Tokyo Tensions
Japan's political leaders feel singed by three months of acrimonious exchanges between their country and America. They limit their public statements about Japanese-American relations to a bare minimum these days, measuring out their words with great caution.</br></br>They are trying to walk the U.S.-Japan relationship back from the brink that suddenly appeared as emotions were jarred on both sides of the Pacific this winter by President Bush's provocative "jobs" trip and the injudicious Japanese statements about America's work habits that followed.</br></br>But this does not mean that they have changed their view that America's problems are primarily of America's making and will have to be resolved without significant new concessions from Japan.</br></br>Some of the recent turmoil is temporary and built on misunderstandings, just as officials on each side assert in their public statements.</br></br>But what is not being said publicly is perhaps more important. The tensions between Tokyo and Washington spring from a new current of uncertainty and potential conflict as two powerful, dissimilar allies grope for new world roles beyond the Cold War.