By Suvendrini Kakuchi
TOKYO, Jun 27 2001 (IPS)

Japan’s hugely popular prime minister Junichiro Koizumi will meet his first test in diplomacy this weekend, when he flies to Washington on Friday for a meeting with U.S. President George W Bush.

Analysts expect no major problems to mar the bilateral meeting between the two largest economic powers of the world.

The visit will serve to tighten bilateral relations. Both leaders have similar tendencies and will hit it off quite well,” says Professor Takeshi Inoguchi, an international relations expert at the prestigious national Tokyo University.

Inoguchi explains that both leaders have personalities that shun formalities and encourage an open and frank exchange. “There is common ground between them in that sense. I see a non-problem visit,” he adds.

Koizumi will be meeting Bush at Camp David on Saturday.

He is then scheduled to visit Britain on Jul. 1 when he will meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He will proceed to Paris to meet with French President Jacques Chirac on Jul. 3 before he returns to Japan on Jul. 4.

The visits are seen as the diplomatic debut for the 60-year old prime minister, who has yet to command a name for himself in much international circles. His trip is also in preparation for the Group of Eight summit in Italy, which will start Jul. 20.

Analysts point out Koizumi’s anti-establishment thrust has gone down well with the United States and other western nations, which had been losing interest in Japan’s traditional “fuzzy” diplomacy as displayed in the past string of conservative leaders from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Koizumi also belongs to the ruling LDP, but has campaigned for the party’s top post and Japan’s premiership on a platform of change and reform of Japan’s traditional political system.

“Koizumi, on the other hand will represent a refreshing image because he believes in speaking his mind, something that goes down well with foreigners,” explains Professor Aiko Igarashi, who teaches Japanese politics at Rokkyo University.

Indeed, Koizumi will be the first Japanese prime minister to be hosted by a U.S. leader at Camp David on his first visit to the United States, a sign of the warm welcome extended to him that the Japanese media has been pointing out.

Experts also say his foreign hosts are well aware of the support for Koizumi among the Japanese public, as seen in the recent results of last week’s Tokyo metropolitan elections. In that poll, 53 of the total 55 candidates fielded by the LDP won seats.

Another plus point is Koizumi’s fight against deep-rooted faction politics in the LDP, which is seen as promoting vested interests and preventing much needed structural reform in the country.

His newly unveiled reform package — which promises to clear trillions of yen of bad debt in banking in three years despite its painful effects like more unemployment — is also expected to go down well with other world leaders.

“Even his individual personality has a unique appeal. We think the prime minister’s reputation for not smoking, his love for western opera music and his special relationship with his sons he nurtured himself, will help Japan to promote a new face in the world,” says Igarashi.

But analysts also questions whether Koizumi will be able to fly through his coming international test just relying on his personality alone.

During his U.S. visit, he is expected to discuss important security and economy issues and the Kyoto protocol on global warming, according to foreign ministry.

Washington wants Koizumi to reaffirm Japan’s understanding of the U.S. national missile defence programme, which has been criticised by Russia, China and European countries.

Another sticky point in the upcoming summit is the Bush administration’s rejection of the Kyoto protocol this year, a move that has upset many European and developing countries.

There is intense pressure on Japan from environmentalists and Europe for Tokyo to turn its back on Washington’s stance, a step that many consider strategic to force Bush to comply with the international reduction targets.

Koizumi is also been closely watched by anti-U.S. base protesters, who want him to follow-up on a statement he made in Okinawa on Jun. 23 calling for a reduction in the prefecture’s burden in hosting American military facilities and troops.

Most residents in Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost island, resent hosting 47,000 or 75 percent of all U.S. troops based in the country.

Koizumi has not declared his intention to deal with these issues in Washington.

He told the Japanese media recently that the Kyoto protocol, just like the missile programme, is a delicate and difficult one and that Japan must secure the understanding and help of Washington.

Inoguchi contends that Koizumi will not allow these problems bog down his upcoming meeting with Bush. “Koizumi is striving for developing good relations and this is what he will achieve. The rest is up for later,” he says.

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