[War] Japan: "Reducing Grumpiness"

[Ian Martell]

“Reducing Grumpiness”
Prime Minister Shunich Sato
Japan
March 20th 2013

Here they were again, Sato thought as he sat down across from his predecessor Hiroshi Sakai, in his office at the Diet Building. They had tea in front of them this time and not scotch and the mood was more formal, each person had brought a staffer along as well. In Sakai’s case it was Mistato, his former public affairs director and now his chief aide, for Sato it was his daughter Akemi.

They sat quietly a moment before Sato took in a long breath and got directly to the point. 

“I want you to head up this co-operation council I’ve agreed upon with Xia Hong.”

Sakai nodded. “I thought you might. You really want me out of my seat don’t you?”

The only answer Sato gave him was a slightly quizzical expression. They continued in silence for a moment before the disgraced former Prime Minister carried on: “What are you expecting from this council?”

Sato sipped his tea before answering. “Are you taking the job?”

Sakai frowned and shifted in his seat eyes flicking towards Akemi. Sato had invited her specifically for this moment. Sakai for all his brash Osaka upbringing was an academic who had adopted eastern Japanese mores, which included loathing confrontation, especially in front of strangers. Sato though was the son of a Japanese naval officer turned moonshiner who had come up in post-war Japan scrambling over the top of his rivals to sell cheap sake to American GIs and his father had passed on that winner take all attitude to his children. He let him sweat while he continued to sip his tea placidly.

Sakai spoke up after a moment: “May I take some time to consider it?” he asked.

It was a difficult thing to stop himself from pushing further as he would have in a business negotiation but he did.

“I need an answer in twenty-four hours,” Sato said. He sipped his tea again. “In the meantime, what I expect from the post is simple I want you to help Ministers Jonouchi and Inoue to shape our relationship with China to one of maximum benefit to Japan. Primarily we are looking at for the initial phases improving diplomatic and trade relations.”

“What areas?” Sakai asked leaning forward and setting down his tea cup. 

Sato smiled and did the same. “Well diplomatically, there is room for improvement on just about every aspect I think you’ll agree, so you’ll have plenty of room for movement there.”

“You know if we went forward with the proposals for changes to our history text books and making some show of remorse to the Chinese and Korean governments on comfort women…”

Sato put up his hand. This was a common battleground for the two of them. “It’s impossible, you know this,” he said. “You tried three times to put these through the cabinet, and it didn’t work, I am sorry for now its dead.”

Sakai blew out a breath. “Yes...” he said. 

Shrugging Sato said. “We don’t win every battle Sakai-san. Anyhow anything short of making a real apology for our actions in the war is acceptable.”

Hiroshi nodded. “What about economically?” he asked.

“Two major points, first, I think we should seriously look at expanding the scope of the Sino-Japanese Trade Agreement and to clear the road of any Chinese interference in our investing in North Korean ventures.”

“I’ve heard that the North Korean’s have been shopping for international partners in Japan in South Korea for manufacturing and mining, I assume that’s the sort of ventures we’re talking about.”

“Yes our people are very eager to do business with them, after all it is cheap and local source of labour when we are entering a labour shortage, but they are concerned about the safety of their investments there.”

“Yes I can imagine,” replied Sakai. “If China changes its mind about allowing the provisional government to open its doors to foreign investment or the provisional government collapses or is replaced by others less friendly to Japanese business it could go very badly for us.”

“Yes which is why we are going to make securing an agreement with China about investment in North Korea a priority of our co-operation committee; we will want an iron clad agreement with the Chinese that should they change their minds about allowing foreign investment into North Korea, they will respect the agreements already made between North Korea and Japanese companies.”

“I assume we will be making agreements with the provisional government as well?”

“Yes, I have invited members of the provisional government here to Tokyo to meet with Japanese business leaders and Ministers Inoue and Jonouchi with an eye to securing an agreement between our government including the establishment of Offices of Friendship and Trade in Wonsan and Pyongyang.”

“That will likely need at least the unofficial approval of the Chinese.”

“I know, it will be something else that the co-operation committee will need to deal with.”

Sato could see that his plan was working; Sakai was seriously considering the job offer. Which would in the end be good for both of them; Sakai would be good at this job and by taking it, Sato would have ridded himself of the leader of an influential faction leader in his party. Oh yes, and it would also be good for the country; it was funny how that often came as an after thought to the politics.

“Yes, well,” Sakai said finishing his tea. “I should leave you to your work Sato-san,” he said. “But I will get back to you about my decision as soon as possible.”

Sato nodded his head and stood after throwing back the last of his tea and setting down the cup. He extended his hand. “I hope you call with good news.”

Sakai shook his hand and they both bowed and shortly Sakai and Mistato had taken their leave.

Akemi came around the sofa to face her father smiling. “Do we even have a second choice for this job?” she asked obviously amused.

“No,” Sato admitted. “But I think we won’t need one.”

Akemi looked at the door the others had just exited and nodded. “You’re right.”

Sato grinned. “I know,” he said as he walked over towards his desk re buttoning his suit jacket. “Who’s my next appointment?”
 
Actions:

1>	Secure former PM and current pain in the ass Hiroshi Sakai as the head of the Japanese side of the Sino-Japanese Co-operation committee.
2>	Approach China with a proposal for an agreement securing China’s recognition of any agreements made between Japanese and North Korea companies even if Chinese policy should shift away from keeping North Korea open to foreign investment.
3>	Facilitate a meeting between the new North Korean provisional government and the Japanese government and business leaders to establish a working relationship that will speed Japanese investment in building up North Korea’s mining and manufacturing industries and establish unofficial diplomatic relations through  Friendship and Trade Offices (similar to those in Taiwan) in Pyongyang and Wonsan. 
4>	Quietly get China’s approval of the meeting and the opening of diplomatic and trade relations with the North Korean provisional governments. 
5>	Contact the Chinese about talks to increase the scope of the Sino-Japanese trade agreement of 2010 (mentioned in the Japan 2013 backgrounder).

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