Japanese Protester Splashes Paint at Site of Clinton Visit

04/23/96

Reuters reported that police in Tokyo arrested a Japanese man for splashing paint in front of the main steps of a Chrysler showroom just hours before President Clinton showed up for a visit. Japanese police said the man belonged to an ultra-nationalist group, but identified neither the group nor the man. By the time Clinton showed up, Chrysler workers had been able to scrape away most of the paint, except for a slight stain.

The Chrysler showroom that Clinton visited featured right-hand drive versions of the Jeep Cherokee--a symbol of U.S. automakers' attempts to sell cars in Japan following a deal that Clinton negotiated with the Japanese government last summer in order to open Japanese markets. The Japanese government had long claimed that American cars were impossible to sell in Japan because they were all left-hand drive.

During his visit the president brought up concerns that the United States was "a little bit behind" in getting dealer outlets in Japan. But he said 187 had been approved out of a target of 200 for the first year. "So we're very close, we're almost there and I'm feeling very good about it," he said.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel