U.S. Nippon Communications Network To Broadcast "Japan's Issues In Meeting With President Obama"

Online, November 11, 2009 (Newswire.com) - The U.S. President, Barak Obama, is set to visit Japan for the first time as leader from November 12, 2009, and a meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is on the agenda. This opportunity will be important for the Hatoyama administration to build a profound relationship of mutual trust, a more equal relationship with the United States, which will decide the course of the future of Japan.

However, various touchy issues which were fiercely opposed by many who were affected, such as plans of the Futenma U.S. military base on the southern island of Okinawa, are between Japan and the United States due to the entirely new initiative of the Hatoyama regime, which recently won the election over the long lasting former regime of the liberal democrat who had agreed with the United States on many issues. The Democratic Party won the election by a landslide and is now headed by Hatoyama. As Prime Minister he has promised to review the arrangement and possibly change it. On November 8th, 2009, more than 20,000 Japanese turned up in Okinawa calling for the U.S. military base to be moved off the entire Island, which the U.S. Military Forces have been refusing to change. But the Hatoyama Government has been showing mixed signals and that uncertainty is making things complicated among the U.S. government and Okinawa residents.

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada expressed the dilemma facing the new government in response to a question in parliament.

"An agreement between the heads of state holds heavy weight. While we will respect the wishes of the people of Okinawa, this issue is also about the Japan-U.S. security alliance, which is relevant to the entire country. This gap is what always becomes the big problem."
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty since it was amended. How will Japan aim to deal with this most important relationship with the Obama administration? The issues hanging over the Hatoyama government include proposing big changes in handling nuclear weapons. While the traditional Japanese policy is "Make No Nuke, Have No Nuke Carried In, Never Hold Nuke," the former government superficially observed the rule, but in practice rather indifferent. Another issue is if they can agree to the possible coordination to accommodate the newly announced Hatoyama doctrine of reducing CO2 exhaust by 25% in its environmental policy. How to deal with the United States, which has not decided to cope with climate issues?

"Today's Close-up" will feature the exclusive interview of Foreign Minister, Katsuya Okada as to how his government would deal with President Obama.

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"Meeting with President Obama" will be presented in Television around the greater New York Metropolitan area, for both American and Japanese in English voice over, by USN (US-Nippon Communications Network, a division of IRM U.S.A. Inc.) on Saturday, November 14 from 5 PM on WNET (NYC-TV) Ch. 25. the program was produced by NHK, Japan's Public Broadcasting. It can be seen in digital ground air wave as well as on various cables and satellite networks.

This documentary is one in a series entitled "Today's Close-Up" produced by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). It had its premier broadcast in Japan, October 10, 2009.

USN broadcasts to the greater NY Metropolitan Area every Saturday via NYC-TV Ch. 25 (5:00 - 6:00 p.m.) The program includes "Visit to My Homeland" - a sightseeing tour of Japan's countryside; "Japan Video Topics" - what's on Japan, culture, cuisine, Matsuri (Festival) and other curious scenes from Japan. "USN Report" - community news of U.S. -Japan events in New York area; and "Wuta" - featuring clips from Japan's pop music scene.