Welcome to the August newsletter!
We use this service to provide you the most up-to-date 
safety and security related information we have available 
on a monthly basis.  Should we receive any time-sensitive 
information of a security-related nature, we will use this 
channel to keep you informed immediately.  In addition to 
sharing security-related information, we will continue to 
include in the monthly version news and information of a 
more general nature.
Here are the topics for this month:
     -- Passport Fees to Change August 19, 2002
     -- Frequently Asked Questions
     -- US$10 Million for You
     -- West Nile Virus Moves West
     -- Hormone Replacement Therapy Alert 
     -- Useful Internet Addresses
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Security Situation
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The security situation in Japan remains the same with no 
new threat information reported from either the American or 
the Japanese side other than the July 1 worldwide caution 
we distributed via this channel on July 2.
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Passport Fees to Change August 19, 2002
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Fees for U.S. passports will change world-wide on August 19.
-- Adult (age 16 and over) renewals will be US$55.
-- Renewals for children (under age 16) will be $40
-- First-time or lost passport replacements for adults 
(age 16 and over) will be $85.
-- First-time or lost passport replacements for children 
(under age 16) will be $70.
Most renewals can be processed by mail.  Please see our 
web site at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwh7130c.html 
for details, as well as downloadable application forms.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q:  Can I get married at the Embassy?
A:  Marriage in Japan consists of a civil marriage 
registration by the couple at a Japanese municipal 
government office.  Only this civil registration 
constitutes a legal marriage in Japan.  Ceremonies 
performed by religious organizations in Japan, while 
perhaps more meaningful, are not legal marriages.  
Consular officers unfortunately cannot perform marriages
so you can't get married at the Embassy.
Learn more at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwh7114a.html
Q:  No really, I think I got married at the Embassy.  Do 
you have a record of my marriage?
A:  The Embassy keeps no files locally of the different 
documents we issue, such as a Consular Report of Birth, or 
documents dealing with the death of an American in Japan. 
These records are instead filed in Washington.  We also do 
not keep any files of Japanese civil documents, such as 
records of marriages and divorces in Japan.  These records 
are held by the Japanese government.  Other records, such 
as birth certificates for people born in the U.S., are 
stored in the state of origin.
A "Certificate of Witness to Marriage" used to be issued by 
an American embassy or consulate reflecting the facts of a 
marriage abroad in which at least one party is an American 
Citizen. A consular officer must have attended the 
ceremony.  This accommodation was discontinued in 1985.  
Records are kept in Washington, not in Tokyo.  You can 
learn more about obtaining various records at 
http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwh7114c.html
Q: I'm buying a car in Japan, or starting a business, or 
registering my company, or... and I need something called a 
"sign certificate" proving my signature is my signature.  
Can you help?
A:  Americans are often asked for a "sign certificate", or 
a "signature certificate" when buying a car in Japan, 
renting an apartment or opening a business.  "Sign 
certificate"  forms are available on our web site, and then 
we will notarize the form for you.  Learn more here:  
http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwh7126a.html
Q: OK, then how about the signature guarantee that my 
mutual fund company says I must obtain?
A:  Sorry, as opposed to the ubiquitous "sign certificate" 
needed in Japan to, for example, buy and sell a car, 
signature guarantees are often required by U.S. banks or 
mutual fund companies.  Unfortunately, the Embassy cannot 
legally perform a signature guarantee. Please check with 
your bank, here or in the U.S., for additional information.
Q:  What else do you do for American Citizens?
A:  Please take a look at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwhatoz.html
for an alphabetical listing of our services.
You can also search our web site at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwhsearch.html if you are 
looking for something specific.
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US$10 Million for You
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If you have an email account, you no doubt have received 
one or more urgent messages asking for your help in 
transferring some huge sum of money out of Africa, 
typically from Nigeria or Sierra Leone.  Often times the 
message will purportedly be from a relative of a former 
ruler or important politician, and will include an offer to 
give you an enormous fee for your help.
These messages are scams of long-standing.  We have heard 
of a variation on these scams in Japan, where you may be 
shown some large amount of currency, likely counterfeit, 
and asked to help spend it.  Should such an offer be made 
to you, report the details to the Japanese police.
More information on email scams is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/specrptrv2africaemailjuly02.htm
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West Nile Virus Moves West; Now in Manitoba, N. Dakota & Texas
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West Nile virus has passed the 97th meridian on its trek west, now detected 
as far west as Dallas Co., Texas; Grand Forks Co, North Dakota; and 
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Winnipeg lies about 150 miles north of Grand 
Forks on the Red River of the North.
In 2002 West Nile virus has been detected in at least 23 states and 
Washington DC in the US, as well as in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec 
provinces of Canada. Reports from North Dakota, Manitoba and Quebec are the 
first ever for West Nile virus. In addition West Nile virus has recently 
been reported for the first time this year in Arkansas and Wisconsin.
The following are recent reports since Fri 12 Jul 2002 (in alphabetical 
order by state/province. [see ERAP website for additional and historical 
information:  <http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/erap/WNV/>].
Though only a handful of human cases have been reported this year, precautions against mosquitoes should be taken.  Caution is advised for evening outdoor activities, and the use of protective clothing and DEET is suggested.  West Nile is one of about nibe insect-borne infections found in the US.
ALABAMA -- So far 2 birds tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) from 
Baldwin Co (SW AL, on Gulf Coast and Florida border) and 7 counties have 
detected WNV in 2002.
ARKANSAS -- The first positive WNV result for 2002 was announced 12 Jul 
2002 from St. Francis County (E. Arkansas) in a bird found 22 Jun 2002. In 
2001, 4 birds tested positive from El Dorado (Union Co; S. AR, on Louisiana 
border), Benton County (NW AR, on Oklahoma and Missouri borders), and Fort 
Smith (Sebastian Co; W. AR, on Oklahoma border).
ILLINOIS -- 5 more counties detect WNV and 2 more mosquito pools found in 
Cook Co (Chicago Metro Area). The 5 new counties are: Boone Co (N. IL, on 
Wisconsin border), DeKalb Co (N. IL), Franklin Co (S. IL), Mercer Co (W. 
IL, on Iowa border), Sangamon Co (Central IL, location of Springfield), and 
Will Co (NE IL, on Indiana border). WNV has thus far been detected in 17 
counties in Illinois. Health Dept says that WNV is likely present in all 
counties in Illinois.
INDIANA -- WNV was detected in Bartholomew Co (S. Central IN) for the first 
time. This is the sixth county to detect WNV in 2002.
KENTUCKY -- 3 more counties detect WNV: Jefferson Co (N. KY, location of 
Louisville, on Indiana border), Laurel Co (SE KY), and Woodford Co (Central 
KY). 6 counties have now detected WNV in 2002.
MARYLAND -- A correction from the USGS NBII website: "On 3 Jul 2002, 
National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) mistakenly reported 
confirmed presence of West Nile virus in a Maryland horse. No horses in 
Maryland have tested positive for the Virus in 2002. NBII regrets this 
error." The statement had been based on a preliminary test, results of 
which are not yet posted on the Maryland WNV website.
MASSACHUSETTS -- 3 more cities/towns detect WNV, for a total of 5 cities in 
3 counties. New detections are in Boston (Suffolk Co, E. MA), Cambridge 
(Middlesex Co, NE MA), and Marblehead (Essex Co, NE MA, on Massachusetts Bay).
MICHIGAN -- Macomb County (SE in Detroit Metro Area) became the sixth 
county to detect WNV in 2002.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA -- 12 Jul 2002, preliminary WNV-positive results 
on 2 crows were announced from Beaconsfield, a suburb of Montreal (S. 
Quebec). This is the first time that WNV has been detected in Canada east 
of Ontario, and in Quebec.
NORTH DAKOTA -- WNV was detected for the first time ever in North Dakota in 
a young gelding from Grand Forks County (E. ND, on Minnesota border). The 
horse began showing signs of West Nile 30 Jun 2002 and was euthanized 2 Jul 
2002. Confirmation of the positive preliminary result is expected this week.
OHIO -- 8 more counties detect WNV (Erie, Licking, Medina, Morgan, 
Paulding, Scioto, Williams, and Wyandot counties) and 2 more counties 
report WNV-positive mosquito pools (Montgomery and Hamilton). The Ohio 
health department believes WNV is most likely present in all 88 counties, 
although it is only confirmed in 41 counties.
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA -- A preliminary WNV-positive crow was found 7 
Jul 2002 for the first time ever in Winnipeg, Manitoba (S. Manitoba). This 
is the first time that WNV has been detected in Canada west of Ontario.
WISCONSIN -- The first detection of WNV in 2002 was in a dead crow 
announced 11 Jul 2002 from Milwaukee (Milwaukee Co, SE WI), found on 25 Jun 
2002.
(From ProMed Digest, Friday, July 19, 2002)
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Hormone Replacement Therapy Alert 
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The following information, Published by the AACE (American 
Association of Clinical Endocrinology), was released by the 
Embassy's Medical Unit to the American Community.
As reported today by several national media outlets, 
researchers have stopped the estrogen plus progestin 
portion of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a clinical 
trial designed to assess the major health benefits and 
risks of the most commonly used hormone preparation in the 
United States on healthy menopausal women, after overall 
health risks were found to exceed the health benefits.  An 
article to be published in the July 17 issue of The Journal 
of the American Medical Association (JAMA) outlines the 
WHI's rationale for this action.
Jacques E. Rossouw, M.D., of the National Heart, Lung and 
Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, and colleagues from the WHI, 
reported that the trial was stopped because of apparent 
increased risks of invasive breast cancer, as well as 
coronary heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolisms in 
study participants.   There were some benefits of estrogen 
plus progestin noted during the study, including fewer 
cases of hip fractures and colorectal cancers, but the 
overall health risks outweighed the benefits.
The estrogen plus progestin part of the WHI is a randomized 
controlled primary prevention trial that was planned to 
last for 8.5 years.  It was stopped on May 31, 2002 after a 
average follow-up of 5.2 years because of the health safety 
concerns.  A parallel trial of CEE (estrogen) only in women 
who have had a hysterectomy is being continued, and the 
planned end of this trial if March 2005, by which time the 
average follow-up with be about 8.5 years.
Study results indicated:
-- The rate of women experiencing coronary heart disease (CHD) 
events was increased by 29 percent
-- Stroke rates were 41 percent higher in women receiving 
estrogen plus progestin,
-- Participants had double the rates of venous thromboembolism 
(blood clots)
-- Invasive breast cancer rates increased by 26 percent
-- Total cardiovascular disease was increased by 22 percent
-- The benefits included a 37 percent reduction in colorectal 
cancer rates, hip fracture rates reduced by one-third and 
total fractures reduced by 24 percent.
Approximately 38 percent of postmenopausal women in the 
United States use hormone replacement therapy," according 
to background information in the article.  The absolute 
risk of harm to an individual woman is very small. As the 
authors (Rossouw et al) point out, the increased risk of 
estrogen/progestin combinations means that in 10,000 women, 
there will be 7 more coronary heart disease events, 8 more 
breast cancers, 8 more strokes, and 8 more pulmonary 
emboli, but 6 fewer colorectal cancers and 5 fewer hip 
fractures. Nevertheless, when counting all events over the 
5.2 years of the trial, the excess number of events in the 
active drug group was 100 per 10,000 (or 1 in 100 women). 
This is still a small risk, but it demonstrates that risks 
from the drug add up over time.
AACE's position on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is 
that ultimately, each woman as she enters menopause, must 
work with her own physician to determine whether or not HRT 
is right for her.  For many, the decision will be 
straightforward with potential for significant benefit in 
many areas. For others, the decision will be much more 
difficult requiring a careful balance of the known benefits 
and potential risks.
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Useful Internet Addresses
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US Federal Government: http://www.firstgov.gov;
US Dept of State Consular Affairs: http://travel.state.gov;
US Federal Aviation Administration: http://www.faa.gov;
U.S. Internal Revenue Service: http://www.irs.gov;
Social Security Administration: http://www.ssa.gov;
Federal Voting Assistance: http://www.fvap.ncr.gov;
U.S. Customs Service: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov 
(information including importation of household pets, 
animal and plant health inspection, etc);
U.S. Department of Agriculture: http://www.usda.gov 
(information on food products, food safety and inspection 
service);