This is the paradox that Japanese leadership has to endure for being one of the closest allies of the United States. Depending heavily on the regular supply of vital oil resources from the Middle East, Japan cannot afford to be as indifferent as Washington is on certain issues that touch the very heart of the Middle East problem. Hence there always has been cautious and determined effort on part of Tokyo to find a more rational and balancing position in Japan's Middle East policy. Japan's own view about the plight of the Palestinian people too has been the result of that understanding, and hence differs significantly from what is being prescribed by the policy makers in Washington. This difference was once again sharply marked as Japan paid a silent but fitting tribute to the deceased Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

It is true that the media in Japan somehow ignored the death of Arafat and was busy focusing more on the vital domestic issue of the intrusion of a Chinese submarine deep inside Japanese water off the island of Okinawa. Arafat's death came at a time when the focus of Japanese attention had already been diverted and fixed to a more specific regional issue that some would consider being a potential crowd attractor for the nationalist camp. The press in Japan, particularly nationalist and conservative group within that Japanese press, wasted no time at all to initiate a heated debate over the defence capability of Japan and its failure to stop the intrusion as well as whom to blame for the failure. In the midst of that debate, the death of Arafat instantly got relegated to the group of less important news items, though a number of newspapers and magazines carried routine editorials focusing more on what Arafat's death would mean for the Middle East and for the peace process between Palestine and Israel.

But here too a sharp demarcation within the media between liberal and conservative camps was overtly visible, liberals showing greater sympathy and understanding for the Palestinian leader who at a later stage lost control over the extremist groups of his camp, a failure that some see as the catalyst that prompted Israel to opt out of the peace negotiations.

The Asahi Shimbun, well known for its liberal stance, in an editorial on Arafat's legacy assessed critically the achievements of the Palestinian leader who continued to wear military uniform even when the peacemaking process appeared to be moving forward, for shifting his policy between terror and negotiation. But at the same time it didn't forget to remind readers that the image of Arafat in a military uniform was a symbol of Palestinians who have fought to regain the land of their ancestors that was lost by the foundation of Israel.

Asahi was also cautious in predicting a smooth handling of the peace process by Arafat's successor as it equally blamed Israel for taking an unrealistic hard lined stance. According to the newspaper, even if talks were resumed, they would not bear fruit unless Israel ceased the policy of oppressing Palestinians who resist the occupation and building the walls that are reminiscent of the policy of apartheid. The tone of the conservative press, on the other hand, had been much less conciliatory towards Arafat. They mostly put the blame for the present stalemate in the peace process more on Arafat's failure to come in terms with the reality of what they prefer to call as a changing time that demanded a more pragmatic standing from a leader who had the charisma of winning unparallel support of his people.

If the media in Japan was divided over the issue of how to pay tribute to the Palestinian leader or how to asses his achievements, the Japanese government didn't show any sign of hesitation in paying tribute to a leader whom Japan always considered an important figure in the whole Middle East. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in his message of condolence sent to Ahmed Qurie, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, expressed deep regret on the death of Arafat and praised the role he played in laying out the foundation for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Koizumi described the deceased Palestinian leader as a pioneer who led the struggle of the people of Palestine to realise their dream of independent nationhood.

Japanese were much more sympathetic to Arafat throughout his long career of leading the Palestinian movement. He visited Japan six times since 1981 and made friendship with wide range of people including country's leadership. Viewing independence of the Palestinians as vital for peace, Japan continued to hold close discussions with both Israeli and Palestinian sides and provided the Palestinians significant amount of financial aid since 1993. In June 2003, the then Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi visited Israel and the Palestinian Autonomous Areas to meet with the leaders and to urge an end to the violence and a resumption of negotiations. At Ramallah, Kawaguchi had a meeting with Arafat, which was for the last time that the Palestinian leader had a face-to-face discussion with a high-ranking Japanese official. Japan also has been engaged in steady efforts to build confidence through exchanges between the Israelis and the Palestinians by inviting youths, young diplomats and women delegations from both sides.

As a continued gesture of goodwill towards the Palestinian leadership, the government of Japan decided to send Yoriko Kawaguchi, who is now serving as an advisor to the prime minister, to the funeral of Yasser Arafat. But because of the flight schedule Kawaguchi was unable to go to Cairo, and instead attended the ceremonies held in the West Bank town of Ramallah, where she met Arafat a year and a half ago.