n their meetings in Indonesia, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi said that Japan welcomed the successful transfer of sovereignty to an Iraqi interim authority and emphasized that Japan will continue

its reconstruction assistance in close cooperation with the U.S. She also stressed that Japan’s Self Defense Forces (SDF) will continue to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance as part of the multinational coalition. On June 29, Prime Minister Koizumi congratulated Dr. Ayad Allawi on his selection as Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Iraq and assured him that Japan would continue its support. And on July 21, the Foreign Ministry reiterated that pledge, and along with Poland and Bulgaria vowed not to leave Iraq under threats of kidnappings of their nationals, unlike Spain and the Philippines. In Tokyo, Adviser Rice told the Prime Minister that President Bush was deeply grateful for the humanitarian, reconstruction and financial aid in its efforts to help maintain international cooperation in nation-building. Rice’s trip, which included stops in South Korea and Beijing, was part of an effort to maintain momentum in the Six-Party Talks (Japan, the U.S. , China, Russia, South and North Korea) designed to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons development program, exports of nuclear materials and its estrangement from the international community of nations. Prime Minister Koizumi has made that task a top priority and visited North Korea in May. On July 21, the Prime Minister traveled to the Republic of Korea (South) for a one-day summit on Cheju Island with the President of the Republic Roo Moo Hyun. The Prime Minister briefed the South Korean leader on his meetings with Kim Jong-Il in May. The two discussed the need to strengthen coordination among Japan, the Republic of Korea and

the United States, in order to convince the North to cooperate on normalization, the need to enhance cooperation between their two nations as well as the need to reach a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Koizumi said at a joint news conference: “We talked about promoting exchanges...In particular, it should be noted that President Roh and I share the view to work towards conclusion of the FTA.” While the Six-Party Talks resumed in Beijing in late July, there were little signs of a breakthrough. Meanwhile, in other bilateral developments, on July 29, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker exchanged notes modifying an annex of the Acquisition of Cross-Servicing Agreement expanding cooperation between U.S. forces in Japan and the SDF in disaster relief operations or in the event of attack by foreign forces. The 159th session of the Diet passed the measures 163-31, and the action highlights both sides’ commitment to the Japan-U.S. Security Alliance. The U.S. maintains 50,000 troops based in Japan. And in Jakarta, Powell and Kawaguchi agreed to establish a diplomatic exchange program to enhance cooperation between the two on their increasingly common foreign policies. See page 2

COMMON CONCERNS ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS REMAIN THE FOCUS OF JAPAN-US BILATERAL TIES

In the latest round of high-level diplomatic contacts between Japanese and U.S. officials, the international situation was squarely at center stage, with the ongoing situation in Iraq and the North Korean nuclear development standoff the primary topics of discussion. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum in Jakarta in early July, and the agenda covered North Korea, Iraq and the Sudan. President Bush’s National

Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice visited Tokyo July 7, and met with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in talks that covered Iraq, North Korea, China, UN reform as well as bilateral ties. In all the talks, both sides emphasized the importance of close bilateral consultation and operation among the diplomats of their two nations in these dangerous times.

V O L U M E 5 — 2 0 0 4

Policy WatchAid for Iraq, Afghanistan, takes many forms; highly positive views of Japan........2Business DigestStats point to sustainable recovery; Free Trade pacts; now, contract workers...3

Culture in Japan; JETA primer on dining, drinking etiquette; new volunteers take flight..................................4Science Watch; Kabuki in U.S.New super cruise ships go high-tech; Kabuki thrills American audience..................5

Olympic Gold; Yokoso!Japan’s high hopes for Athens paid off; find lodging in Japan over the net..........................6

http://web-jpn.org/kidsweb/index.html

JAPAN INFORMATION AND CULTURE CENTER,EMBASSY OF JAPAN

Japan Now is Online!www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm

■ CONTENTS ■

www.japanus150.org

I

The Prime Minister and U.S. Security Adviser Rice

361622.indd 3361622.indd 3 9/21/04 10:28:42 AM9/21/04 10:28:42 AM

On July 28, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from Hadir A. Lazame, a member of Iraq’s national Judo team bound for the 2004 Athens Olympics, as part of Japan’s assistance for Iraq’s participation in

international sports. The government has cooperated with the Kodokan Judo Institute to provide the Iraqi Judo Federation with 150 Judo uniforms and 200 mats for international matches. The visit is symbolic of the humanitarian aid that Japan is providing toward the normalization of Iraq, which isn’t often publicized.

eyond its contribution of a contingent of non-combatant Self Defense Forces to assist the international coalition in stabilizing Iraq, Japan has been doing a great deal on the cultural and

other fronts as well. Among the efforts Japan is undertaking as part of its $5 billion commitment to Iraq’s reconstruction are substantial assistance programs designed to address the everyday concerns of the Iraqi people. On July 12, Japan decided to extend grassroots human security aid of $3.6 million for Water Development in the

Governorate of Al-Muthanna, to cope with water shortages. This will involve delivering 26 water tankers, following the installation of five water-purifying systems in June. TV Programming. Last October, in cooperation with the Japan Foundation and the Egyptian TV Union, Japan provided 96 episodes of the Japanese program Oshin, with

subtitles in Arabic for broadcast in Iraq free of charge. The TV drama depicts the life of a Japanese woman before, during and after WW II and has been broadcast in 59 countries. In April the Japan Foundation provided the TV program Project X to the Lebanon-based Future Satellite for transmission to Iraq. Sports. In Nov. 2003, the Japan Football Association donated 1,214 balls, 4,853 uniforms, and 394 pairs of spikes to the Iraqi Football Association. The equipments were collected from all over Japan. The government provided transportation for the equipments to Baghdad. In addition, the government provided 1,000 balls, 3,000 game jackets and 20 inflators to the Department of Youth and Sports of the Governorate of Al-Muthanna, which were delivered by the SDF at a special ceremony. Japan has also provided transportation expenses for the Iraq National Team through the Japan Foundation. It has also arranged for the Iraqi Media Network to conduct live broadcasts of friendly football matches to as large an audience as possible. The government is considering further assistance for Iraqi athletes aiming to participate in international competitions such as the Olympics, the Pan-Arab games in September and the Asian Games in 2006. Cultural Heritage. Assistance is being provided for the restoration laboratory of the Iraq National Museum, which was looted after the U.S. invasion, through the UNESCO/Japan Fund. This includes the provision of vehicles for experts as part of the cultural heritage recovery project. For a full overview of Japan’s assistance programs within Iraq, see the pamphlet “A Bright and Peaceful Future” www.mofa.go.jp

AFGHANISTAN TOO. Meanwhile, Japan remains heavily engaged in the reconstruction of Afghanistan as well, which is preparing for Presidential elections Oct. 9 and parliamentary elections in April-May of next year. Drugs. On July 29, Japan and the UN decided to extend assistance of $1 million through the Trust Fund for Human Security for the program “Capacity Building for Drug Demand Reduction in Afghanistan” to be implemented by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The project is expected to promote the reduction of drug demand and production in Afghanistan, which has become a more serious problem of late. Japan established the Trust Fund for Human Security at the UN Secretariat in March 1999 and has to date contributed $227 million to address various threats to human life, livelihood and dignity from the perspective of human society. Election support. On July 16, Japan donated $8.8 million to the UN Development Program to support the Afghan Elections Project in Afghanistan. The project will provide resource mobilization and management operational support, polling and security support, civic education and information to promote political inclusiveness, observation facilitation and assistance in out-of-country registration and voting. Education. On July 8, the government contributed $1 million through the Japanese Fund-in-Trust for the Capacity Building of Human Resources to provide assistance to promote education. Under the plan, an additional 367 new classrooms and 67 administrative offices will be built in Kabul City. The plan will provide some 30,000 school children with a better educational environment by cutting overcrowding and the need to conduct multiple classroom shifts.

2

POLICY WATCH

America’s Favorable View of Japan Highest Ever Recorded

The 2004 Image of Japan Study continues to show an overall highly favorable view toward Japan among Americans and a positive evaluation of U.S.-Japan relations. The perception of Japan as a dependable ally remains at a very high level among opinion leaders. The same perception is shared by the general public, marking the highest level in the 10 years the survey has been conducted. More than 80 percent of both categories want the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty maintained. What is unchanged from the 2003 study is that Japan is perceived as the most important partner in Asia among the general public and opinion leaders. As for a new question on countries sharing common values with the U.S., Japan ranks second with Britain first, and third among opinion leaders. In terms of economic relations, a large percentage still see the need for improvement in trade relations for closer bilateral ties. When asked the main reasons for the Japan-U.S. trade imbalance, the decrease in the percentage of respondents who mentioned the closed nature of Japan’s market is remarkable, as a higher percentage pointed to macro-economic discrepancies in both countries, as did opinion leaders for the first time. With regard to the sources of information about Japan, the percentage of those who cited the Internet and movies has increased. For the full survey, see www.us.emb-japan.org

B

361622.indd 4361622.indd 4 9/24/04 5:33:12 PM9/24/04 5:33:12 PM

3

Key Statistics Signal full Recovery that is Strong, Sustainable

A variety of recent indicators are confirming the economy’s steady upward course in Japan, as it struggles to break out of more

than a decade of sluggish growth. The news is especially welcome as it covers numerous economic sectors, and any prolonged rebound in the world’s second largest economy would provide a significant boost to global growth. Among the latest numbers:

n July 22, the Cabinet announced that real GDP through May has grown for 28 consecutive months,

approaching the record 31 months of consecutive growth logged beginning in December 1954. For fiscal 2004, it is now estimated that private sector demand will grow 2.6 percent in real terms, compared to initial forecasts of 1.1 percent. It also revised upward the strength of overseas demand and said that will push up real GDP to 0.5 percent from 0.2 percent.

• The trade numbers bear that out. The Finance Ministry said July 23 that exports rose 12.5 percent in the January-June period from a year earlier, while imports increased 6.6 percent, both the highest levels since comparable numbers were made available

in 1947. The trade surplus jumped 42.4 percent, the 11th highest level on record and marking the second straight half-year increase. Major exports were semiconductors and other electronic goods and imports were led by coal and audiovisual parts and other electronic components manufactured off shore. China is now Japan’s second largest export market after the U.S., and Japan’s No. 1 source of imports.

• Machine tool orders in Japan, a primary indicator of industrial activity, totaled $985 million in May, an increase of 55.2 percent on the year. Domestic orders jumped 69.7 percent over a year ago, with export orders up 41.2 percent, the highest level since 1998. In addition, corporate bankruptcies are down and corporate earnings and business sentiment are both climbing.

FREE TRADE PACTS ARE NOW ORDER OF THE DAYJapan has long been criticized for its closed markets, but as the reforms of recent years and globalism take hold, free trade agreements are the rage in Tokyo. Before a pact with Mexico in March, Japan had signed just one trade agreement, with Singapore in 2001. But by year’s end it hopes to wrap up talks with Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. It also wants a trade deal with South Korea in 2005, and has begun negotiating with Indonesia. After years of sparring between politically influential farmers keen on protecting their markets and industrialists eager to export, free traders now appear to be gaining the upper hand. Toyota Chairman Hiroshi Okuda said he was ``extremely delighted’’ by Japan’s deal to liberalize trade with Mexico. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hailed the pact as ``very meaningful.’’ Few expect the haggling over Thai rice or South Korean beef to be easy. But a realization is spreading that Japan needs to break down trade barriers to keep up with the times. Experts say the biggest reason for the shift is China, which has already moved to sign free trade pacts with 10 countries in Southeast Asia, including some of Japan’s most important trading partners. Japan’s influence as an economic power is at stake. The prime minister’s office says a free trade pact with ASEAN would add as much as $18 billion to Japan’s economic output and create as many as 260,000 jobs. As long as Japanese goods have high tariffs in Southeast Asia, the costs of products assembled in local factories from parts made in Japan will be less competitive. In response, manufacturers would shift more production out of Japan. There will be hurdles along the way. For example, Manila wants Japan to accept foreign workers on a large scale, which is an unpopular idea.

FIRMS MOVING TO CONTRACT WORKERS: GOOD OR BAD?The number of contract workers at many major Japanese corporations is on the rise.In some affiliates the number of contractors has risen to as much as 70 percent. Seeking higher efficiency in design and production and economies to scale, many firms are moving from fixed lifetime employment to using outside contractors to handle specific functions. The contract workers form teams with directly employed part-time workers to engage in parts assembly and other work floor tasks. A regular employee only occasionally visits the workspace. One manager says the goal is “to fluidize

personnel.” He said that since the life cycles of many products are short, concentrated production is required when sales are brisk and the number of personnel can easily be changed according to the volume of work. The shift to part-time, contract and workers sent by temporary agencies is progressing rapidly in many fields besides production. According to one survey, between January and March this year, there were 15.55 million non-regular employees, accounting for 31.5 percent of the workforce. Among women workers, 52.6 percent were non-regular employees. The surge in the non-regular workforce, which is comprised especially of young people called “freeters” who now number 4.17 million, and who usually live with their parents, could be a problem down the line. Those include a shaky social security system into which many young people cannot afford to pay, spreading the nonpayment of income tax, a growing pool of single people avoiding marriage because of worries about the future and lower wages, the resulting lower birthrate, restraints on personal spending and a diminished sense of social belonging. The trend could also hurt employers by leading to a lower corporate sense of mission, loss of institutional know-how, and potential problems in labor-management negotiations.

BUSINESS DIGEST

O

361622.indd 5361622.indd 5 9/24/04 5:33:14 PM9/24/04 5:33:14 PM

4

CULTURE IN JAPANOnce regarded as mysterious, Japanese cuisine has in recent years become much more familiar and appreciated

around the world. Many visitors to Japan will have already sampled the pleasures of raw fish or batter-fried shrimp. But few first-time visitors to Japan are prepared for the variety and sumptuousness of Japanese food as it is traditionally prepared. Eating in Japan is an experience to be enjoyed and remembered fondly for the rest of your life. The basic types of cooking found in Japan are varied, but for the first time visitor this basic primer might be of service and can be carried along on an evening out. Sukiyaki is prepared right at the table before you, by cooking thinly sliced beef together with various vegetables, tofu and vermicelli. Tempura is food deep-fried in vegetable oil, after being coated with a mixture of egg, water and wheat flour. Among the ingredients used are prawns, fish in season and vegetables. Sushi is a small piece of raw seafood placed on a ball of vinegared rice. The most common ingredients are tuna, squid and prawn. Cucumber, pickled radish and sweet egg omelet are also served. Sashimi is sliced raw fish eaten with soy sauce. Kaiseki Ryori is regarded as the most exquisite culinary refinement in Japan. The dishes are mainly composed of vegetables

and fish with seaweed and mushrooms as the seasoning base and are characterized by their refined savor. Yakitori is made up of small pieces of chicken meat, liver and vegetables skewered on a bamboo stick and grilled over hot coals. Tonkatsu is a deep-fried pork cutlet rolled in breadcrumbs. Shabu-shabu is tender, thin slices of beef held by chopsticks and swished in a pot of boiling water, then dipped in a sauce before being eaten. Soba and Udon are two kinds of Japanese noodle. Soba is made from buckwheat flour and Udon from wheat flour. They are served either in a broth or dipped in a sauce, and are available in hundreds of delicious variations.

DRINKING ETIQUETTE. In cozy and friendly Japanese-style bars, customers often pour drinks for each other from bottles of beer as a gesture of companionship. If you are a fellow beer drinker, reciprocate with your own bottle. A whiskey drinker may invite you to drink from his bottle and fix a drink for you. In this case, you need not reciprocate unless you have your own bottle. (Many of these bars have a bottle-keep system for regular patrons.) If with a group, do not begin to drink until everyone is served. Glasses are raised in the traditional salute as everyone shouts Kampai! (Cheers!) If you drink sake, and someone offers a

drink from his carafe, drink what remains in your cup before holding it out. In this case, too, reciprocate. But don’t let it get out of hand. Pouring sake for each other at high speed can get you drunk much faster than you might imagine. Excessive drinking is frowned upon. But it happens. Rely on the bartender if someone close to you gets too boisterous. Japanese sake (rice wine) goes extremely well with a variety of dishes. Brewed with rice and water, sake has been a Japanese alcoholic staple since ancient times. Because it can be warmed, in winter it warms the body. When served chilled, good sake has a taste similar to fine-quality wine. There are local sake breweries in every region across the country, which make their respective characteristic tastes based on the quality of their local rice and water.

On July 24 and 31, a total of 1,442 college graduates and young professionals departed from 16 cities nationwide to

take part in the 2004 Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. The majority of them (1,391) will be Assistant language Teachers in public elementary, junior high and senior high schools all across Japan. The other 51 will be Coordinators for International Relations in local government offices. These 1,442 participants will join an additional 1,358 Americans who will be renewing contracts for an additional year in the JET program. The JET Program will have a total of 6,103 participants from 41 countries this year. Established in 1987,

the JET Program seeks to help enhance internationalization in Japan by promoting more mutual understanding between Japan and other nations. The program

also aims to enhance foreign language education in Japan, and to promote international exchange at the local level through fostering ties between Japanese youth and foreign youth. The program

is conducted under the co-sponsorship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, and the local governments of Japan, in cooperation with the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). The Embassy of Japan hosted a reception to honor the 87 participants who left from Washington.

Further information about the JET Program can be found through the

following resources: JET Office, Embassy of Japan:

(202) 238-6772/6773JET Office e-mail: jet@embjapan.org

JET Program Website, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

JET SCHOLARS TAKE FLIGHT

361622.indd 6361622.indd 6 9/21/04 10:28:56 AM9/21/04 10:28:56 AM

New High-Tech Cruise Ships Made in Japan are in Demand

As Japan’s trade surplus has climbed, exports of high-tech luxury ocean vessels have continued apace. The number of liners Japan exported in May of this year doubled, as ship-builders are incorporating new

environmentally and commercially advantageous systems in their ships. The Diamond Princess, one of the largest passenger liners in the world with a gross weight of 116,000 tons, set out on its maiden voyage from Los Angeles to Mexico in the spring. It was completed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., at the Nagasaki Shipyard and was handed over to its owner, P&O Princess Cruises. The Diamond Princess differs from existing passenger ships, in that when cruising it uses a diesel engine and when moving at high speed it employs a CODAG-configuration power system, which combines the diesel engine and a gas turbine. The gas turbine, which utilizes

airplane technology, produces little noise and little vibration. Though rooms right above the propeller would normally be noisy and subject to vibration, it would be possible to put luxury suites in this location on the Diamond Princess. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries developed

the design for the ship through repeated research in its water tank experimental laboratory. For example, in order to prevent the smell of exhaust gas from the funnel and sewage tanks from reaching the open deck or balconies, the company carried out wind tunnel tests repeatedly for about half a year before deciding on the shape of the funnel surroundings and the distribution of exhaust pipes. As an environmental technology, meanwhile, the Diamond Princess uses the world’s first low-exhaust diesel engine, along with a smoke-extraction apparatus for garbage incineration and a sewage processing apparatus developed from next-generation biotechnology. Through the utilization of garbage for power generation, the secondary use of processed waste water, and so on, the ship processes all the waste produced during a voyage on board and discards absolutely nothing into the ocean. In addition, when anchored in port, the Diamond Princess receives its power supply from land instead of its own engines, thereby reducing exhaust to zero. The Diamond Princess measures 290 meters in length and 37.5 meters in width and rises 54 meters above water level, the height of an 18-story building. The ship has 1,339 cabins for 2,670 passengers and a crew of 1,200. The magnificent facilities include a dance hall, three show lounges, five swimming pools, a miniature golf course, a tennis court, three main dining rooms and two sub-restaurants.

5

SCIENCE WATCH: KABUKI IN THE U.S. IS A HIT

Classical Kabuki Performances Thrill N.Y., Boston and D.C.

Japan’s authentic art forms such as the Heisei Nakamura-za Kabuki Troupe have proven again to be an ideal ambassador for cultural exchange. Nakamura Kankuro V, descendant of a leading

Kabuki family, transported his old Edo Kabuki revival from Tokyo’s Asakusa area to New York’s Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center. The play, “Natsumaturi Naniwa Kagami” (“Summer Festival: A Mirror of Osaka”), epitomized Kabuki’s ever-consummate stylized artistry with entertaining anachronisms that included staged aisle brawls and New York Policemen as extras. “Boshibari” (“Tied to a Pole”) and “Renjishi” (“Father and Son Lions”) also ignited Boston’s Cutlar Majestic and Washington DC’s Warner Theater audiences, which included everyone from connoisseurs to novices. Earphones provided translations for the New York performance, but in Washington, the audience followed the show through a pre-performance announcement and a detailed written synopsis. The performance in Washington awed spectators with its visual feast, raucous joy and celebration radiating from the stage. One spell-bound woman said she heard herself laughing along with those who understood Japanese and that she lost nothing without earphones. As in any successful enterprise, innovation assures longevity. For the 400-year-old Kabuki, a painted pine tree customarily decks the “Boshibari” and “Renjishi” background but refreshingly, the lions of “Renjishi” danced before a vast mural of steep, Chinese mountains. During the comic interlude, the substitution of a female priestess for one of the two priests added a colorful surprise... Every actor led by Nakamura Kankuro in the comical “Boshibari” expertly conveyed the universal feelings of frustration, desperation, joy and drunken stupor. The lions in “Renjishi”, by comparison, commanded awe with vivid costumes, trailing red or white wigs, and with stark eyes that penetrated through the kumadori make-up. As actors in mime posed, sharp clapping of wood defined dramatic moments. Absent were the spontaneous kakegoe yells of “Nakamura-za!” which like “Bravo!” acknowledges artistic moments. Americans showed their appreciation through intense applause, which delighted the Kabuki actors. Grand Kabuki comes from generations of accumulated artistic skills, passed on with perfection. Kankuro’s troupe had whetted American appetites for more performances, and transcended cultural gaps to promote goodwill.

By Miyuki Yoshikami

Cruise M

agazine

361622.indd 1361622.indd 1 9/24/04 5:32:53 PM9/24/04 5:32:53 PM

About Accommodations in Japan“Accommodations JAPAN” is an accommodation information service. The web site contains listings for approximately 1000 hotels and other accommodation

facilities from across Japan which are hoping to welcome more foreign guests. The hotels and accommodation facilities listed here have business licenses authorized by the Hotel Business Law of Japan. Accommodations JAPAN provides information on the hotels that wish to warmly welcome foreign tourists and information on the facilities of these hotels, which meet the need of foreign visitors. At the Accommodations JAPAN site you can search for accommodations in Japan based on criteria such as area of location, room charge, type of accommodation, facilities and rooms. Also, thanks to cooperation both from individual Japanese hotel web sites that include a reservation capability and from general accommodation reservation web sites, foreign visitors can find not just accommodation information but also the ability to make reservations on their own. Some sample participating sites:• “Japan Hotel Pass” English site by Nippon Travel Agency.

Includes 84 hotels in 26 cities throughout Japan, and allows you to check room availability and make reservations.

• “Sunrise Tours” English site run by JTC Corp.• “Japan Voyage” run byTokyo Streamlines Co. Ltd.• iTravel, Transnet Inc.

6

JAPAN SOARS IN ATHENS’ SPARKLING OLYMPIC GAMES

With Japan making an increasingly significant impact on world sports each year, it is no surprise that its Olympic team delivered a stellar performance at Athens this year. The team scored a record 37 medals in the

Athens games, surpassing the previous record of 32 at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984, and dwarfing the 18 won at Sydney four years ago. The total of 16 golds equaled the country’s best total in golds when it hosted the Olympics in 1964. The Japanese Olympic Committee handed out a total of $1.43 million in bonus money (a common practice in the modern-day games), almost double the amount it awarded after the Sydney games. Japanese swimmer Kosuke Katajima, who became very familiar to U.S. TV viewers with his double gold medal performance, received $65,000. He became the first Japanese male in 16 years to win a gold in swimming, sweeping the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke and winning the bronze in the 4x100 meter medley. The haul in Athens enabled the Japan Olympic Committee to reach its 2001 “Gold Plan” target of doubling its share of Olympic medals from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics 10 years ahead of schedule, and to contemplate a new 10-year goal. Japan’s delegation of 513 athletes was also the largest in its history and nine of the golds were claimed by female athletes, who outnumbered their male counterparts in Athens. The highlight of these games was Japan’s resurgence in its national sport of judo, where it captured golds in eight weight categories for its best performance ever, including the men’s super heavyweight class for the first time in 16 years.

Then came Mizuki Noguchi, the little engine in the women’s marathon, who sizzled on the legendary course from Marathon to Panathinaiko Stadium, where the first modern Games were held in 1896. Noguchi shocked the nation by outpacing reigning world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and beating out world record holder Paula Radcliffe of Britain, who broke down in tears on the side of

the road unable to complete the race. The nation also returned to dominance in artistic gymnastics with Hiroyuki Tomita helping to lead the men’s team to gold for the first time in 28 years. The electric gold performance was reminiscent of Japan’s glory days when the men’s squad claimed five consecutive titles from 1960 to 1976, with the added bonus of one silver and two bronze medals in individual events. Going in, IOC officials had high hopes for its female athletes, as Japan was represented by five women’s teams. Only two Japanese men’s teams, baseball and soccer, qualified. Japan struggled in its seven team sports with the baseball team and women’s softball squad both having to settle for bronze and the men’s and women’s soccer teams falling out early.

OLYMPIC GOLD; LODGING IN JAPAN

JAPAN NOW is a publication of the Embassy of Japan for distribution to readers in the United States. However, the opinions and material contained herein do not necessarily represent the

views or policies of the government of Japan.

Japan Information and Culture CenterEMBASSY OF JAPANjnow@embjapan.org

www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm1155 21ST STREET, NW

WASHINGTON, DC 20036202-238-6900

means “Welcome.” For information related to travel in Japan check the following sites:

www.mofa.go.jp/link/visit.htmlwww.japanwelcomesyou.com

www.japantravelinfo.comwww.jnto.go.jp/eng/

361622.indd 2361622.indd 2 9/24/04 5:33:05 PM9/24/04 5:33:05 PM