Sept. 30 - The Public Affairs Office of United States Forces, Japan, announced on September 25 that, as agreed to by the Governments of Japan and the U.S. under transformation and realignment documents, portions of Yokota air space have been returned to the permanent control of the Government of Japan. Benefits of the airspace transfer include reduced flight times, fuel savings, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, and cost reductions for airlines. [More]

Sept. 26 - President George W. Bush addressed the nation from the East Room of the White House on the evening of September 24. He stated, "We're in the midst of a serious financial crisis, and the federal government is responding with decisive action." [Full remarks]
On September 25, he met in the Cabinet Room with bicameral and bipartisan members of Congress to discuss the economy. [Opening remarks]

Sept. 25 - The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) arrived today in Yokosuka to join the Forward Deployed Naval Forces operating in the United States 7th Fleet's area of responsibility. Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, speaking at the arrival ceremony, noted, "It is altogether fitting that a ship bearing the name of one of the greatest Americans who ever lived has been sent to protect one of the greatest relationships America has ever had."

• Full remarks
• Navy photo gallery
• Embassy special photo page

Sept. 25 - Senior foreign policy advisors to Senator John McCain, Michael J. Green and Daniel A. Blumenthal, and senior foreign policy advisors to Senator Barack Obama, Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard and Frank Jannuzi, debated strategies for U.S. foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific at an event held by the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) on September 22 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. NBR senior advisor Ambassador Thomas Pickering moderated, and Lori Matsukawa, co-anchor of Seattle’s KING 5 News, served as the master of ceremonies. [View the NBR webcast]

Sept. 25 - Ms. Lois Rossi of the Office of Pesticide Programs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency participated September 18 in the Japan Food Safety Commission's International Mini-symposium on Food Safety, describing in detail U.S. participation in the global review and work-sharing process for new pesticides. This international collaboration helps countries speed the adoption of newer, safer, and more environmentally-friendly pesticides.

Sept. 24 - On September 23, President Bush addressed the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting how the United States has partnered closely with other nations to address global challenges. He called the United Nations "an organization of extraordinary potential," and noted, "As the United Nations rebuilds its headquarters, it must also open the door to a new age of transparency, accountability, and seriousness of purpose."

• Full remarks
• Fact Sheet: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century
• President Bush Attends Meeting on Food Security
• President and Mrs. Bush Meet with Dissidents

Sept. 22 - Henry M. Paulson, Jr., U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, outlined on September 19 a comprehensive approach to relieving the stresses on financial institutions and markets. "Right now, our focus is restoring the strength of our financial system so it can again finance economic growth," Secretary Paulson said. [More]

Sept. 22 - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice released the Congressionally-mandated 2008 International Religious Freedom Report in Washington on September 19, remarking that the United States is "a country founded on the belief that all men and women are created equal, that as equals we enjoy certain universal and inalienable rights, and that among these are the right to live without oppression, to worship as we wish, and to think and speak and assemble without retribution." [Full remarks]

Sept. 22 - Deputy Chief of Mission James P. Zumwalt at his Tokyo residence September 18 hosted a reception for American participants in the 2008-2009 Fulbright Program, describing the program as the "flagship exchange program of the U.S. government" and expressing his gratitude to the Japanese government and the many educational institutions that support the program.

• Fulbright Japan
• State Dept. Fulbright page

Sept.19 - Ms. Beverly Good, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, briefed the media in Tokyo at the Embassy on September 18 on the latest developments on the online ESTA system, which will launch a Japanese-language site on October 15. Starting January 12, all nationals or citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including Japan, who plan to travel to the U.S. without a visa will be required to first request and receive electronic travel authorization via ESTA. [More]

Sept. 18 - In Washington, D.C. on September 16, the Treasury Department issued a statement by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. on Federal Reserve actions surrounding American International Group, in which he noted, "I support the steps taken by the Federal Reserve tonight to assist AIG in continuing to meet its obligations, mitigate broader disruptions and at the same time protect the taxpayers. [Full text]

Sept. 16 - Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr., in a September 14 statement on the Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Reserve actions surrounding Lehman Brothers, said, "I am confident in the resilience of our capital markets, and in the commitment of U.S. regulators and market participants to work together through this difficult period." [More]

Sept. 16 - The President and Mrs. Bush will be in New York September 22-24 to participate in the 63rd United Nations General Assembly. On September 23, President Bush will address the Plenary Session of the General Debate of the General Assembly. [More] Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be in New York City starting on Sunday, September 21, 2008 to attend the United Nations 63rd General Assembly. While in New York, Secretary Rice will conduct a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings with her counterparts. [Notice to the Press]

Sept. 16 - The Public Affairs Office of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan announced on September 12 that the aircraft carrier, USS George Washington (CVN 73) will arrive on September 25, 2008 in Yokosuka to join the Forward Deployed Naval Forces operating in the United States 7th Fleet’s area of responsibility. [News Release]

Sept. 12 - On September 11, the seventh anniversary of terrorist attacks on the United States, President Bush made remarks at the dedication of the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. [White House Fact Sheet]

In Tokyo, Chargé d'Affaires James P. Zumwalt and members of the Embassy community paid their respects in a memorial ceremony at his residence. Mr. Zumwalt said, "As we commemorate what was lost that day, let us also look forward to a shared future of peace and hope for all humanity." [Full remarks] He then read the names of the 24 Japanese victims, while ceremony participants lit 24 candles, accompanied by a requiem on the shakuhachi performed by Christopher Yohmei Blasdel.

Sept. 11 - Mr. Aaron Brickman, Director of Invest in America, International Trade Administration,U.S. Department of Commerce, is visiting Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka September 10-13. In Tokyo on September 11, he and representatives ofthe American State Offices Association briefed the media on the mission of Invest in America as a new mechanism to promote investment in the United States overall, to address policy issues that concern foreign investors, and to serve as ombudsman to address international investor concerns involving federal agencies. Mr.Brickman also commended the work of the U.S. Commercial Service in Japan.

Sept. 10 - The Embassy, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, JETRO and Shizuoka Prefecture will hold an Investment Promotion Seminar in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka on October 30, 2008. The seminar, an annual event of the U.S-Japan Investment Initiative, seeks to increase investment between Japan and the United States. Shizuoka is one of Japan's leading manufacturing and agricultural regions, boasting world-class firms in a number of key industrial sectors. [Details and registration]

Sept. 10 - At the National Defense University's Distinguished Lecture Program in Washington, D.C. on September 9, President George W. Bush discussed the global war on terror. The President stated, "With faith in the power of freedom, we will prove that the future of the Middle East belongs not to terror, but to liberty." [Full text]

Sept. 8 - President Bush, in a September 7 statement, said that "the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, determined that these housing mortgage companies cannot continue to operate safely and soundly, and fulfill their public mission - posing an unacceptable risk to the broader financial system and our economy," and continued, "FHFA announced that it will place the companies in conservatorship and appoint new leadership." [Full text] Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr. detailed the plan the same day in his Statement on Treasury and Federal Housing Finance Agency Action to Protect Financial Markets and Taxpayers.

Sept. 5 - Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy James Slutz visited Tokyo September 3-7 for discussions with Japanese government officials and industry. He delivered keynote remarks at the Clean Coal Day in Japan international symposium, and also held a media briefing at the Embassy.

Sept. 3 - Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, attended the G8 Speakers' Conference held in Tokyo and Hiroshima, Japan, August 31 to September 2. In addition to formal sessions, Pelosi and the other G8 members met with His Majesty Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. [Speaker's Statement]

Sept. 2 - The U.S. Navy has determined that trace levels of radioactivity may have been released into the environment during USS Houston visits to Yokosuka, Sasebo, and Okinawa, Japan between July 2006 and April 2008. The total amount of radioactivity that may have been released into the environment as a result of visits to Yokosuka, Sasebo, and Okinawa is 3.5 Kilobecquerels, 13 Kilobecquerels, and 6.3 Kilobecquerels, respectively for each of these ports. The trace levels of radioactivity would have no adverse effect on human health, marine life, or the environment. [Full text]