FORMER Japanese premier Ryutaro Hashimoto flew into Johannesburg on Wednesday at the start of a four-day visit that will focus on establishing a partnership between his country and South Africa. Hashimoto, who became a senior foreign adviser to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi after resigning in July, arrived in the country from Kenya where he was on a three-day official visit. From Johannesburg he was to fly immediately to Cape Town to meet parliamentary speaker Frene Ginwala and National Council of Provinces chair Patrick ”Terror” Lekota. On Friday he is due to hold talks with Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo in Pretoria and will also attend the first meeting of the Japan-South Africa Partnership.