1990 Reports

The United States-Japan Relationship in the Rapidly Changing World Environment

Umene, Eiji

Before going back to Japan for good last August, I worked in New York for six years as the president of Nippon Steel U.S.A, Inc. and made many good friends -- American as well as Japanese. Before my departure I met several of my American friends to say goodbye to them. I told them that when I go back to Japan, I would assume the position of President Director General of the Japan-U.S. Business Council, which functions as the secretariat of the U.S.-Japan Businessmen's Conference. All of my friends, without exception, shook their heads and told me that they wanted to congratulate me on my new assignment but considering the gravity of the attitude towards Japan prevailing in Washington at the moment -- that was last July -- they all said, "I pity you, Eiji, in your new job." Then they added two more words, "Good luck." I now see signs of a further deterioration of our bilateral relationship, which is indeed very alarming.