[War] Japan: "Making Amends"

[Ian Martell]

"Making Amends"
Hideyoshi Mura, Director, PMO
Japan
6 Aug 2014
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-----

    Sir Humphrey: Prime Minister, what about the people who read the Sun?
    Bernard Woolley: Sun readers don't care who runs the country, as long as 
she's got big tits.

- from: Yes, Prime Minister
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The official harassment may be over but the Kantei was hardly a comfortable 
place for reporters from the Sun especially the sixth floor where the PM and 
his closest advisors kept their offices. It was difficult not to see the 
resentment behind the neutral faces of those few aides who nodded with terse 
konichiwas as they were escorted to the office of the Director of the PMO by 
a man from the PM's protection detail.

Once they were inside their sense of welcome changed at once. The usually 
hawkish director of the PMO stood up and smiled warmly and bowed deeply as 
they entered and ushered them to the informal seating area in his office as 
their escort left them alone.

"Please, can I get you a drink?"

The reporters nodded. "Yes please," one said. "Do you mind if we record this 
meeting."

Director Mura poured them their drinks and returned to the seating area. "Of 
course, though I would like to do the same for my own records."

The reporters nodded and the recorders were set up and the taping began.

"This is just an informal meeting, the Prime Minister is unable to meet with 
you due to his busy schedule but he wanted to extend you his personal 
apology for the treatment you recieved. It was in no way his intention that 
it be Kantei policy to exclude your paper from anything."

"Is that your official statement?" one of the reporters asked.
"The official statement will be made later today through Public Affairs, 
this is background," Mura explained. "Also we wanted to thank you, by way of 
this unfortunate incident you have revealed several flaws in the Kantei's 
organizational structure. You see Mr. Sato's aide, Akira, new to his office, 
misunderstood an off-hand comment during meeting discussing the China crisis 
as an order."

"Can we get a transcript of the meeting?" asked one of the reporters.

Mura sucked air through his teeth. "I will have to look into that, 
unfortunately several maters of national security were discussed, I will 
however see that the proper requests are filed at Defense and Foreign 
Affairs for you."

"What was the comment?"

"Unfortunately I wasn't at the meeting."

"Who was?"

"Akira, and several others."

"The Prime Minister?"

"Yes I believe he was present. As you can see your story has revealed 
several organizational issues that have been plaguing the Kantei for 
sometime, but I can tell you that Mr. Sato's aide will be suspended without 
pay, and transferred to a position with fewer responsibilities."

"Can we speak to the Prime Minister about the situation with his son?"

"Alleged son, there was never a paternity test, however Mr. Sato has 
generously paid for the young man's education and upbringing, however, that 
is not what you're interested in it's all a matter of public record. We do 
have some other information for you though, the Ministry of Justice is 
willing to provide you with a phone interview with the condemned's 
girlfriend, a protected witness, who can give you details about the 
condemned's life of crime and an inside view of Japan's underworld."

There were a few interested looks there.

"But the Prime Minister is not going to give an interview?" they asked.

"Unfortunately you've caught the Prime Minister in a very busy period; he is 
due to leave for China tomorrow morning, after that he will be flying to 
Baku, before finally meeting with the Georgian President in Tbilisi."

"After that?"

"He will be on vacation during Obon and attending memorial ceremonies on the 
fifteenth."

"The fifteenth?" one asked.

"It was the day Japan surrendered to the Allies," Mura supplied.

"Oh, right."

The reporters shared embarrassed looks.

"However the Justice Minister will be in Tokyo for most of the next couple 
of weeks if you'd like to meet with him."

"Any chance we can see the Prime Minister on vacation?"

Again Mura sucked air through his teeth. "I will ask him but I don't think 
he will be available, you see this story has caused considerable disturbance 
in his family, so he will want to spend that time with them."

"Will he be visiting his son in jail?"

"Unfortunately I cannot release his schedule. Security you understand."

"His schedule has never been classified before."

"Yes however given that Japan is hosting a summit aimed at combating 
terrorism in Southeast Asia several new security measures are in effect for 
the Prime Minister's security."

"Have there been threats?"

"A few, but that has been the case since the failed attack on the Tokyo 
subway, and the arrest of the terrorists responsible. However these measures 
are simply temporary precautions due to the summit. You are coming to the 
summit?" Mura asked.

"Yes."

"Excellent, perhaps you can see the Prime Minister then, I will ask the 
schedulers about it."

The reporters nodded.

Mura looked at his watch. "Well I have kept you long enough, the press 
conference will be in a few hours, however I will see Public Affairs slips 
you a copy of our remarks before hand. Also, I'll give you the contacts at 
Justice who can set you up with your interviews if you wish to take them."

Mura went to his desk and wrote the names and numbers of the contacts at 
Justice on one side of a post-it and then wrote a third name and number on 
the back, the number was the current mistress of a prominent member of the 
opposition. The two tabloid journalists would doubtlessly enjoy that.

Mura returned to the sitting area and turned off his recorder. The reporters 
did the same.

"What's the third number here?" asked one of the reporters.

"Off the record?"

The men nodded.

"You'd have to ask Mr. Nakamura of the New Komeito party. A gift."

They nodded and Mura pulled a business card from his pocket and presented it 
to them. They gave him theirs. "My private line," he said pointing out the 
number at the bottom. "Have a good day gentlemen."

Actions:

1> Establish the basics of the counter-spin - 1. The condemned was never 
established by DNA to be Sato's son; 2. Despite point 1, Sato took 
responsibility for the costs of his upbringing and education (dropped out of 
Tokyo University); 3. This was never a secret.
2> Classify the discussion at the end of "Tragedy and Scandal" between 
Ryusei, Akemi, Akira, Sato and Jonouchi as pertaining to key diplomatic 
initiatives relating to national security and the security of key government 
personnel. It discussed both responses to the situation in China and the 
travel plans of the Prime Minister. (yes we're stretching the definition of 
both)
3> Establish bureaucratic incompetence and Akira's misunderstanding of the 
classified comments as the reason for the persecution of the Sun reporters.
4> Establish that Sato is going to be out of reach for the next couple of 
weeks on important matters of state and personal time with his family.
5> Offer the Sun the following: 1. An interview by phone at the MoJ with the 
condemned's girlfriend, a protected witness, to provide juicy mob gossip to 
the Sun reporters. 2. An interview with the Minister of Justice about the 
execution 3. Provide an off the record tip about a current affair going on 
between a married member of the New Komeito party and a hostess bar girl. 4. 
Mura's private line for future tips of that sort.