An account of the 1988 US-Japan Science and Technology Agreement (88STA). The research methodology of the study is based on interviews and analysis of the relevant documents and articles augmented by an analysis of selected studies on US-Japan and science and technology relations. The author hopes to: increase the reader's understanding of the bureaucratic process and negotiations within the US and Japanese government in drafting an agreement and the interaction of the negotiators in the outcome; increase our knowledge about how the US-Japanese relationship in science and technology in the public sector is managed; throw some light on how domestic factors impact on preparing for a negotiating a new agreement between the US and Japan on science and technology; develop insights into the negotiating styles of each country; assess its role as a model agreement for negotiating similar agreements with other countries; learn some lessons for future negotiations with Japan in the science and technology area and with other countries if this Agreement is to be used as a model