[Shermy]

...because they viewed the visit of kidnapped Japanese to Tokyo as somehow speeding up Japan's warm overture to North Korea...

don't know, but from what I read, the visit to Tokyo enraged the Japanese further, not the other way.

[AmericanInTokyo]

if "the japanese" meaning the average person on the street, yes. I would say that "Tokyo" if referring to the Government, yes, Tokyo (official japan) was happy the visits could occur. but it appears to be backfiring in the court of public sentiment, due to the fact the kidnapped were complete brainwashed and you can see right through it and their families in Japan are very disappointed. These kidnapped, the ones who submitted to brainwashing or were otherwise useful to Pyongyang, were allowed to live. (Eight or so others were killed)