VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #1020/01 1210647
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010647Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2708
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 9095
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 5113

UNCLAS TOKYO 001020 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA AMGT KNNP PREL MNUC KN CH JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR AMBASSADOR STEPHEN W. 
BOSWORTH AND DELEGATION 
 
REF: STATE 44204 
 
¶1.  (U) Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance 
for the May 11-12, 2009, visit to Japan by S/R Stephen W. 
Bosworth, Ambassador Sung Y. Kim, NSC Asia Director Daniel R. 
Russel, and DPRK Desk Officer Amy Patel. 
 
¶2.  (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Political 
Officer Marc Knapper.  He can be reached at: 
 
Office phone:  (81-3)3224-5334 
Home phone:    (81-3)3224-6958 
Mobile phone:  81-90-2210-8570 
Fax:           (81-3)3224-5322 
E-mail:        KnapperME@state.gov (unclassified) 
 
------------------ 
Hotel Reservations 
------------------ 
 
¶3.  (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made at the Hotel 
Okura 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8416, Tel: 
(81-3) 3582-0111 Fax: (81-3) 3582-3707.  Details as follows: 
 
Name: Ambassador Stephen Bosworth 
Arrive:    05/11/09 
Depart:    05/12/09 
Conf. No.: 652077 
 
Name: Ambassador Sung Kim 
Arrive:    05/11/09 
Depart:    05/12/09 
Conf. No.: 652079 
 
Name: Daniel Russel 
Arrive:    05/11/09 
Depart:    05/12/09 
Conf. No.: 651630 
 
Name: Amy Patel 
Arrive:    05/11/09 
Depart:    05/12/09 
Conf. No.: 651631 
 
------------------------------- 
Airport to Hotel Transportation 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U)  Control Officer Marc Knapper will meet Ambassador 
Bosworth and party at the arrival gate and assist to an 
embassy vehicle.  The embassy is working to finalize 
appointment details for meetings taking place on May 11. 
 
---- 
Visa 
---- 
 
¶5.  (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports must 
have a Japanese visa to enter Japan.  Travelers on a U.S. 
tourist (blue cover) passport may enter Japan as a tourist 
without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days.  As of November 
20, 2007, all foreign nationals entering Japan, with the 
exemption of certain categories, are required to provide 
fingerprints and a facial photograph at the port of entry. 
This requirement does not replace any existing visa or 
passport requirements.  Official U.S. travelers will have to 
submit to the photograph and fingerprinting requirement 
unless they travel with a valid diplomatic or official visa 
or a Note Verbale.  The nature of the passport onto which the 
visa is pasted is not relevant, i.e. a tourist passport 
holder with a diplomatic or official visa will not have to 
submit to the biometrics collection process.  SOFA personnel 
are exempt under SOFA Article 9 (2) from the new biometrics 
entry requirements. 
 
----------------- 
Threat Assessment 
----------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a 
heightened state of alert.  As the U.S. Government has 
reported in public announcements over the last several 
months, U.S. citizens and interests abroad may be at 
increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups, 
which may target civilians and include suicide operations. 
The Department maintains information about potential threats 
to Americans overseas which is available to travelers on the 
internet at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page: 
http://www.travel.state.gov.  The Embassy takes all threats 
seriously.  U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours a 
 
day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000 
(internationally). 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The general threat from crime in Tokyo and 
throughout Japan is low.  Crime is at levels well below the 
U.S. national average.  Violent crime is rare, but does 
exist.  The Japanese National Police report continued 
problems with pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded 
shopping areas of Tokyo.  Although street crime is low, 
common sense security measures are advised for all American 
citizens traveling in Japan. 
 
¶8.  (U) Also be advised that under no circumstances may 
weapons be brought into Japan.  Carrying a pocketknife 
(including Swiss Army-style knife, craft or hunting knife, 
box cutter, etc.) in public is forbidden.  Under Japanese 
law, carrying any such item in public, with a size exceeding 
8 cm in length, 1.5 cm in width or 2 mm in thickness, can 
subject the person to arrest or detention. 
ZUMWALT