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PacNet #25 – U.S.-Japan: Why So Nervous?

The U.S.-Japan relationship is on solid ground and growing stronger by the day! As a result of their recent Camp David summit, U.S. President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo have become one another’s new best friend – perhaps not as close (yet) as Bush’s ties with Abe’s predecessor, "Elvis" Koizumi, but certainly close enough to allay a lot of the fears that have existed about the end of the "special relationship" following Koizumi’s departure last fall. So, why does everyone in Japan appear to be so nervous?