As the standoff drags into its second month, the Japanese and Peruvian governments continue to express mutual trust and admiration. On the contrary, it will strengthen the relationship. But the impact undoubtedly is greater because the Japanese Embassy is involved. And the relationship is more delicate than appearances suggest. The flood of Japanese private investment that many Peruvians expected has failed to materialize.
Japanese corporations are wary about Peru and, indeed, all of Latin America.
So the stakes are high. The crisis, especially if there is bloodshed, could hurt the relationship at a crucial moment. If the resolution is not peaceful, the relationship could become colder, more logical. And in any case, no matter how it ends, I think Japan will reexamine the relationship. It is a relationship that, formally, goes back to 1873, when diplomatic ties between Peru and Japan were first est1995 expected that he would bring Japanese corporations, factories and jobs flocking to Peru.