VZCZCXRO7381
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5649/01 3550646
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 210646Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0546
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 5136
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA PRIORITY 3840
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 7532
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 8801
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 5766
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 005649 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO S/CT RHONDA SHORE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PTER
SUBJECT: JAPAN: 2007 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 
 
REF: SECSTATE 146856 
 
¶1. Japan continued to increase efforts to prevent terrorism 
and there were no terrorist attacks in Japan in 2007. 
Domestically, Japan bolstered its defenses against terrorism 
by improving crisis management and first responder 
capabilities and took steps to strengthen border security. 
By December 2007, 98 percent of local governments had adopted 
plans to better protect the public from terrorist attacks and 
in March 2006 the Cabinet approved emergency contingency 
plans for 47 prefectures.  Japan held local drills simulating 
terrorist attacks to boost response capabilities.  In 
January, Japan made it mandatory for both ship and air 
carriers to provide manifest information prior to the arrival 
of the conveyance. 
 
¶2. In November, immigration officials began to collect and 
electronically store finger prints and facial imagery from 
foreigners under the revised Immigration and Refugee Control 
Act.  The Ministry of Justice Immigration Bureau continued 
testing that began in 2004 on a biometric fingerprint and 
facial recognition system at Narita and Kansai airports with 
the aim of identifying people trying to enter Japan on fake 
passports. 
 
¶3. Japan used Official Development Assistance (ODA) grants to 
expand counterterrorism capacity in Southeast Asia.  The 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Economic Cooperation 
Bureau increased funding for the annual Cooperation on 
Counterterrorism and Security Enhancement grant aid program. 
This FY 2007 US$ 65 million program included projects aimed 
at bolstering piracy prevention, increasing maritime and port 
security, and preventing weapons proliferation. 
 
¶4. Japan made valuable contributions to building 
counterterrorism capacity among Asian countries.  In May, 
Japan hosted a two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference 
aimed at battling terrorism in Asia, Europe, and beyond. 
Participants shared threat assessments and discussed ways to 
increase CT capacity building.  Japan provided assistance to 
the G-8 Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG) and maintained 
momentum on improving port security via the G-8 adopted 
Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative 
(SAFTI).  Japanese experts participated in G-8 bioterrorism 
workshops on forensic epidemiology and decontamination.  In 
March, Japan invited 15 countries from Southeast Asia to a 
seminar to promote accession and ratification of 
international counterterrorism treaties.  In September, Japan 
hosted the ASEAN-Japan Counterterrorism Dialogue.  In 
October, Japan became a partner nation in the U.S. Global 
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. 
 
¶5. Japan increased efforts to combat terrorist financing.  On 
April 1 the Japanese government promulgated a new anti-money 
laundering law, the Law for Prevention of Transfer of 
Criminal Proceeds, which expanded the scope of businesses and 
professions under the previous law's jurisdiction, and moved 
the financial intelligence unit from the Financial Regulatory 
Agency to the National Police Agency (NPA) in accordance with 
FATF recommendations.  Furthermore, the Foreign Exchange and 
Foreign Trade Law's January revision now requires Japanese 
financial institutions to confirm the identity of customers 
sending 100,000 yen ($900) or more overseas.  The Financial 
Services Agency announced a similar change for domestic 
remittances; in an amendment to the Customer Identification 
by Financial Institutions rule, financial institutions are 
now required to identify the originators of wire transfers 
over 100,000 yen. 
 
¶6. In June, Japan implemented revised infectious disease 
legislation aimed at tightening control of harmful pathogens 
that could be used for terrorism.  In July, the Japanese 
government held a seminar on the prevention and crisis 
management of bioterrorism to strengthen mechanisms to combat 
CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) terrorism 
in the Asia Pacific.  Participants included ASEAN countries, 
China, Korea, and the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for 
Counterterrorism (SEARCCT).  In August, Japan ratified the 
International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of 
Nuclear Terrorism.  Japan was an active partner in the 
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), and in October 
hosted Pacific Shield 2007, a seven-nation PSI maritime 
security drill to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction. 
 
TOKYO 00005649  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶7. Japan continued to reach beyond the region in its fight 
against terrorism and its trilateral counterterrorism 
cooperation with the United States and Australia remained 
robust.  In June, Japan participated in a counterterrorism 
trilateral meeting in Australia to better synchronize 
regional activities. 
 
¶8. Japan Air Self-Defense Forces, based in Kuwait, continued 
to provide airlift operations in support of Iraq during 2007. 
 In July, the Cabinet approved a one-year extension of the 
deployment.  In 2007, between January and October, the 
Maritime Self-Defense Forces provided approximately 5.7 
million gallons of fuel to U.S. and allied naval vessels 
engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom but ended refueling 
operations in the Indian Ocean in November.  The Cabinet has 
submitted legislation to the parliament that, if passed, will 
authorize resumption of refueling efforts in 2008. 
 
¶9. Bilaterally, Japan was a responsive partner in the fight 
against terrorism.  In January, Japan and the United States 
initiated a pilot Immigration Advisory Program (IAP) at 
Narita Airport to identify high risk travelers before they 
board flights destined for the United States.  The IAP pilot 
has been extended until July 2008 and negotiations are 
underway to convert the pilot IAP into a long-term program. 
 
¶10. Japan and the United States continued to improve the 
preparedness and interoperability of U.S. and Japanese armed 
forces, and civilian entities, to respond to and sustain 
operations during a CBRN attack.  The bilateral CBRN Defense 
Working Group (CDWG), established under the U.S.-Japan 
Security Consultative Committee (SCC), held plenary meetings, 
conducted seminars on decontamination and medical response 
and engaged in table top exercises in the United States and 
Japan throughout 2007.  Representatives from the Ministry of 
Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Self 
Defense Forces, Cabinet Secretariat, the NPA, the Fire and 
Disaster Management Agency, and the Nuclear Safety 
Commission, among other government agencies, participate in 
the CDWG. 
 
¶11. The NPA and the Public Security Intelligence Agency 
(PSIA) continued to monitor the activities of Aum Shinrikyo, 
renamed Aleph.  In May, Fumihiro Joyu, a former spokesman and 
Aum leader, along with approximately 200 Aleph members, split 
and formed a new organization called Hikari No Wa (Circle of 
Light).  PSIA and NPA continued to monitor both groups and 
inspected their facilities in 2007.  The Tokyo High Court, in 
June, upheld the death sentence for Seiichi Endo for his 
involvement in the Matsumoto and Tokyo sarin attacks.  In 
July, the Tokyo Court upheld the death sentence for former 
senior Aum member Tomomasa Nakagawa for his role in 11 
crimes, including the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack.  In 
August, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for 
Masato Yokoyama for his involvement in the 1995 Tokyo subway 
sarin gas attack; he is not eligible for future appeals.  The 
Supreme Court, in October, upheld the death sentence for Aum 
Shinrikyo member Satoru Hashimoto, who carried out the 1994 
sarin gas attack in Matsumoto.  In November, the Supreme 
Court upheld the death sentence for Satoru Hashimoto, for his 
involvement in the 1994 Matsumoto attack. 
 
¶12. In April, police arrested suspected former Japan Red Army 
member Yu Kikumura upon reentry to Japan following 
deportation from the United States; Kikumura was deported 
from the United States after being released from U.S. prison 
for serving time for transporting home made bombs.  In May, 
the Tokyo High Court upheld the life in prison sentence for 
Haruo Wako, for his role the 1974 seizure of the French 
Embassy in The Hague and for his role in seizing the U.S. 
Embassy in Kuala Lumpur the following year.  The Tokyo 
District Court sentenced Jun Nishikawa to life in prison for 
his role in the 1974 seizure of the French Embassy in The 
Hague and the 1977 hijacking of a Japan Airlines plane. 
DONOVAN