Narrative:

On departure runway 16 from nrt (papas 1) at approximately 13 mi, climbing through 7600 ft in turn to intercept 140 degree radial. We were given a radar turn to 090 degree, noticed converging traffic 1 O'clock. Nrt departure called and said 'start turn now!' traffic at 7600 ft, 3 mi, 3 O'clock. We had already commenced turn and were about through 110 degree when call came. At first, I thought I was looking at tail lights of a widebody transport that departed ahead of me. I believe the inbound aircraft was on the track of a cosmo north arrival, but usually we are at 10000 ft at that spot. I asked controller to identify traffic. He replied 'no problem'. We talked to inbound aircraft on company frequency. He said he could see us, didn't think it was a problem. The closure rate (400 plus) would have been a problem with both at same altitude. Copilot flying saw inbound pass by, didn't seem to be a problem for him either. So first to see traffic. I guess this is no problem, but it didn't look like much more than 2 mi when he passed by. Its the first close one in tyo area for me in long time. Supplemental information from acn 185300. We were given a heading of 360 degree radar vectors and a descent from 13000 ft to 6000 ft. The captain read back 360 degree leaving 13000 ft for 6000. At 7300 ft the controller gave us a heading of 310 degree and asked us our altitude. We responded leaving 7000 ft for 6000 ft. The controller then stated our last assigned altitude was 10000 ft. The captain responded 'no sir we were cleared to 6000 ft and I read back 6000 ft.' the controller reiterated a turn to 310 degree to avoid traffic.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTSS BTWN A WDB ON SID FROM NRT AND A COMPANY WDB ON DSCNT VECTOR INTO NRT.

Narrative: ON DEP RWY 16 FROM NRT (PAPAS 1) AT APPROX 13 MI, CLBING THROUGH 7600 FT IN TURN TO INTERCEPT 140 DEG RADIAL. WE WERE GIVEN A RADAR TURN TO 090 DEG, NOTICED CONVERGING TFC 1 O'CLOCK. NRT DEP CALLED AND SAID 'START TURN NOW!' TFC AT 7600 FT, 3 MI, 3 O'CLOCK. WE HAD ALREADY COMMENCED TURN AND WERE ABOUT THROUGH 110 DEG WHEN CALL CAME. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I WAS LOOKING AT TAIL LIGHTS OF A WDB THAT DEPARTED AHEAD OF ME. I BELIEVE THE INBOUND ACFT WAS ON THE TRACK OF A COSMO N ARR, BUT USUALLY WE ARE AT 10000 FT AT THAT SPOT. I ASKED CTLR TO IDENT TFC. HE REPLIED 'NO PROBLEM'. WE TALKED TO INBOUND ACFT ON COMPANY FREQ. HE SAID HE COULD SEE US, DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM. THE CLOSURE RATE (400 PLUS) WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH BOTH AT SAME ALT. COPLT FLYING SAW INBOUND PASS BY, DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM FOR HIM EITHER. SO FIRST TO SEE TFC. I GUESS THIS IS NO PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH MORE THAN 2 MI WHEN HE PASSED BY. ITS THE FIRST CLOSE ONE IN TYO AREA FOR ME IN LONG TIME. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 185300. WE WERE GIVEN A HDG OF 360 DEG RADAR VECTORS AND A DSCNT FROM 13000 FT TO 6000 FT. THE CAPT READ BACK 360 DEG LEAVING 13000 FT FOR 6000. AT 7300 FT THE CTLR GAVE US A HDG OF 310 DEG AND ASKED US OUR ALT. WE RESPONDED LEAVING 7000 FT FOR 6000 FT. THE CTLR THEN STATED OUR LAST ASSIGNED ALT WAS 10000 FT. THE CAPT RESPONDED 'NO SIR WE WERE CLRED TO 6000 FT AND I READ BACK 6000 FT.' THE CTLR REITERATED A TURN TO 310 DEG TO AVOID TFC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.