VZCZCXRO3940
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2237 2672213
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 242213Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6418
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ  PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6636
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 8975
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3952
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7153
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0451
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1137
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3037
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7797
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7385
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 002237 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, 
PM; 
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; 
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; 
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-JAPAN SUMMIT IN NEW YORK 
 
¶1.  All media outlets gave top coverage to the Hatoyama-Obama 
summit, remarking the two leaders reaffirmed a commitment to 
strengthening the bilateral alliance. Both print and broadcast media 
noted the President and Prime Minister did not discuss controversial 
issues facing the bilateral alliance such as revision of the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, review of the realignment of 
U.S. forces in Japan, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The media commented that 
instead the two leaders focused on broad areas of agreement such as 
the need to work closely to overcome the global economic crisis, the 
need to address North Korea's nuclear program through the framework 
of the Six-Party Talks, and the need to cooperate to achieve a 
nuclear-free world. 
 
¶2. According to the limited newspaper coverage, Hatoyama was anxious 
to put specific policy items on the backburner and to dispel an 
image of being anti-American. The papers also noted the U.S. did not 
press Japan out of deference to the new government. Editorials and 
analytical articles on the bilateral summit did not make the morning 
papers because it was held at a late hour, from around 22:30 Japan 
Standard Time. 
 
¶3.  Morning and noon television programs included commentary from 
correspondents in the U.S. A Nippon Television (NTV) correspondent 
commented from New York that although Hatoyama expressed in the 
summit his intention to come up with civilian assistance for Afghan 
reconstruction by November, when President Obama is expected to 
visit Japan, little time remains for the prime minister to develop 
alternatives that satisfy both the U.S. and the Japanese public. 
TV-Asahi said that the U.S. side deliberately staged a friendly 
atmosphere in light of the caution growing within the U.S. against 
Hatoyama's intention to "review" U.S.-Japan relations. In a 
telephone interview with Fuji-TV's infotainment program "Tokudane!," 
foreign affairs journalist Ryuichi Teshima said that Hatoyama 
exercised political leadership and used his own words at the summit, 
as opposed to what has been common in the past when the summit 
meetings have followed scenarios written by foreign ministry 
officials. Teshima said that the summit can be called a "revolution" 
in that regard. 
 
¶4.  While media outlets gave the summit favorable coverage, they 
noted the Hatoyama administration will have to formulate concrete 
plans for an alternative contribution to Afghanistan and a plan for 
the relocation for the Futenma facility before President Obama's 
expected visit in November. In its morning news program Nippon Hoso 
Kyokai (NHK) commented Hatoyama's diplomatic skills will be put to 
the test when pending issues are put on the negotiating table. 
 
ROOS