambition for hegemony at sea.
The Japanese made an appeal for support for an emergency item at the next
IPU Assembly on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
There then followed a buffet lunch hosted by IPU Parliamentary League
of Friendship
The first meeting of the afternoon was with Mr Ketsunobu Kato, Parliamentary
Secretary for Economic and Fiscal Policy, Disaster Management, Food Safety
and Decentralisation Reform. He gave a brief description of the current
state of the Japanese economy. There are significant income gaps between
large corporations and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and between
Tokyo and the regions.
The Japanese were impressed by the UK’s rebound (in the 1980s).
Interest rates in Japan should reach a more realistic level, but there
is little hope of that at present.
The productivity of Japanese SMEs is low. And the impact of US sub prime
crisis is less than might have been feared. Zero inflation is not deliberate
Japanese policy. Japan has a problem in coping with an ageing population,
and possible measures are to defer retirement and encourage women to work.
The next meeting was with Mr Itsunori Onodera, Vice-minister for Foreign
Affairs.
Among the issues discussed were:
• Japan has problems in making a military security effort due to
its constitution.
• On the G8, Japan considers that the UK did well at Gleneagles;
there are discussions on how much Japan can do on environmental issues
in Africa; Japan is trying to follow Kyoto protocol on carbon sinks and
carbon trading.
• On Iraq, Japan offers respect and condolences to UK; the JSDF
Air Force is involved in the Kuwait – Baghdad link; Japan may be
the biggest contributor in post war reconstruction.
• Japan will have to consider immigration.
• Ministers are a little sceptical on global warming; the real challenge
is to save resources.
• Aid and investment in Zimbabwe will be tied to good governance.
• Relations with Australia and New Zealand are very close.
• Japan has a long tradition of whaling and everything is used.
They need to keep to tradition and culture.
At the following meeting with Mr Takeo Akiba, Director, China and Mongolia
Division Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the delegation was informed that improving relations with China is in
Japan’s interest. The next visit of the Chinese president is expected
to be “warm”.
A comprehensive handout was provided on Sino-Japanese relations. History
prevents Japan criticising China’s human rights. Japan has a major
problem with Chinese infringement of intellectual property rights, probably
worse than the UK. Relations with Russia would be better if territorial
issues were to be resolved.
At a reception in the evening, hosted by the British Ambassador, the delegation
met many Japanese politicians and business figures.
On Thursday, 21 February, in the morning, the delegation left by the Shinkansen
Superexpress for Nagoya. They were taken to the Toyota Corporation and
given a presentation over lunch by senior members of the company, which
was followed by a tour of the Toyota Kaikan facility, which is largely
a centre for public relations. They then had a tour of the Tsutsumi assembly
plant.
Afterwards the delegation took another Shinkansen train, for Kyoto. In
the evening, they were the guests of Mr Tokuichiro Tamazawa, Adviser,
IPU Parliamentary League of Friendship, and were entertained by a traditional
Japanese dinner and a performance of Maiko dance and music in an authentic
setting.
On Friday , 22 February, the final full day of the visit, the delegation
were shown around the World Heritage Kinkakuji and Kiyomizudera Temples
before going to a local restaurant to meet officers of the Kyoto Prefecture
to discuss the widening differences between Tokyo and the regions.
Japan is not doing as well as the UK in proportion to population and the
public sector is declining. Kyoto accounts for two per cent of the population
and economy of Japan. The economy of the prefecture is concentrated in
the city. It is easier to travel to Tokyo than it is to the northern towns
of Kyoto prefecture. A solution would require development of the transport
infrastructure. The prefecture raises 40 per cent of its revenue locally.
Only the governor is elected.
After the meeting, the delegation returned to Tokyo and flew back to London
on Saturday, 23 February.
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