OSAKA -- Discussion on America's relationship with the Kansai region generally centers on business investment or the lack thereof.
With no U.S. bases in the region amid a long tradition of apathy and occasional hostility toward military matters, Kansai tends to see the bilateral security treaty as something best handled by Tokyo.
But with the new U.S. administration expected to focus on security issues, some in the American and Japanese business communities are trying to change local attitudes by emphasizing that Kansai people also need to think about security issues and how they relate to American investment.