Since the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the subsequent war on terrorism, a number of American political leaders and experts have observed that Japan-U.S. relations have "never been better."
Although participants at the Nov. 11 symposium in Tokyo agreed on that point, some of them warned that certain elements are clearly missing from recent Japan-U.S. relations, notably long-term discussions on economic partnerships and the consolidation of U.S. military bases in Okinawa.
"The interaction between (Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush), and at all levels of government, the respect given Japan appropriately in all diplomatic and security form is quite significant," said Kurt Campbell, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.