rime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s foreign policy focus in recentweeks has been on Asia, as will be the world’s attention as thefirst-ever World Cup to be held in Asia opens May 31. Hevisited Vietnam, East Timor, Australia and New Zealand fromApril 27 to May 3. In each country, based upon his speech

delivered in Singapore in January, Prime Minister Koizumi explained hisconcept of an Asian community epitomized in the phrase “act togetherand advance together.” He also made a major address in Hainan Islandin China on April 12, entitled “Asia in a New Century, Challenge andOpportunity.” The essence of his vision is that Asia faces a bright futurein the new century as well as challenges. The driving forces he foreseesfor the region are freedom, which advanced significantly in recentdecades, diversity among cultures and an openness in bilateraldialogues, while the major challenges include the need for greaterstructural economic and social reforms, regional cooperation and theneed to convey Asia’s message to the world. Among the details areharmonizing those reforms to maximize trade and investment,cooperation on energy and environmental policies and coordination offinancial and currency measures. Japan has been working with manynations in Asia on arrangements to help avoid any future monetary crisissuch as the one which struck the region in 1998, and to reach free tradeagreements to maximize the region’s competitive economic and humanresources advantages. The Prime Minister also said that the fight againstglobal terrorism must be addressed, strategic cooperation must besustained to keep the region stable and that as Asia prospers it mustconcentrate on “sustainable development” to avoid the economic andsocial disruptions of the past, while sharing its prosperity with the lessdeveloped nations of the world. (see page 2)

Japan Now is online!www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm

KOIZUMI EXPANDS ON HIS VISION IN NEW ASIAN TOUR

Japan Informationand Culture Center,

EMBASSY OF JAPAN

C O N T E N T S

PM sees a new Asia communityHis latest regional trip firms up relationswith more of Japan’s neighbors.

Foreign Minister builds bridgesOn a visit to Europe and the Mideast, shecovers a wide range of topics.

Coalition support extended

Business TrendsOutsourcing catches on; private trips tospace; Wal-Mart’s new foothold;automakers are prospering.

ViewpointA leading Diet member discusses Japan’srole in the war against terrorism.

“Ethereal” ArtHideo Mori’s intriguing method is widelyconsidered as timeless.

Beyond DifferencesCompetition between the Minamoto andTaira clans in the samurai era.

World Cup snapshotsHosting the event captures the nation’simagination; schedules and more.

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ASIA ‘S FIRST WORLD CUP OPENS

The opening ceremony of the 2002 World Cup was held in Seoul, South Korea May 31, withJapan’s Prince Takamado, a cousin of Emperor Akihito in attendance. The two nations are co-hostingthe world’s most widely-watched sporting spectacle. Each will stage 32 matches, with the firstbetween France and Senegal in Seoul and the final in Yokohama, Japan on June 30. It was the firstvisit to South Korea by a member of the royal family in the postwar era. Emperor Akihito andEmpress Michiko are scheduled to attend the Yokohama final, along with Prime Minister Koizumiand South Korea’s President Kim Dae-Jung. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau) (see page 8)

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he Prime Minister’s trip was his second toSoutheast Asia in four months. In January, heattended the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore, andvisited the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand

and Indonesia. On his latest trip, he expanded uponhis proposals for the region’s future and touched onnumerous bilateral questions.• IN VIETNAM, (April 27 and 28), Mr. Koizumihad a meeting with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai,and paid courtesy calls on President Tran Duc Luongand Mr. Nong Doc Manh, Secretary General of theVietnam Communist Party. The Prime Ministerexpressed his support for reform efforts underwaythere, and discussed possible ways to develop thebilateral relationship further, particularly in light ofthe 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which isto be celebrated in 2003.

Prime Minister Khai thanked Japan for itsdevelopment assistance, and hailed bilateral ties asa long-term “reliable partnership.” He also invitedthe Emperor and Empress of Japan to pay anofficial visit to the country. In response, PrimeMinister Koizumi said the invitation would beconveyed to the Imperial Court. He noted thatVietnam has become a “rising dragon” in Asia, andthat while the economic situation in Japan wastesting Japan’s ability to continue to be the world’slargest overseas assistance donor, with the efficientallocation of aid, regular consultations withVietnam would continue in a variety of areas.• IN EAST TIMOR, the Prime Minister becamethe first head of state to visit the territory (April29), since the election of Xanama Gusmao asPresident of the world’s newest nation – recentlysplit off from Indonesia. After an enthusiasticgreeting of beaming children wearing white shirtsand waving Japanese flags, Mr. Koizumicongratulated the territory on its formalindependence which took effect May 20.

The Prime Minister also inspected camps ofthe Japanese Self Defense Force (SDF) divisions,which has deployed several hundred peacekeepersand election monitors to East Timor under Japan’srecently enacted International Peace CooperationLaw. He pledged that Japan will continue its efforts to“actively support East Timor’s national reconciliationand nation-building for achieving (economic)sustainability.”

STRENGTHENINGBILATERAL TIES

T• IN AUSTRALIA, (April 30 to May 2), Mr.Koizumi had talks with Prime Minister Hon. JohnWinston Howard, and spoke at a lecture meetingsponsored by the Asia Society. Mr. Koizumi was givena full ceremonial welcome at parliament with anhonor guard and a 19-gun salute.

The two leaders exchanged views on thesituation in East Asia and the Korean Peninsula, theglobal war on terrorism, the World Trade Organization(WTO) negotiations on global trade liberalization;also, bilateral issues and cooperative relationsconfirmed under the Australia-Japan CreativePartnership, which is based on the Prime Minister’sconcept of “act together and advance together.” Thetwo sides agreed to work on an economic partnershipagreement, as Japan is Australia’s largest tradingpartner with two-way trade exceeding $21 billion. • IN NEW ZEALAND, (May 2- 3), the PrimeMinister met with Prime Minister Helen Clark, andthe two leaders reaffirmed their nations’ commitmentto the Kyoto climate-change protocol aimed at cuttingemissions of greenhouse gasses. On other issues, thePrime Minister reiterated his commitment to thedevelopment of closer regional ties that could lead toan East Asian cooperative community including NewZealand and Australia, while noting that such anarrangement must have a “global perspective.” Tradewas also discussed, as Japan is New Zealand’s third-largest trading partner, although both sides havedifferences over agriculture, and the technicalities ofthe whaling issue, which the International WhalingCommission was to take up in the Japanese city ofShimonoseki on May 20.• THE PHILIPPINE’S President Gloria MacapalArroyo also said May 21 that she wants to enter intoconsultations on an economic partnership agreementwith Japan during the visit she made to Tokyo in Mayfor talks with the Prime Minister. Japan already hasan economic partnership agreement with Singapore,and following a recent visit to Seoul and meetingswith South Korean President Kin Dae-Jung, the twonations are also studying the possibility of anothersuch agreement with South Korea.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, left, reviews Japanese troops onU.N. peacekeeping duty in East Timor April 29. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

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oreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi visitedEurope and the Middle East from April 29 toMay 5, stopping in the U.K., Belgium,Afghanistan, and Iran.• IN LONDON, she met with her

counterpart Jack Straw for wide-ranging discussionson international developments, the Kyoto Protocol,the World Summit on Sustainable Development andon ways to advance future bilateral cooperation.• IN BELGIUM, she met with Commissioner inCharge of External Relations of the EuropeanCommission Christopher Patten, and Javier Solana,Secretary General of the Council of the EU. Theagenda covered the Mideast and other regions, andthe Action Plan for EU-Japan Cooperation.• IN AFGHANISTAN, the Minister met leaders ofthe Afghanistan Interim Authority, and expoundedon her concept of the “tripod” for the consolidationof peace, namely the peace and political process,establishment of domestic security, and humanitarianand reconstruction assistance. She stressed thatthese three elements are extremely important for thereconstruction of the country, and she expressedJapan’s intention to provide assistance to each ofthem. She also made a new proposal termed“Register for Peace.” Those who have been engagedin combat for years should be encouraged to becomeproductive members of society, she said, and formerwarriors be encouraged to register for peace toqualify for vocational training or other assistance.The Minister also told U.N. Special Envoy, Amb.Lakhdar Brahimi, Japan would provide support.• IN IRAN, Ms. Kawaguchi stressed Japan’ssupport for the domestic reforms of PresidentMohammed Khatami. She discussed with hercounterpart Kamal Kharrazi possible areas ofcooperation to help Afghanistan, such as refugeeassistance, alternatives to poppy farming, andmedical and educational support. Bilateral relationswere reviewed with a particular emphasis on culturalexchanges. Kharrazi appealed for Japaneseassistance in addressing the nation’s 16 percentunemployment rate. Also, the Minister had a frankexchange on issues of concern to the internationalcommunity, including the Middle East and theproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. TheMinister urged Iran to work towards repairingrelations with the United States and to play aconstructive role in global affairs.

FM KAWAGUCHI TO EUROPE, MIDEAST

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COALITION SUPPORT EXTENDEDThe cabinet of the ruling coalition has decided toextend the period of logistical activities of the SelfDefense Forces, for supporting the global coalitionbattling terrorism in Afghanistan for another sixmonths until Nov. 19. The logistical activities bythe SDF are based on the Anti-Terrorism SpecialMeasures law, which was passed in the Diet onOct. 29, 2001.

Based on this law, Japan has dispatcheddestroyers and supply ships to the Indian Oceanto provide replenishment at sea of U.S. andBritish naval vessels. On June 8, two morewarships were deployed to the regions to join thethree already on station. As of May 10, 2002, theamount of fuel Japan had provided to thosevessels had amounted to approximately 124,000kiloliters.

The Air Self Defense Force of Japan hasalso provided airlift support to the U.S. Forces byC-130 and U-4 transport airplanes. Japancompleted 35 airlift transportation missions withinJapan between Nov. 29, 2001 and May 10, 2002,and 15 missions from U.S. bases in Japan to areastowards Guam and other overseas areas betweenDec. 3, 2001 and May 10, 2002.

PRIME MINISTER PRESSES FOR IT ADVANCES

he Twelfth Meeting of the StrategicHeadquarters for the Promotion of anAdvanced Information andTelecommunications Network Society (ITStrategic Headquarters) was held at the Prime

Minister’s new Official Residence May 9.The participants in the meeting discussed a draftproposal for the “e-Japan Priority Policy Program2002.” The draft proposes to further accelerate andadvance the schedule of, and implementation of, the“e-Japan” concept. That is the Prime Minister’sinitiative to press 317 specific measures to be achievedby set deadlines on five priority policy areas. Theyinclude the creation of the world’s most advancedinformation and telecommunications networkinfrastructure and facilitation of electronic commerce,in order to ensure that Japan does not fall behind inthe rapid progress of global informatization. Aftereliciting opinions from the public more formaldecisions will be announced by the government in thecoming months. Winding up the meeting, PrimeMinister Koizumi said he was determined to moveboldly on the implementation of IT measures designedto make Japan one of the most advanced IT nations inthe world. The Prime Minister marked his first year inoffice on April 26.

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BUSINESS TRENDS

UTSOURCING CATCHING ONThe practice of subcontracting specific tasks,or outsourcing, has been widespread in U.S.industry in recent years, and now it is beingadopted in Japan as well. Today over 10

percent of Japanese firms have institutionalized thehiring of outside workers with special skills and know-how on a regular basis. Among companies with over3000 employees almost 20 percent have moved to theutilization of outside specialists.

This trend has become particularly strong inJapanese industry in the last ten years. By outsourcingwork that requires special knowledge and know-how,employees who wish to be paid for specific skills canalso now find jobs even if not recruited immediatelyupon graduation from university and high school. Inaddition, specialists must keep up with developmentsin their fields, taking the burden of training off theemployer and generally increasing productivity whilelowering costs.• PRIVATE SPACE TRAVEL AHEAD?Following the journey to the international space stationby the first space tourist in history, 60-year oldAmerican entrepreneur Dennis Tito, a group ofJapanese venture capitalists, university professors whoresearch spaceships and space stations, youngengineers, industrial designers and travel specialistshave formed a group to plan regular private-sectorsponsored space travel by the year 2015.

The group, known as the Lunar Cruise Project(site is Japanese only), aims to transform space travelfrom the exclusive domain of astronauts andresearchers into an option for ordinary people. Theproject will first study the practical aspects of spacetourism, such as what kind of vehicles are appropriatefor transporting passengers, the amount of roomrequired for life in space and the types of food that willbe provided there.

The preliminary plan for space tourism is aone-week trip to the moon, involving a two-day journey,three days on the moon, and a two-day return trip.Because there is the danger of exposure to radiation inspace, a hotel will be constructed underground. A largewater tank will be installed in the ceiling of the hotel,allowing guests to enjoy the view of earth and spacewhile shielding them from harmful rays. Tito’s fare tofly on a Russian spacecraft, which recently sent aSouth African businessman into space as well, was $25million. The Japanese group believes it can lower theprice significantly, and will present its preliminary

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findings to a seminar in Tokyo this month. It is alsoconsidering participating in a zero gravity test flightplanned by an American company for 2003.• WAL-MART GAINS FOOTHOLDTaking advantage of the shifting consumer attitudes inJapan toward larger, discount-retail outlets, U.S.-basedWal-Mart Stores is buying a minority stake in Japaneseretailer Seiyu. Wal-Mart will buy 6.1 percent of Seiyustock for $46 million this month. Both companies haveannounced that the Arkansas-based retailer also hasthe option of buying a third of Seiyu stock by the endof this year, half of Seiyu stock by 2005 and two-thirdsby December 2007. In addition to giving Wal-Martaccess to the world’s second-largest economy, the dealrepresents an increasing willingness by large Japanesefirms to enter into strategic partnerships with foreigncorporations in the domestic market.

The arrangement will provide Seiyu with thebenefits of Wal-Mart’s cheaper procurement processesand use of computer technology to cut costs. Wal-Mart,with more than $200 billion in annual sales and morethan 3,000 stores in the U.S., is the world’s largestretailer. Founded in 1963, Seiyu is one of Japan’s topretailers with annual revenues of $7.8 billion runningsupermarkets, shopping centers and department storesand employs 12,500 workers. Last year, two-way flowof investment between Japan and the United Statesreached a total of $77 billion.• AUTOMAKERS UNFAZEDDespite the economic slowdown in Japan, itsautomakers continue to prosper. Due to the popularity ofnew models, Toyota, Japan’s largest manufacturer, nowcontrols 42 percent of the domestic market and reporteda 30 percent jump in profits last fiscal year from bothdomestic and foreign sales. As the result of cost cuttingand reorganizations combined with the lower value ofthe yen, both Toyota and the second-largestmanufacturer Honda have boosted their profit marginssignificantly. Honda has reported a 69 percent increasein profits in its latest fiscal quarter, with worldwide salesof $57 billion last year. Both firms manufacture vehiclesin the United States where Toyota has gained 10 percentmarket share for the first time. Honda’s newest factory inLincoln, AL is already in production. In additionMazda, Japan’s fifth largest automaker, has announcedthat it has returned to profitability after a majorrestructuring. Mazda is controlled by Ford, which ownsabout a third of the company.• HIGH TECH AWARDTokyo Electronics Customer and Service Organizationwon its fourth 2001 Supplier Excellence Award May 9issued by Texas Instruments (TI) at the Austinheadquarters of the Japanese firm. On June 4, anotheraward will be presented in Tokyo. Only one quarter ofone percent of TI’s suppliers are so acknowledged.

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BY FUKUSHIRO NUKAGA

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Member ofthe House of Representatives of theJapanese Diet and a former DefenseMinister, Fukushiro Nukaga, joined sixother Diet legislators in a panel discussion

at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC onMay 1, to discuss “Japan’s Emergency Legislationand the War on Terrorism.” The highlights of hisremarks: Mr. Nukaga and the other lawmakersnoted that Japan’s post-World War II Constitutionlimits the role of the Japanese Self Defense Forcesand now needs to be clarified. In the post Cold-Warpolitical scene, he said, a peaceful and stableinternational society was envisaged in Japan, withlittle concern directed at national security. “But inreality, rather we have seen unstable situations suchas proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction,ethnic and religious conflicts, the occurrence of theterrorism attacks and so on. Instead, the hot topicsnot only in the Diet but also among the JapanesePeople for the past year, have been the themes ofcountermeasures against terrorism and emergencylegislation as a pillar in the field of nationalsecurity, especially the countermeasures againstterrorism,” Nukaga said.

“The Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Lawwas enacted last October, and based on the Law,cooperation and support activities such asreplenishment and transportation activities for theU.S. forces, have been conducted since late lastyear.” He continued: “The U.S. terrorism attacks onSept. 11 are extremely contemptible andunforgivable outrages, taking a great number oflives, and they are a serious challenge not only tothe U.S. but also democratic societies as a whole.Japan has provided support to the U.S. and hastaken a firm stand on assistance and cooperationsince the occurrence of the terrorism attacks. Japanhas taken a firm stand that we have to face thechallenges resolutely in cooperation with thecountries concerned in the world in order for such athing never to happen again.”

Mr. Nukaga further noted that, “TheGovernment of Japan (GOJ) made a decisionapproximately one week following the occurrence ofthe terrorism attacks about a basic policy such as(1) taking active measures in the war on terrorismas an issue of Japan’s own national security itself

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and (2) dealing with the terrorism in unity with thecountries in the world, giving a firm support to theU.S. as an ally. Two weeks later, the GOJ submittedto the Diet the bill on the Anti-Terrorism SpecialLaw stipulating logistical support such as supply offuel for the ships and transportation by the JapanSelf-Defense Force to the U.S. Forces, in order toremove threats of such terrorism attacks.

“As a result of the deliberation on everyworking day in the Diet, the Anti-Terrorism SpecialLaw was enacted at the end of last October a littleless than one month after the submission of thebill... Furthermore, the GOJ began to providetransportation by the Air-Self Defense Force in thelate November, and to supply fuel in the IndianOcean in early December, following consulting withthe U.S. government and the basic plan.”

The legislator also noted that during theGulf War in August 1990, a bill on Japan’scontribution to the effort was rejected by the Diet,and only after the ceasefire did Japan sendminesweepers to the Gulf to support the coalition.In contrast Japan’s response right after the U.S.terrorism attacks was swift and of substance. “Inshort,” he said. “against the emergence of a newand unprecedented threat we have never faced,Japan was able to share the recognition of thethreats with the U.S., to tackle the problem on itsown initiative, and to ensure solidarity with not onlythe U.S. but also the international community.”

Beyond terrorism, the legislators alsocommented on the need to deliberate emergencylegislation to respond to attacks on, or disasterswithin, Japan itself. Rep. Nukaga noted that in thelast decade Japan has experienced the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the domestic sarin attack, thelaunch of North Korean missiles over its territoryand the infiltration of unidentified ships. On top ofthat the Sept. 11 incident, he said, “gave us greatshock as if it had completely changed an existingway of thinking of crisis management and nationalsecurity. I believe that the transformation of thesense of the Japanese People has been expressed inthe swift approval of the Anti-Terrorism SpecialLaw, and the support for the legislation to deal withthe emergency situations by a large number ofpeople.”

In conclusion, he said: “I believe that it isimportant for the GOJ to tackle the difficult task oferadicating terrorism in the internationalcommunity on its own initiative. Moreover, Istrongly believe that it will strengthen relationsbetween our two countries and will result in thepeace and stability needed to make the most of theU.S.-Japan Security Alliance, which is the mostprecious common asset between us.”

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was introduced to Hideo Mori’s artwork at mygallery in New York City when anacquaintance brought in a couple of paintingsfor me to review. Upon seeing his paintingsfor the first time I was struck by the ethereal

quality of his work and the need to study thecomposition up close. I recognized Rembrandt’s‘Batsheba’ and was captured by the three-dimensional figure awash in a hue of blue that was sodistinct, so pure I now understand why it is called‘Mori Blue’. I wondered about the method he utilizedto create his paintings, and Mori’s friend informed meit was airbrushed. At first I was surprised because Ihave not seen airbrush fine art of such caliber. Theairbrush technique is mainly used for commercial,advertising and graphic purposes.

However, the paintings I viewed were sointriguing, instinctively I needed to see more.Understanding the artist and seeing a complete bodyof work would be important before planning anyexhibition. I was told he lived in a city outside ofTokyo and would have to go to Japan to see his work.My gallery partner and myself had been to Japanmany times, so we were prepared to make the trip toevaluate Mori’s standing in the art world. Because ofour busy gallery schedule, I could only make the tripfor an artist I felt had great potential.

I met Mori in his studio and was surprised tosee such high ceilings compared to a typicalJapanese room. He needed the height in order topaint the large canvases (7’ x 6’). By himself, Morieasily carried the paintings into view, each oneshown so I could review the concept and quality ofthe work. A good painting must have a concept,which is the intellect and idea conceived by theartist. Also, it must have craftsmanship, defining thequality of technique. Both aspects are essential in agreat work of art.

Mori’s concept incorporates appropriatedfigures from Manet, Millet, Ingres, Man Ray andSegal to name a few, in addition to prominent Greekand Roman sculptures, placed within an unlikelyenvironment. Sometimes the figures are near a lake,a city intersection or a crowd of people. The Chineseterra cotta soldiers stand in front of a Manhattanskyline and are oblivious to the nude femalesstanding amongst them. The embodiment of Mori’sfigures is timeless, encapsulated in stone to outlastgenerations; however, they are always proud and

HIDEO MORI’S “ETHEREAL” ART

Iprotective. His fascination of history, art, philosophyand beauty is evident. Mori casts the selected figuresand places them within his surreal world, adreamlike setting with its own reality.

As I mentioned, Mori’s blue, pearl and graypalette is so distinct it is uniquely his own. Histechnique sets him apart from many artists andviewers sometimes believe his work incorporatesphotography because of the light, shadow andrealism. He is certainly one of the leading airbrushfine artists in the world. The airbrush is a pen-likedevice that dispels paint in various types of sprays(fine, mist, heavy, etc.) Although the hand held pen isnot a brush, it can be manipulated like a brush andthe acumen of the artist determines the outcome.Holding the airbrush too close to the canvas cancreate an unwanted splotch and pushing the triggertoo hard or soft may not produce the desired effect.Mori utilizes the airbrush as a master; it has becomesecond nature allowing the abstract thoughts toresonate, rather than focusing on the flow of paint.

After being immersed with Mori’s paintings,my desire was to have an exhibition in New YorkCity. Japan is a land of great artists, artisans andcraftspeople. Art has been an integral aspect ofJapanese culture since the beginning of the islandnation. Mori enjoys the freedom of not being confinedto tradition, yet his Japanese nature cannot help butstrive for excellence. He does not fit into some of thecategories associated with typical Japanese artists,but all true artists have no choice but to follow theirartistic path.

After the New York exhibition, the JapanInformation and Culture Center held an exhibition forMori’s paintings in Washington DC. Mori attendedthe opening reception and gave an onstagedemonstration to a receptive audience. The responseto his work in NY and Washington was overwhelmingand we commend the JICC for the wonderful forumthey provide for Americans to view such talentedJapanese artists.

• James Cavello is the President/Curator of theWestwood Gallery in New York City.

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n 1160, the two most powerful samurai clansin Japan, the Taira and the Minamoto, foughtfor the first time along clear clan lines,according to Stephen Turnbull, author of TheBook of the Samurai: The Warrior Class of

Japan. The Minamoto lost this battle badly. The Tairafollowed up their victory by executing all thefighting-age Minamoto men, allowing only an agingcourtier, Minamoto Yorimasa and a few very youngMinamoto boys to go free. For 20 years, the Tairaruled Japan uncontested. But the old courtier usedthose years to instill a passion for revenge in theMinamoto boys. Once they became men, they wereready for the most famous conflict ever foughtbetween samurai, the Gempei War (1180-1185). In1180, the Emperor was the infant Antoku, grandsonof the venerable Taira Kiyomori. The Gempei Warbegan with an uprising led by the old courtier.

The battle went badly for the Minamoto,leading to the first recorded classic act of seppuku,commonly known in the West as hara-kiri. The HeikeMonogatari, records that many Minamoto samurai“cut themselves open” and died during that defeat.But the sons of Minamoto Yorimasa held off theoncoming Taira long enough for their father to write afarewell poem on the back of his war fan, which hefollowed by committing seppuku. In the classic sense,seppuku was no simple alternative to other modes ofsuicide. It maintains a unique position in the culture.It could be used to protest against something, toprove loyalty or as an alternative to public execution.Whatever the cause, the man who committed the actmaintained some measure of honor.

In 1181, the Taira suffered a hard loss withthe death of Kiyomori. And the tide of the war beganto turn in favor of two Minamoto brothers, Yoritomoand Yoshitsune. Yoritomo concentrated on politics,building a strong network of feudal relationships inKamakura, where he had settled. He asked hisyounger brother, Yoshitsune, to carry the familybanner into war. Yoshitsune was born to be a warrior.His abilities, personality, and sensibilities were somemorable that he later became the subject ofnumerous plays and poems.

Yoshitsune’s first major project for Yoritomowas to defeat a Minamoto cousin, Yoshinaka, whohad become a threat to the Minamoto brothers’power, so Yoshitsune eliminated him. Meanwhile, theTaira court, including the crown jewels and Antoku,

SAMURAI CLANS IN DEADLY WARS

Ihad abandoned Kyoto to take their stand in a greatfortress near Kobe that faced the sea. At its rear weresteep cliffs with a narrow, treacherous pathconsidered “too steep even for monkeys.” It mayhave daunted monkeys, but not Yoshitsune.

He sent another brother, Noriyori, to attackthe fortress from the Sea. Meanwhile, his samurai,their horses, and he slipped and slid down the cliffsand through the undefended rear of the fortress toastonish the Taira, who were thinking all they had tofight was Noriyori. A group of Taira, together with theyoung emperor, escaped to a Taira base on the islandof Shikoku. Yoshitsune pursued them and defeated alarge contingent of Taira, but Antoku still eludedhim. The final battle of the Gempei War took place in1185 in another Taira fortress in the straits ofShimonoseki, between the island of Honshu (Japan’smain island) and Kyushu. This last clash was theBattle of Dan-no-Ura, and a desperate battle it was.

The samurai of both sides were aboard ships.The Taira had long been famed for expertise on thewater, and that was honed many generations earlierwith their forays against pirates, a talent that hadbrought them much Imperial appreciation. Thus, abattle on water should have led to a Taira victory, andit is possible that it would have, except that a Tairasamurai turned traitor and disclosed two things thatwould ensure a Minamoto victory — how the currentwould change at midday and which ship held theyoung Emperor. As a result, the Taira werecompletely annihilated, including Antoku, who wasdrowned by his grandmother as she jumped into thesea with him in her arms, rather than have him die atMinamoto hands. It was said that so many Taira werekilled that the sea ran red with their blood.

Yoritomo decided to stay in Kamakura andrule Japan from there, splitting the government intwo. The imperial family would stay in Kyoto, whileYoritomo expanded the policies that had been used torule his clan to run the samurai feudal systemthroughout Japan. Yoritomo had himself proclaimedshogun in 1192. The shogun designation had alwaysbeen a temporary rank given to someone who wouldgo forth and decimate the Emperor’s enemies. Oncethe enemies were dead, the commission reverted tothe Emperor, but this commission did not revert untilthe Meiji Emperor took the throne. The samurai wayof life would stay paramount for almost 700 years.

* Carol Marleigh Kline is a freelance writer inWashington, D.C. who spent 11 years living inJapan. In the next issue she will write aboutThe Invasion by Kublai Khan.

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JAPAN NOW is a publication of the Embassy of Japan for distribution to readers in the United States. However, the opinions and material contained herein do not necessarily represent the

views or policies of the government of Japan.

Japan Information and Culture CenterEMBASSY OF JAPAN

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rime Minister Koizumi has been among themost enthusiastic supporters of the games. OnMay 13 he joined 15 elementary students athis official residence to fold a few of the twomillion paper cranes that are to be scattered

from above the Yokohama Dome after the final matchJune 30. Most Japanese children fold paper cranes,which are given as gifts or used as symbols of goodluck and fortune.• COSTLY EXERCISE. Japan’s preparations havecost at least three times the amount France spenthosting the Cup four years ago. A total of $4.5 billionhas been spent in Japan, and another $1.7 billion inSouth Korea on building and refurbishing the 10stadiums in each country that will host the 32matches in both nations. But, it is also estimated thatthe event will help boost Japan’s economy by some$25 billion. And starting May 27, Japan beganissuing 29 million World Cup commemorative coinsthrough post offices and financial institutions. With aface value of $3.89, the nickel coins feature threedifferent designs of players, maps of various parts ofthe world, a soccer ball and the trophy.• SECURITY WILL BE TIGHT. Symbolic of thesecurity preparations, Japan’s 17,000 pachinko(pinball) parlors have decided not to install any newmachines during the games, because the processrequires police supervision. That will free up policetime for game supervision. A district court innorthern Japan is clearing its diary for June toprepare for a possible wave of hooligan arrests.Sapporo will host England and Argentina, (the earlyfavorite along with France), and English hooligansare notorious troublemakers. A special ferry has beenset aside to transport any arrested fans to Tokyo.Osaka is selling T-shirts bearing the legend “I amNot a Hooligan,” in English and Japanese for foreignfans who don’t want to be singled out by police. But,following Sept. 11, concern over terrorism haseclipsed hooliganism. No-fly zones have beendeclared over all the stadiums and surveillanceaircraft will patrol the skies. Plain-clothed police willbe on alert at airports and stadiums, video cameraswill scan the crowds and “spotters” from abroad willassist police. Japan will also equip police with netguns that unleash a 25-square yard net to trap anytroublemakers. Japan hopes for the safest World Cupever. FIFA seems more than satisfied. One of itsofficials called the preparations, “out of this world.”

WORLD CUP SNAPSHOTS

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• U.S. PLAYING A ROLE. American firms areflocking to the Cup, where official sponsorship rightscost $40 million. Gillette is a sponsor at its ninthWorld Cup. MasterCard is returning, after having 356member banks in 71 countries participate in the1998 games in France. Many firms are attracted bythe “dasher boards” that line the field and exposeadvertisements to the hundreds of millions aroundthe world watching on television. Yahoo’s role inFIFA’s Internet distribution has attracted Budweiser,Adidas and United Airlines as official sponsors.While the primary audience is global, the firmsexpect to win U.S. customers as well. And, the U.S.TV stations expect a major profit.

LET THE GAMES BEGINOn May 31, 2002 at Powell Elementary School inWashington, DC, Ambassadors Ryozo Kato ofJapan and Yang, Sung Chul of the Republic ofKorea donated 250 soccer balls to the DC PublicSchool System in celebration of co-hosting the2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. These balls,imprinted with the official World Cup logo will bedistributed to 101 DC public elementary schoolsand junior soccer leagues. “I am delighted that weare giving away these special World Cup soccerballs to celebrate the first World Cup to be held inAsia,” Ambassador Kato said to the more than200 children. “This year’s theme is peace,harmony and unity from the East to the West,”replied Ambassador Yang. “Let me just say thatas you kick your soccer balls around, rememberthat children in Japan and Korea are doing thevery same thing,” ended Ambassador Kato.Afterwards both ambassadors and the childrenenjoyed kicking the ball around together.