Japan remains a place of opportunity for businesses in Spokane and Washington state, despite being entrenched in the worst recession in its history and having a lingering reputation for resisting imports, says Thomas Foley, U.S. ambassador to Japan and longtime former congressman from Eastern Washington.


Japan tends to be much more open to foreign sales and products than many people believe, Foley contended during a telephone interview with the Journal of Business earlier this month from Washington, D.C.


To be sure, succeeding in that market requires an understanding of the Japanese peoples product-quality and service-related expectations, and a willingness to spend time building relationships, which is part of the Japanese business culture, Foley says. Nevertheless, he adds, People should explore the Japanese market because its so large that, even in recession, particular sectors can be very attractive for doing business when approached properly.


Foley notes that businesses in Washington state already are doing well in that regard, compared with their counterparts in other states. The Evergreen State has about 2 percent of the nations population, but accounts for about 10 percent of the nations trade with Japan, he says.


Japan is the states top export partner, receiving large quantities of soft white wheat, aircraft, timber, and wood products, among other goods, from Washington. Foley notes that he fought for a long time to get Washington-grown Red and Golden Delicious apples into Japan. They finally were cleared, but they did not frankly make a big hit in Japan, he says.


Washington growers have responded by growing more Fuji apples to be shipped to Japan, since that native Japanese variety is popular with Japanese consumers, Foley says. After some initial resistance, the Japanese Foreign Ministry has allowed those U.S.-grown apples to be admitted into the country, he says. Four other varieties grown in Washington state have been approved for export to Japan beginning this year, he says.


Foley was in the nations capital for a visit there by Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, who met with President Clinton and members of Congress and earlier made stops in Los Angeles and Chicago during a six-day U.S. trip.


Foley says the U.S. is continuing to urge Japan to open its markets, deregulate its economy, and create more opportunity for direct foreign investment within its borders, and he adds, I think there has been very significant progress. Just recently, for example, Japan agreed to some new, far-reaching steps in the area of deregulation, he says.


The countrys recession remains a concern, though, with only about a 1.5 percent economic growth rate predicted for Japan next year and no consensus about when the countrys economy might recover, he says.


Foley was named U.S. Ambassador to Japan in November 1997, and he says his experiences in that country over the last year and a half have been immensely rewarding. Ive had extraordinary courtesy (shown to me) and opportunities to meet thousands of Japanese, he says.


He acknowledges that as a 6-foot-3 Caucasian with a shock of white hair, in a land of mostly shorter, darker-haired Asian people, he stands out in a crowd. I think Im somewhat identifiable with the Japanese, he says. When I go around Japan, I think there are a lot of people who tend to know who I am.


He points out, though, that Japan also has a fair number of taller people. One such person, who he says makes him look small by comparison, is Akebono, the popular 6-foot-8, 500-pound sumo wrestler who actually was born in Hawaii. Foley says he served as nakodo, or go-between, for Akebono and Christine Reiko Karina when the two were married last fall.


Foleys stint as ambassador likely will end in about 19 months, when President Clintons final term of office concludes. Between now and then, Foley says, What I would like to do is continue to strengthen the U.S.-Japan partnership. It is a partnership. The Japanese have been extraordinarily supportive of American efforts around the world, because the two countries have shared interests and common values, such as strong support for civil rights, democratic institutions, and open economies.


It shouldnt be underestimated how important they are to U.S. interests globally and as generous providers of humanitarian aid, as evidenced by a $200 million Japanese pledge to Kosovo refugee relief, he says.


Although Japan and the U.S. continue to have their disagreements, Foley says he believes the relationship between the two countries probably is stronger now than it ever has been in our history.


Asked about how he envisions spending his time once he completes his ambassadorial duties, the 70-year-old Foley says hes still not quite ready to go fishing yet, and likely will return to the practice of law or do some part-time teaching.


I think this probably is going to be the end of my diplomatic career. Its been a great honor to be ambassador to Japan, by the way, he says. Recalling a statement made by Mike Mansfield, the former congressman and longtime U.S. ambassador to Japan, that Japan is the U.S.s most important bilateral relationship, he adds, I think I would agree with that.


Foley, a Spokane native, served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years, the latter nearly five years as Speaker of the House. He lost a bid for re-election to Republican George Nethercutt in 1994, after which he became a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, a Dallas-based law firm that lobbies on behalf of large companies. He practiced with that law firm until accepting the ambassadors post.