Japanese soldiers celebrate New Year with children
(9 Jan 2005) SHOTLIST Samawah 230 km south of Baghdad (Jan. 7, 2005) 1. Wide shot Japanese soldiers with residents celebrating and flying kites 2. Medium shot residents walking with their kids 3. Sign reading in Arabic ''Iraq and Japan are friends'' 4. Various of the celebration, soldiers, kids and locals 5. Children drawing and writing ''Long live Iraq-Japanese friendship'' 6. Iraqi singer singing 7. Soldiers with residents sitting on floor, applauding 8. Japanese commander clapping along with a child 9. Various Iraqis and Japanese soldiers dancing 10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese with English translation) Commander Fukuda (first name unavailable), Japanese military commander in Samawah: "We're very glad to have this kind of chance today........and I was very moved by the music and the songs of the Iraqi children." 11. Various of Iraqi officials exchanging gifts with Japanese commanders 12. Various of photo opportunity STORYLINE Japanese troops and Iraqi civilians on Friday celebrated the Japanese New Year at their base in Samawah, some 230 kilometres (142 miles) south of Baghdad. About 200 people, including children, attended the celebration. Iraqi officials and Japanese soldiers exchanged gifts and sang songs. Japan's government extended a one-year humanitarian mission in the southern city last month, approving a plan to keep the 550 troops there to purify water and rebuild infrastructure for another 12 months. Public opinion polls have shown that nearly 60 percent of Japanese voters opposed the extension. Many Japanese fear the troops will get caught up in fighting or make Japan a terrorist target. Critics also say the deployment violates the spirit of the country's pacifist constitution, which foreswears the use of force to settle international disputes. The government argues that the dispatch is needed to help stabilise Iraq, secure vital Middle East oil flows to Japan, and strengthen ties with top ally the United States. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
