U.S.-JAPAN TRADE ACCORD / THE DEAL-MAKERS : Hashimoto: Debonair, Confident, a Contender

Ryutaro Hashimoto, Japan’s chief trade negotiator and its minister of international trade and industry, has boosted his stature as a leading candidate to be Japan’s next prime minister by what is seen here as a successful conclusion to auto trade talks with the United States.

While the agreement may also be seen as a victory for the United States, Japanese commentators today expressed satisfaction that it does not contain any government guarantee of purchasing plans by Japanese auto manufacturers--a point that has been of paramount concern to the Japanese side.

Hashimoto, who represents an assertive new generation of Japanese politicians, thus is likely to get credit for having stood up to the United States--while still managing to strike a deal.

Even among officials who grew up after World War II, who tend to be more outspoken than their elders, Hashimoto, 57, stands out for debonair self-confidence and blunt talk that can border on brashness.

In months of tough negotiations with U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor, the two clashed publicly in sharp but humorous verbal jousting. Hashimoto proved fully able to hold his own.

During the just-ended round of talks in Geneva, Kantor gave Hashimoto a bamboo sword used in the Japanese martial art of kendo, of which Hashimoto is a skilled practitioner.

“The standards of kendo are courage and honesty and integrity and patience, and you represent all of this,” Kantor said.

Not missing a beat, Hashimoto responded: “Without doubt, holding talks with Mr. Kantor requires patience.”

Hashimoto has served in various Japanese Cabinets since 1978, when he became minister of health and welfare, a post once held by his father. He later served as minister of transportation and minister of finance.

While Hashimoto seems to have gotten along fairly well with Kantor, some Japanese media have said he felt during the trade talks that the Americans did not treat him with the level of respect due to someone who very possibly could be Japan’s next leader.