JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER,(Translation): I would say the biggest reason is your Prime Minister, Mr Howard, is visiting Japan very soon.

How important is your relationship with Australia and Mr Howard in particular?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): The importance of our relations with Australia will grow further. Economically we certainly had a very close relationship for many years. But more recently, we've also developed our relationship politically and in terms of counter-terrorism and international cooperation.
I might add Australia has close ties with the US and also has its eye turned to Asia. Take tourists. When it's summer in Japan, it's winter in Australia. So - how shall I say? - tourists can enjoy different seasons. In hot climates, people miss the cold and vice versa. So I think Japanese tourists would enjoy visiting Australia.

GEORGE NEGUS: Speaking of hot, you could say that these are hot times for Japan, that you are having what could be called very tricky relations with China and other neighbours in the Asian region at the moment. Is this something that you'll discuss with Mr Howard, the fact that there is this row, as we would call it, an arm wrestle, a power struggle going on between yourself and the Chinese?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): I'm sure we'll discuss these issues among others. In terms of direct Japan-Australia relations, issues related to our neighbours will be discussed in the context of the international situation.

GEORGE NEGUS: What would you do though, if your friend Mr Howard suggested that maybe, where the Chinese are concerned, that you should back off, that maybe, as the Chinese Premier says, you should face up to history, recognise the errors of the past where Japan is concerned and apologise. If Mr Howard suggested that, would you take any notice of him?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): Mr Howard needn't mention that. We've been hearing it directly from China.

GEORGE NEGUS: Do you intend apologising or are you going to ignore that demand by the Chinese? Do you feel you have a need to apologise to the Chinese for past Japanese behaviour during war situations?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): We had the wartime experience and the demands that you mentioned and on that basis we've been building friendly ties with China. We've had different views. We will in the future too. But when China becomes more grown-up I believe it will be more cool-headed and consider our friendly ties in a broader perspective.

GEORGE NEGUS: Would you say your relations with the Chinese are friendly at the moment, because there's a lot of anti-Japanese feeling being expressed on the streets of China at the moment, almost hatred of your nation and your people?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): The overall relationship is friendly. But it's true there's some anti-Japanese sentiment.

GEORGE NEGUS: Does it bother you deep, deep down in your being, in your soul, as a man, does it bother you that there is so much anti-Japanese feeling and anger being expressed by the Chinese and South Koreans and others in Asia at the moment - as a man, not just as Prime Minister, does it bother you that there is this antagonism towards Japanese people and the Japanese nation?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): It takes time to deal with these emotions. In any situation involving an emotion you can't expect it to cool off immediately. Both sides must be patient.

GEORGE NEGUS: So you don't agree with those commentators who say that Japan and China could be on a collision course, that the situation will get worse before it gets better?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): I can't agree it will get worse. There may be different views or temporary frictions ahead but we'll continue to place importance on our friendly ties.

GEORGE NEGUS: How important has it been to you and to Japan that Australia has offered to send more troops to Iraq to protect - if that's the right word - the Japanese engineers working in Iraq at the moment? Is it important to you?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): I highly appreciate Mr Howard's decision to send Australian troops to Iraq under current circumstances. I appreciate it not just because Australia will help us by securing the safety of the Japanese troops. To help the Iraqis establish a democratic government is an important goal of the international community. Mr Howard made a courageous decision in this regard.

GEORGE NEGUS: Could you clear up one thing for me? It hasn't been clear after that decision whether you actually asked John Howard for assistance with those troops or John Howard offered assistance to you. Could you clear that up for me?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): The situation was... after the Dutch were to withdraw, British troops were to be sent, and possibly Australian troops. In those circumstances, I told Mr Howard directly if Australia were to send troops, Japan would be very grateful.

GEORGE NEGUS: That decision wasn't popular with all Australians. You've indicated that you won't apologise to the Chinese, you feel no need to apologise to the Chinese. Would you ever consider apologising to the Australian families who lost their sons during the Second World War as a result of Japanese prisoner of war camps? Would you consider an apology to Australians and their families and their mates who died in prisoner of war camps?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): There must never be another war. Japan caused Australia a great deal of damage during the war, which we recognised caused its people serious trouble. We must make sure this problem is not repeated in the future. On that basis, we've been building friendly ties and overcoming the wartime experience. I believe it's important to keep the lessons of history in mind as we build up our friendly ties.

GEORGE NEGUS: But no need for an apology?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): That's not what I mean. There is need to apologise for the damage caused by the war. I say this because during the war Japanese forces attacked Sydney Harbour with mini-submarines. The submarines entered the harbour. The submarines were detected by the Australian forces. One of them was sunk. The other escaped from the harbour but remained missing.
Although Australia was at war with Japan, the Australian Navy treated the soldier in the sunken submarine with deep respect. They honoured the dead Japanese soldier. At that time the Australian Navy held a naval funeral for the soldier which is the highest honour and buried him... in spite of the fact that he was an enemy, a soldier of an enemy nation.
Normally, people can't hate an enemy enough. It wouldn't be surprising if an enemy soldier was chopped up or tortured... I mean, abused. Though he was an enemy the Australians saw his courage and patriotism and treated him with highest honour. They had this incredibly... splendid navy spirit I would say... the spirit of the warrior.

GEORGE NEGUS: What about the Australians though, who suffered in prisoner of war camps at the hands of the Japanese troops? I mean don't they deserve some sort of acknowledgment, as I said, and maybe even an apology from your government for the quite vicious treatment that they received in the prisoner of war camps? I hear what you're saying about the airman, but what about the Australians who suffered and died in prisoner of war camps?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): By sincerely reflecting on our mistakes in the war and building friendly ties, we have overcome that. Of course, we do still feel regret for having caused the damage and the sufferings you mentioned.

GEORGE NEGUS: But no need for an apology.

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): We've already been building friendly ties while doing that.

GEORGE NEGUS: How important is it to you, as Prime Minister of Japan, that Japan secures a seat at the United Nations Security Council? Is that a matter of great importance to you? And is it possible that all this trouble we're seeing in the region with your neighbours at the moment is related to that?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): Since the end of the war, in spite of the enemy clauses of the UN Charter which are directed at Japan and Germany, Japan has been contributing, to the best of its ability, to international peace and stability. Considering our track record for the past 60 years and the role Japan can play in the future of the UN I believe Japan is rightly qualified to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

GEORGE NEGUS: Mr Prime Minister, if we sought - if Mr Howard sought your advice at the moment, when you're talking with him, what would you think is the greatest threat to peace and security in our region at the moment - North Korea, the Straits of Taiwan issue, or this brewing trouble between you and the Chinese? Which of those three things do you think poses the greatest threat?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): It's very difficult to pick just one or to say when a crisis might occur. It's very difficult to predict... There are those potential threats. What's important in security is that countries cooperate in normal times so that the potential crises never materialise, and try to create a safe environment.

GEORGE NEGUS: And the world doesn't have to fear a rising, a new militaristic Japan?

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): Absolutely not. Not compared to the military strength of our neighbours.

GEORGE NEGUS: Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time and it's a shame we don't have time for a quick dance, as you did with Richard Gere.

JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI, (Translation): Thank you.

GEORGE NEGUS: Immediately after Prime Minister Koizumi left the interview, his senior officials instructed the interpreter to correct part of the Prime Minister's answer to the question on whether Japan had requested that Australian troops be sent to Iraq to protect Japanese engineers. Listen to this post-interview exchange.

INTERPRETER: This is the answer to a question about, did Prime Minister Howard offer, or did Mr Koizumi request Australian troops: "If Australia were to send troops, I'd really appreciate that." That was what the Prime Minister really said. Whereas I think I misspoke and said 'requested'. Sorry about that.

GEORGE NEGUS: So, did PM Koizumi request Australian military assistance or did John Howard offer it without being asked? We asked John Howard's office for a response and his press secretary insisted that Japan had requested that Australian troops be sent. Maybe the two PMs are sorting out this discrepancy in Tokyo as we speak?