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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8710

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000078 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 01/13/10 
 
INDEX: 
(1) Japan-U.S. foreign ministers' talks prevent rift in bilateral 
alliance; U.S. distrust not dispelled (Sankei) 
 
(2) Secretary Clinton says current Futenma relocation plan best 
option at talks with FM Okada, both agree on talks to deepen 
security alliance (Asahi) 
 
(3) PM Hatoyama tells senior SDF officers to be "grateful" for 
Japan-U.S. security alliance (Sankei) 
 
(4) Government mulls setting up Kantei branch office in Okinawa to 
deal with Futenma issue (Sankei) 
 
(5) Nago mayoral election report (Part 2 - Conclusion): Ginowan 
residents closely watching upcoming election (Sankei) 
 
(6) Editorial: Suffrage for foreigners - give priority to 
sovereignty over diplomatic considerations (Sankei) 
 
(7) Editorial: Take advantage of Asia's vitality through trade 
liberalization (Nikkei) 
 
(8) Child abduction and international divorce (Part 2): 10 years in 
a lonely battle between Japan and China - non-signatories to Hague 
Convention (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Japan-U.S. foreign ministers' talks prevent rift in bilateral 
alliance; U.S. distrust not dispelled 
 
SANKEI ONLINE (Slightly abridged) 
10:51, January 13, 2010 
 
Hiroyuki Kano in Honolulu 
 
The agreement reached at the Japan-U.S. foreign ministerial talks to 
kick off discussions to deepen the bilateral security alliance and 
to hold a meeting of the Security Consultative Committee (two plus 
two) of the cabinet ministers in charge of foreign affairs and 
defense is meant to contain the growing rift in the bilateral 
alliance resulting from the delay in reaching a solution on the 
issue of the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. 
However, the U.S. side's distrust of the Hatoyama administration may 
become irreversible depending on the conclusion the government and 
ruling parties reach on the relocation issue by May. 
 
Okada told Clinton at the meeting: "While it is important to work 
seriously on the Futenma relocation issue, there are many issues 
that the two countries need to tackle. We need to deal with them 
properly." He also referred to the possibility of redefining the 
Japan-U.S. security alliance to replace the 1996 Joint Declaration 
on Security signed by Secretary Clinton's husband, President Bill 
Clinton, and Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, demonstrating his 
strong desire to deepen the bilateral alliance. 
 
However, for the U.S. side, progress made by the Japanese government 
on the relocation issue based on the Japan-U.S. agreement remains a 
prerequisite for deepening the alliance, and it has merely agreed 
with reluctance to shelve this issue until the government and the 
ruling parties come up with a decision by May. The Social Democratic 
 
TOKYO 00000078  002 OF 009 
 
 
Party strongly advocates Futenma's relocation out of Okinawa. It is 
possible that the conclusion reached in May may undermine the 
alliance once again. 
 
(2) Secretary Clinton says current Futenma relocation plan best 
option at talks with FM Okada, both agree on talks to deepen 
security alliance 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
Evening, January 13, 2010 
 
Akira Uchida, Hiroshi Ito in Honolulu 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met with U.S. Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the morning of Jan. 12 
(before dawn on Jan. 13, Japan time). With regard to the issue of 
the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan 
City, Okinawa), Clinton reiterated that the current relocation plan 
is the best option, but indicated her understanding of the Japanese 
government's position on settling this issue by May. 
 
According to Okada, Clinton was the one who brought up the Futenma 
issue at the meeting, and she reiterated that the current plan 
agreed upon under the Liberal Democratic Party administration to 
relocate the base to Henoko, Nago City, is the best option. Okada 
explained once again the Japanese government's policy to reach a 
conclusion on the relocation site by May, seeking her understanding 
by saying, "This is Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's promise." 
 
At a joint news conference held after the meeting, Clinton 
emphasized again the U.S.'s position and added: "We hope our 
Japanese friends will keep their promises, including that on the 
Futenma issue." On the other hand, she also said: "We understand 
that there are various concerns in the coalition government (in 
Japan)" and "We hope to see a solution by May." 
 
Okada and Clinton also effectively started off discussions to deepen 
the Japan-U.S. security alliance on the occasion of the 50th 
anniversary of the revision of the Japan-U.S. security treaty this 
year. For now, talks will be held at the working level between 
foreign affairs and defense officials to analyze the current state 
of the security environment in Asia and the Pacific and discuss 
other issues. Okada and Clinton agreed to hold interim talks at the 
Security Consultative Committee of the ministers of foreign affairs 
and defense (two plus two) in the first half of this year. 
 
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Bill Clinton signed a 
Joint Declaration on Security in 1996, which redefined the bilateral 
alliance in the post-Cold War era. Okada proposed at the meeting the 
drafting of a new declaration to replace the 1996 document. He plans 
to complete this process by November, before President Barack 
Obama's expected visit to Japan. 
 
There have been concerns in the U.S. that the Futenma relocation 
issue may affect the Japan-U.S. relationship as a whole. For this 
reason, Clinton stressed the importance of the alliance at the joint 
news conference, stating that "the Japan-U.S. alliance is the 
cornerstone of the United States' involvement in Asia." She said 
that while the Futenma issue is "very important, it is only part of 
a comprehensive partnership," showing her consideration for Japan 
throughout the news conference. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000078  003 OF 009 
 
 
(3) PM Hatoyama tells senior SDF officers to be "grateful" for 
Japan-U.S. security alliance 
 
SANKEI ONLINE (Full) 
12:42, January 13, 2010 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama talked about the Japan-U.S. security 
treaty at a meeting of senior Self-Defense Forces (SDF) officers at 
the Ministry of Defense on the morning of Jan. 13. He stated: "We 
should be grateful for the Japan-U.S. alliance and the security 
treaty, which protect our country." Hatoyama also mentioned that 
this year marks the 50th anniversary of the revision of the treaty 
and said: "It is important to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance 
further. Therefore, this year is a very important year." 
 
With regard to the refueling mission of the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force (MSDF) in the Indian Ocean, which will be terminated on Jan. 
15, Hatoyama said: "Our thinking on policy is different from the 
previous administration's, so the MSDF will return home." 
 
Some 170 senior officers of the Ground, Maritime, and Air Staff 
Office and the various SDF units attended the meeting. Defense 
Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, who delivered a message after the Prime 
Minister, touched on the issue of the relocation of the U.S. forces' 
Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa), stating that: "The 
government and the ruling parties are engaged in an examination 
process. We will decide on an appropriate relocation site that is 
acceptable both to the United States and the people of Okinawa." 
 
(4) Government mulls setting up Kantei branch office in Okinawa to 
deal with Futenma issue 
 
SANKEI ONLINE (Full) 
00:50, January 13, 2010 
 
The government has begun considering setting up a branch office of 
the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) in Naha City to be 
staffed by officials of the Cabinet Secretariat in order to keep in 
close contact with the local authorities with regard to the issue of 
the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan 
City, Okinawa). This was revealed by a senior government official on 
the evening of Jan. 12. 
 
At a meeting between Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano and Governor 
Hirokazu Nakaima during Hirano's recent visit to Okinawa, Nakaima 
asked to be able to communicate better with the Kantei, and Hirano 
indicated that he would think of concrete measures. 
 
The above senior government official said: "Cooperation in listening 
to the local communities' views is indispensable for resolving the 
Futenma issue. (Hirano) ordered bureaucrats to look for ways for 
doing so." 
 
(5) Nago mayoral election report (Part 2 - Conclusion): Ginowan 
residents closely watching upcoming election 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
January 12, 2010 
 
Masashi Miyamoto 
 
Residents of Ginowan City, which hosts U.S. Marine Corps Air Station 
 
TOKYO 00000078  004 OF 009 
 
 
Futenma, are now paying attention to how the Jan. 24 mayoral 
election of Nago City will turn out. This is because the election 
result could cause the issue of relocating the Futenma base to the 
Henoko district in Nago City to be left hanging in the air, forcing 
Ginowan to continue hosting the base. "We can't wait for a long 
time," said a Ginowan resident. Anguished cries are being heard from 
Ginowan residents, who have been suffering from the noise of U.S. 
military airplanes and live in constant fear of an aircraft crashing 
in their city. 
 
Japan and the United States reached an agreement 13 years ago to 
return the Futenma airfield to Okinawa. Patience has worn thin in 
Ginowan because the Hatoyama administration has blundered in its 
handling of the relocation issue. 
 
Ginowan residents have been increasingly concerned that the Futenma 
relocation plan, which was informally decided on immediately after 
the reversion of Futenma, might have reached a dead end and, 
consequently, not be implemented. 
 
A 50-year-old restaurant owner living near the Futenma base located 
in a densely populated area said, "Although the reversion plan had 
made some progress, it has now returned to the drawing board. I want 
the base to be relocated to Henoko as early as possible. So I'm 
closely watching how the Nago mayoral election will turn out." His 
voice was nearly drowned out by the roar of U.S. military aircraft. 
 
 
In August 2004, the fear of residents living with the Futenma base 
in Ginowan became a reality as a large U.S. military helicopter 
crashed onto the campus of Okinawa International University and 
burst into flames. 
 
A 64-year-old man, who has lived in an area near the Futenma base 
for 45 years, cannot erase the memory of dark smoke hanging in the 
air that day. He said, "I have believed for 10 years that the 
heliport facility will be moved to Henoko. I want the government to 
make a decision on the issue no matter if it is retained in Ginowan 
or relocated to Henoko. I can't put up with politicians making a 
fool of us. If the incumbent Nago mayor is re-elected in the 
upcoming election, then the people will have spoken and we can 
anticipate the relocation will be realized." 
 
A 65-year-old man, who has rented out his land to U.S. military, 
said, "As an Okinawa resident, I believe that the Futenma base 
should first be moved to Henoko and then concrete plans should be 
drawn up for the reduction of bases. The situation has not improved, 
because the Hatoyama government cannot make any decision. Ginowan 
residents are troubled most by the delay in the government's 
decision. The mayoral election is of great significance in calling 
on the Hatoyama government to make a quick decision." 
 
However, a former school teacher said: "The base should be moved out 
of Japan; it would be meaningless to relocate it to Henoko." 
 
Osamu Ashitomi, 53, a former Lower House member, said: "Okinawa's 
goal is to develop an independent economy. To that end, the 
political situation must be stabilized. Based on the Japan-U.S. 
agreement, the Futenma base should be relocated to Henoko; after 
that, discussions should be held to build a new Okinawa. Unless the 
first step is taken, nothing will be resolved. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000078  005 OF 009 
 
 
Okinawan opinion is now "all or nothing." The basic thinking was 
that U.S. bases on the island prefecture would be gradually scaled 
down and integrated. However, the people of Okinawa have become 
radical and appear to be forgetting that. Many residents in Ginowan 
City now expect that the outcome of the Nago mayoral election will 
become the first step in reducing U.S. bases. 
 
The previously mentioned restaurant owner living near the Futenma 
base feels uneasy about Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha's hopeless 
insistence on relocation of Futenma out of Okinawa. He said, "I 
wonder why the mayor does not press for the existing relocation plan 
to rid Futenma of danger. I cannot fathom the mayor's true 
intention, because Nago City has accepted the plan. I wonder if he 
is serious about the Futenma relocation issue." 
 
(6) Editorial: Suffrage for foreigners - give priority to 
sovereignty over diplomatic considerations 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 13, 2010 
 
Leaders of the government and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
met and agreed to submit to the upcoming ordinary Diet session a 
bill to give the right to vote in local elections to permanent 
foreign residents in Japan. Moves for giving suffrage to foreigners 
are gathering speed. 
 
DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, who is eager about the suffrage 
issue, said in the meeting: "In light of Japan-South Korea 
relations, the government should sponsor the suffrage bill," urging 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi 
Hirano to take action. DPJ Upper House caucus chairman Azuma 
Koshiishi reportedly also said: "The government is not taking 
action." 
 
Japan-South Korea relations are surely important. Against the 
backdrop of China's military expansion and North Korea's growing 
nuclear threat, it is essential for Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. 
to strengthen relations on the security front. In order to resolve 
the issue of past abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean 
agents as well, cooperation among the three countries is 
imperative. 
 
Even so, it is unreasonable for the Japanese government, to that 
end, to move to allow permanent foreign residents, including South 
Korean residents in Japan, to vote in local elections in response to 
Seoul's request. In bilateral relations, there are issues on which 
concessions can be made, but on the issues of the Takeshima islands 
and suffrage for foreigners, Japan should not make any concessions 
because they affect the nation's sovereignty. 
 
Ozawa visited South Korea in December of last year and said in a 
speech at a university in Seoul that the granting of suffrage to 
foreigners "might become a reality at the ordinary Diet session." He 
unofficially met President Lee Myung-bak as well. Ozawa has cited 
Japan-Korea relations as the main reason for his willingness to 
submit a foreign suffrage bill to the Diet. His eagerness might be 
linked to his recent visit to South Korea, and the possibility of 
dual-track diplomacy cannot be ruled out. 
 
Some persons take the view that Japan can allow foreign residents to 
vote only in local elections because the outcome of local elections 
 
TOKYO 00000078  006 OF 009 
 
 
has little impact on national politics. But there are local 
communities faced with problems that could influence national 
politics. These problems include the transfer of U.S. military bases 
and construction of nuclear power plants. In addition, there are 
problems related to police and education administration. There could 
be a case in which foreigners hold the decisive vote in a mayoral 
election and have an impact on national politics. 
 
Foreigners even with permanent residence status in Japan have a 
sense of loyalty not toward Japan but toward their homeland. All 
members in a state share the same political destiny. In this 
context, foreigners cannot take responsibility as members of the 
state. 
 
Addressing objections to suffrage for foreigners raised by some 
members in the government and the ruling bloc, Hatoyama said: "I 
believe we can obtain their understanding. Since this year marks the 
100th anniversary of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula, we 
have thoroughly studied the matter." He indicated eagerness to 
submit a bill granting foreigners suffrage, but his posture of 
trying to connect the suffrage issue to Japan's past military 
aggression is also a problem. 
 
We expect discussants in the DPJ and the cabinet will become more 
cool-headed and cautious regarding the issue of granting foreigners 
suffrage 
 
(7) Editorial: Take advantage of Asia's vitality through trade 
liberalization 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 12, 2010 
 
The year 2010 will become a milestone for East Asia's trade system. 
Six major members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
(ASEAN) mutually abolished trade tariffs, starting on Jan. 1. Free 
trade agreements (FTA) have also come into effect among various 
combinations of nations including China, South Korea, India, and 
Australia. East Asia is an economic zone with a population of 3.2 
billion. It is connected by ocean trade routes, such as the South 
China Sea and the East China Sea. A framework for the free exchange 
of people, goods and money is in the process of being set up in this 
region. 
 
Close attention being paid to ASEAN 
 
Japan must not miss this wave of major reform. It needs to consider 
ways to take advantage of the vitality of Asia, which offers hope as 
a growth center in the world, for the expansion of its domestic 
economy. 
 
The most important issue is how to respond to the moves of the Obama 
administration, which is deepening its involvement in Asia. The U.S. 
government is trying to build a free trade framework between the 
Americas and East Asia, based on the Trans-Pacific Strategic 
Economic Partnership Agreement (PTT) formed in 2006. 
 
The TPP has never been a highly visible pact amid the global trend 
of trade liberalization. The original members were only Singapore, 
Brunei, New Zealand and Chile. However, the U.S. focused on this 
tiny agreement and announced its participation in it. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000078  007 OF 009 
 
 
The U.S. intention is clear. It signed the agreement because markets 
in the ASEAN region are in the process of becoming unified. If the 
U.S. becomes a member of the TPP, which has Singapore and Brunei - 
ASEAN members - as members, the U.S. market and the ASEAN market 
will become directly connected. 
 
ASEAN has already concluded FTAs with Japan, China and South Korea. 
Its agreements with India, Australia and New Zealand came into 
effect on Jan. 1, 2010. The focal point of the free trade system in 
the Asia region is ASEAN. The U.S. is trying to take advantage of 
the vitality of the Asian economies by driving a wedge into it. 
 
Interest in Asia is growing in the European Union as well. Since 
Myanmar, which is faced with a democratization issue, is a member of 
ASEAN, the EU is cautious about strengthening its direct diplomatic 
relations with ASEAN. However, it is eager to sign FTAs with 
individual Southeast Asian nations. 
 
For the Japanese economy, ASEAN has been like its own backyard. 
Japanese companies have made inroads into each ASEAN member nation 
and built many production bases in the region. They have established 
massive production and distribution networks. Their presence was 
apparently overwhelming for U.S., European, and Chinese companies. 
 
Japan's official development assistance (ODA) has also played a 
major role in the economic development of the region. Expectations 
for Japan in terms of building industrial and social infrastructure 
and technological cooperation are high. It is true that Japan has 
had a tacit influence on ASEAN nations. 
 
However, we should probably realize that the relationship between 
Japan and ASEAN in which Japan has had ASEAN all to itself is over 
due to the rise of China and the global financial crunch. With 
demand in industrialized countries shrinking, the U.S. and Europe 
are becoming more interested in Asia. There has been a surge of 
activity in entry into the markets of ASEAN member nations. The 
region is no longer the exclusive territory of Japan. 
 
Barriers between ASEAN members will disappear due to the mutual 
elimination of tariffs. The U.S., European countries, and China are 
now able to make strategic investments by looking at the region as a 
whole instead of building plants in each country. There is no 
guarantee that Japanese companies that made inroads into ASEAN ahead 
of others will continue to have the upper hand in terms of costs. 
 
The Obama administration is expected to strengthen its trade 
strategy toward Asia. It is bound to call on Japan to take part in 
the TPP. If Japan joins the free trade pact, to which the U.S. 
belongs, the markets of Japan and the U.S. will basically become 
unified. This would produce the same type of effect that would be 
produced if both countries were to sign an FTA. 
 
Signing of FTAs with U.S. and European countries imperative 
 
The diplomatic relationship between Japan and the U.S. has become 
strained over the Futenma airfield relocation issue. Under such a 
situation, will Japan be able to accept proposals on trade policy 
that the U.S. will present? We are worried, because it appears that 
the appropriate preparations have yet to be made. 
 
FTAs under the leadership of the U.S. have higher targets for market 
opening than agreements which Japan has concluded with Asian 
 
TOKYO 00000078  008 OF 009 
 
 
countries. Japan will be required to meet strict demands, such as 
scrapping tariffs on agricultural goods in principle. As such, many 
Japanese government officials hesitate to form a tie-up with the 
U.S. 
 
Japan's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) advocated the promotion of 
an FTA with the U.S. in its policy manifesto for the Lower House 
election. However, the initiative has lost steam rapidly. The target 
for establishing an Asia-Pacific free trade zone in the Hatoyama 
administration's new growth strategy is 2020. This is too late. 
 
If the U.S. and European countries press ahead in forming economic 
ties with ASEAN members, the exchange of people, goods and money 
between Asia on one hand and the U.S. and Europe on the other will 
gain momentum, bypassing Japan. In order to take advantage of Asia's 
vitality, Japan must strengthen its economic ties with the U.S. and 
Europe as well. 
 
In order to do that, it is necessary for Japan to speed up efforts 
in market-opening in the agricultural area. Japan's time is running 
out. 
 
(8) Child abduction and international divorce (Part 2): 10 years in 
a lonely battle between Japan and China - non-signatories to Hague 
Convention 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 23) (Full) 
January 11, 2010 
 
In June 1999, while her divorce proceedings were underway, her 
Chinese former husband took her two daughters, aged eight and seven, 
away to China when they were on their way to their elementary 
school, saying, "I'll be with you today." That was the start of the 
lonely, border-spanning battle of Nana Sugimoto, 43, who resides in 
Tokyo's Tama area. 
 
Her marriage to her husband from Shanghai ended in divorce after 
just 10 years because of his violence. Sugimoto left the house with 
her two daughters in 1998. She fought for the custody of her 
daughters during divorce proceedings while staying at a shelter. But 
her ex-husband abruptly boycotted the talks, waited for her 
daughters, and took them away to China. He reportedly entered China 
via Hong Kong where no visas are required. 
 
Sugimoto's search for her daughters was an agonizing experience. 
Neither Japan nor China is a signatory to the Hague Convention on 
the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction for cooperation 
and discussion between governments so that one parent will not take 
a child out of the country after an international marriage ends in 
divorce. Law-enforcement officials did not take her complaint 
seriously, saying, "After all, they have been taken away by their 
father, haven't they?" 
 
The divorce finally came through in October 2000, a little over one 
year after Sugimoto's daughters had been taken away. She had no 
other option but to continue rushing about to rescue her daughters 
even after winning their custody from a Japanese court. She asked 
for the support of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Chinese 
government, Diet members, and others. 
 
She was told, "We cannot do anything," by the Japanese consulate in 
Shanghai where her ex-husband's parents' house is located. "I have 
 
TOKYO 00000078  009 OF 009 
 
 
the custody of my daughters. Why can't I reclaim them?" Sugimoto 
tried to search for her daughters independently by learning the 
Chinese language and visiting China, but that too ended in vain. At 
long last in 2004 the Metropolitan Police Department put her 
ex-husband on the wanted persons list on charges of kidnapping and 
transporting the children to another country, but she knew the 
chances of him being caught were slim. 
 
A turning point came in January 2009. Her daughters, who had been 
living in China as Japanese nationals, returned to Japan for the 
first time in 10 years to renew their passports which required the 
signature of their legal guardian. Sugimoto had missed the chance to 
be reunited with her daughters at the time of the renewal of their 
passports five years before because of a mistake committed by the 
Japanese consulate. That is why she was particularly overjoyed this 
time around. Because her ex-husband did not accompany his daughters 
to Japan for fear of being arrested, Sugimoto was able to spend time 
alone with her daughters, now aged 18 and 17. 
 
Her daughters' expressions were stiff at first. But they gradually 
opened up, and the eldest daughter said to Sugimoto toward the end 
of her three-month stay in Japan, "We have been told that you are 
suffering from a mental illness. But that is not true." 
 
Her two daughters then returned to China to pursue their studies. 
But two months later, her eldest daughter returned to Japan alone to 
escape from her abusive father. Last September, her father showed up 
at Haneda Airport to take her back to China and he was arrested on 
the spot. 
 
Late last year, Sugimoto confronted her former husband, now a 
defendant, at the Tachikawa branch of the Tokyo District Court. The 
court sentenced him to two years in prison with probation of three 
years. The court gave consideration to the fact that he was not 
legally divorced and had the custody of his daughters when he 
committed the abduction and that the younger daughter, now in China, 
had hoped to live with her father. He was released immediately after 
the court handed down its decision. The results were not acceptable 
to Sugimoto, who has suffered violence and whose daughters have been 
taken away. 
 
Sugimoto, who has experienced the tragedy of her children being 
abducted and transported out of the country, has urged the Japanese 
government to accede to the Hague Convention. "If Japan and China 
were signatories to the convention, my daughters and I would have 
spent the last ten years differently." Sugimoto does not want anyone 
to repeat the same tragedy she has gone through. 
 
ZUMWALT