Apparently, "sushi diplomacy" has not yet worked. According to this report, pork producers at the World Pork Expo made it clear this week they are not going to budge when it comes to getting better market access to Japan as part of the Trans Pacific Partnership talks.
In the story below, I recommended that President Obama should conduct his negotiations in neighborhood establishments when he visited there this spring--as this article states, he began his Asia tour with informal sushi diplomacy in Tokyo.
I know broad trade agreements are tough, but I still think I could help with the sticking points. White House aides didn’t call me for advice, but if asked, I would suggest a return trip that includes some stops with the locals that might help fix the problems.
Raw Fish & Beef--Trust, Creativity, and Bilateral Messes
My suggestion? I would take the president to
three sushi shops in west Tokyo. Sure, the city has many historic sites and
important diplomatic contact points, but we lived in that part of the capital
city for 17 years, and something about these three spots makes me think
President Obama and Prime Minister Abe could figure things out.
Trust has been lacking in the trade battles
between Japan and the United States for decades, so a stop at Kosan’s
restaurant might help. It is a small sushi-ya located in a wooden building
across from the Tama Train Station. The bar has room for five patrons and the
three tables accommodate more on busy nights, but the pace is usually slow—smoke
rising from the tiny grill, small glasses of beer on the tables, the owner
preparing sashimi from the day’s fish. My teacher friend Kevin went there often
(he was young and unmarried), and even though his Japanese language skills were
limited, he occasionally took over the restaurant. The owner would receive a
call for take-out, hop on his 125-cc motorcycle, and leave Kevin in charge.
Even with a language barrier, they worked it out.
Creativity could help the TPP talks. The two
nations have been stuck in “Groundhog Day” trade barrier situations for years—maybe
they could try something new. The Yorimichi Restaurant sits three blocks from
Koyama’s. It is a bustling “salaryman” watering hole, with plumes of smoke
coming off the grill and menu fare ranging from sushi to grilled chicken (every
part of the chicken). It was noisy and smoky, but we took our kids there
several times—the ambience and food were both edgy and interesting. One
evening, the businessmen at the table next to us decided we should try
something new, so they shared their stir-fried glazed grasshoppers with us
(crunchy, sweet, and surprisingly tasty). On another occasion, three locals who
had been fishing in Tokyo Bay walked in wearing boots and carrying a huge fish
they’d just caught. They plopped it on a table, washed it, sliced it up, and we
had ultra-fresh sashimi. Of course risks are involved, but maybe trade
negotiators should explore different avenues.
Bilateral understanding isn’t easy, but the
third stop on my suggested itinerary would help. We often went to Tsuchiya’s
Sushi Shop. The “master” of the place bought fresh fish at the famous Tsukiji
Fish Market daily, and he would explain the intricacies of taste and
preparation as he served us at the tiny wooden bar. He and his wife spoke some
English, and during the ensuing years, they became good friends with several
teachers at our school. They were obsessed with the American “Wild West” and
have visited friends in the mountains of Montana on several occasions. Mrs.
Tsuchiya also works in the restaurant, but ironically she can’t stand eating
fish. “I love the food when I visit America,” she said. “Beef is my favorite.”
I have a feeling President Obama would enjoy
my itinerary more than the stops he had on his schedule, and I also think Prime
Minister Abe should visit several eating establishments I could recommend here
in Iowa. If world leaders could speak with the folks who produce the food,
problems might not be so messy. Then
again, with the President using chopsticks to pick up glazed grasshoppers and
the Prime Minister handling an ear of buttered sweet corn, we could really have
a bilateral mess on our hands.
by dan gogerty (top photo from guardian.com, bottom photo from thestudentroom.co.uk)
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