Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 09/11/09

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002103

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DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA;
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION;
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN,
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR;
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA

SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 09/11/09

Index:
1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei)
4) DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 10 (Nikkei)

Politics
5) New administration to investigate "secret nuclear accord" (Tokyo
Shimbun)
6) Komeito president says the party will examine cooperation with
LDP in next summer's Upper House election from a blank slate
(Sankei)
7) Government representative Shotaro Yachi resigns today (Mainichi)

8) Final selections for cabinet to be made on 15th (Asahi)
9) LDP mulls "next cabinet" at meeting for rebuilding party
(Yomiuri)

Opinion
10) 30 PERCENT of poll respondents think DPJ has too many Diet
seats (Yomiuri)

Defense & Security
11) U.S. Defense Department requests refueling mission continue
(Sankei)
12) Residents claim U.S. demonstration flight for purpose of
creating alibi (Akahata)
13) Rush to refuel ships in Indian Ocean (Tokyo Shimbun)

Foreign Relations
14) Hatoyama to attend Pakistan aid meeting (Yomiuri)
15) Hatoyama: "Improving relations up to North Korea" (Nikkei)
16) DPJ and JCP to cooperate in investigating secret nuclear accord
(Asahi)
17) MOD official: "International community values refueling mission"
(Mainichi)

Politics & Foreign Relations
18) Hatoyama: "North Korean is to blame for nuclear weapon and
abduction issues" (Sankei)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
Unused funds in fiscal 2009 extra budget total 8.3 trillion yen

Mainichi:
Health Ministry to set uniform fee for new-flu vaccination
nationwide

Yomiuri:
Less than 30 PERCENT pass bar examination for 2009

Nikkei:
Financial Services Agency to require listed firms to disclose
executives' salaries

Sankei:
Japanese Trade Union Confederation shifts emphasis to Ozawa in new
doctrines toward DPJ

TOKYO 00002103 002 OF 009

Tokyo Shimbun:
Health Ministry finds only 45 PERCENT of expansion plan for nursing
homes implemented from fiscal 2006 through fiscal 2008

Akahata:
JCP Chairman Shii meets with DPJ President Hatoyama

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Eight years after 9-11: Next challenge over fight against
terrorism
(2) Business world: Now is time for change, together with politics

Mainichi:
(1) Eight years after 9-11: Expand dialogue to bring about safer
world
(2) False accounting by Chiba prefecture: Stop irregularities

Yomiuri:
(1) Fix postal service flaws from users' viewpoint
(2) Don't allow Afghanistan to become nest of terrorism again

Nikkei:
(1) Will DPJ aim at placing postal services under government?
(2) Mitsui Sumitomo Financial Group, Daiwa Securities Group urged to
map out new strategy after giving up on merger plan

Sankei:
(1) Japan should extend cooperation in fight against terrorism
(2) Illegal accounting by Chiba prefecture: Tighten monitoring
system

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Present specific measures for review of postal services
(2) Results of survey on Japanese language show great influence of
Internet

Akahata:
(1) Afghan war turning into quagmire

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, September 10

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 11, 2009

07:47 Took a walk near official residential quarters
09:57 Met Upper House President Satsuki Eda, Minister of Internal
Affairs and Communications Tsutomu Sato, former Internal Affairs
Minister Toranosuke Katayama, chair of Japan Firefighting
Association (Nissho), at Nissho Hall in Toranomon
10:01 Memorial service for firefighters who died on duty
10:32 Arrived at Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)
12:01 Arrived at Aso faction office in National Hotel Association
Hall in Hirakawa-cho
13:33 Met Takeshi Yoshimura, secretary general of Association of
Private Universities of Japan, at Shigaku Kaikan in Kudankita;
followed by Katsuhiko Shirai, chairman of Japan Association of
Private Universities and Colleges, others

TOKYO 00002103 003 OF 009

14:27 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura at Kantei
15:23 Met PM's assistant Shunichi Yamaguchi
17:58 Met Kawamura again
18:15 Back to official residential quarters
18:48 Met Lower House member Keiko Nagaoka, former Lower House
member Nobuhiko Endo

4) PJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 10

08:48 Left residence in Denenchofu
09:25 Met Upper House member Masamitsu Oishi at personal office in
Nagata-cho
09:45 Met Xiao Rong, vice president of China Association for
International Friendly Contacts and third daughter of the late
leader Deng Xiaoping
11:31 Met Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa at DPJ headquarters
12:00 Meeting of Hatoyama group in same building where personal
office is located
12:58 Arrived at DPJ headquarters
16:56 Met Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Chairman Kazuo Shii at Diet
building; JCP General Secretary Tadayoshi Ichita, DPJ Secretary
General Katsuya Okada also present
17:41 Met Executive Office Chairman Hirofumi Hirano, former Policy
Research Committee Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto, Upper House member
Koji Matsui at DPJ headquarters
18:54 Met Okada, Hirano
19:10 Met Hirano, Matsumoto, Matsui again; Matsumoto, Matsui stayed
behind
20:00 Met Hirano, Matsumoto
20:54 Arrived home

5) DPJ President Hatoyama says new government will investigate the
nuclear pact; "We will unveil the truth to the public"

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged slightly)
September 11, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama announced
last night that the incoming administration will launch an
investigation into a purported Japan-U.S. agreement allowing U.S.
warships carrying nuclear weapons to pass through Japan's
territorial waters and call at Japanese ports and disclose the
findings to the public. Hatoyama said to the press corps at DPJ
headquarters: "There are many questions about the secret nuclear
pact. We want to unveil the truth to the public. We will investigate
it. We will let the people know about the results."

He intends to order the Foreign Ministry to conduct an investigation
and ask the United States for its cooperation after the new
administration is launched. Coordination is underway for a
Japan-U.S. summit on around Sept. 23 to coincide with the UN General
Assembly in New York. Hatoyama plans to convey such a plan
(investigation into the secret pact) to President Barack Obama.

The Foreign Ministry adheres to its view that the purported secret
agreement does not exist. Nevertheless, given the nation's decision
on a change of government, Administrative Vice-Foreign Minister
Mitoji Yabunaka has expressed a stance to cooperate in the planned
investigation, saying, "We will take the necessary measures in
accordance with instructions from the new administration." There are
chances that the government will change its view depending on how
the investigation proceeds.

TOKYO 00002103 004 OF 009

Earlier, Hatoyama and DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who has
informally been selected as the next foreign minister, held talks
with Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii in the Diet
building. Shii sought an investigation into the secret nuke pact.
(Hatoyama and Okada) replied that it is most important to uncover
the truth.

Shii said, "We highly evaluate Mr. Hatoyama's past statements." Shii
also presented Hatoyama with data related to reclassified U.S.
government documents.

The secret agreement is designed to allow nuclear-armed U.S.
warships to pass through Japan's territorial waters and call at
Japanese ports and nuclear-armed U.S. aircrafts to fly into Japan
without prior consultations, a requirement under the revised the
U.S.-Japan Security Treaty concluded in 1960. In Kyodo News Service
interviews, four former administrative vice-foreign ministers have
admitted the existence of pact-related document and other materials
and said that they have explained about the secret agreement to some
prime ministers and foreign ministers in the past.

6) New Komeito leader: No plan for cooperation with LDP on Upper
House election next summer

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
September 11, 2009

New Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi said last night:
"We will start with a clean slate" on cooperation with the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) in the House of Councillors election next
summer, when asked by reporters in Tokyo.

7) Government Special Envoy Yachi to resign

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
September 11, 2009

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwao Uruma revealed at a press
conference yesterday that Shotaro Yachi, a special government envoy,
will resign on Sept. 11. His resignation will formally be approved
at a cabinet meeting today. He reportedly decided to step down
voluntarily. He caused a controversy in April over his remarks on
the Northern Territories issue in an interview to the Mainichi
Shimbun that Japan should accept the return of 3.5 islands (instead
of the four islands).

8) Hatoyama cabinet lineup to be formally decided on Sept. 15

ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged)
September 11, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama yesterday
discussed with Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa at party headquarters
the selection of the lineup of a Hatoyama cabinet, which will
launched soon after he is voted in as prime minister. Although the
Hatoyama side intended to select all cabinet members as early as
possible, it was agreed to postpone a formal decision on the
appointments of the cabinet members and DPJ executives until Ozawa
is officially appointed secretary general at a general meeting of
all DPJ Diet members on Sept. 15.

TOKYO 00002103 005 OF 009

The Social Democratic Party (SDP), a coalition partner of the DJP's,
yesterday formally requested that employment affairs portfolio be
given to its chair Mizuho Fukushima. The People's New Party (PNP),
the other coalition member, asked for the internal affairs and
communications minister post or state minister without portfolio for
its leader Shizuka Kamei.

Cabinet ministers appointed to date

Name Post Party Age Electoral District
Yukio Hatoyama Prime Minister DPJ 62 Hokkaido No.9
Lower House (8)
Naoto Kan National Strategy Minister DPJ 62 Tokyo No. 18
Lower House (10)
Katsuya Okada Foreign Minister DPJ 56 Mie No. 3
Lower House (7)
Hirofumi Hirano Chief Cabinet Secretary DPJ 60 Osaka No. 11
Lower House (5)
Mizuho Fukushima SDP 53 Proportional Representation, Upper House
(2)
Shizuka Kamei PNP 72 Hiroshima No. 6
Lower House (11)

DPJ lawmakers most likely to join the cabinet

Name Age Electoral District
Seiji Maehara 47 Kyoto No. 2, Lower House (6)
Hirohisa Fujii 77 Proportional Representation Minami-Kanto Bloc,
Lower House (7)
Yoshito Sengoku 63 Tokushima No. 1, Lower House (6)
Masayuki Naoshima 63 Proportional Representation, Upper House (3)
Tatsuo Kawabata 64 Shiga No. 1, Lower House (8)
Akira Nagatsuma 49 Tokyo No. 7, Lower House (4)
Yoshihiko Noda 52 Chiba No. 4, Lower House (5)

Note: Figure in parenthesis shows the number of times elected to the
Diet.

9) LDP to consider forming next cabinet

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
September 11, 2009

The Party Rejuvenation Council (chaired by Yuji Yamamoto, former
state minister for financial policy) of mid-ranking and junior
lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at a meeting on
Sept. 10 decided to compile a six-point reform plan, including an
election candidate selection process and the nature of the Policy
Research Council (policy board and subcommittees). The panel will
aim to finalize the plan possibly by the 28th, when the new party
president is elected.

Toshimitsu Motegi, acting chairman and former state minister for
administrative reform, proposed at the meeting, "We must form a
shadow cabinet (next cabinet)." The idea is to newly set up the next
cabinet in the party to show the next prime minister and cabinet
ministers to the people in advance, with power transfer in the next
Lower House election in mind." The panel has decided to look into
the proposal. Some, however, said, "We cannot copy the Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ)."

Concerning the selection of election candidates, some said, "Those

TOKYO 00002103 006 OF 009

who have served as prime minister should not be endorsed as
candidates for national elections."

10) Poll: 30 PERCENT of DPJ supporters say DPJ has too many seats,
60 PERCENT concerned about "dual power"

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged)
September 11, 2000

The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted an online monitoring poll of 1,000
Internet users across the nation on the recent general election for
the House of Representatives. According to the results tabulated
yesterday, 60 PERCENT of those who support the Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ) were concerned about a two-tier power structure of DPJ
President Hatoyama and DPJ Deputy President Hatoyama, who will
become DPJ secretary general. Meanwhile, 30 PERCENT of those DPJ
supporters answered that the number of seats the DPJ garnered in the
election should have been smaller.

The online poll was carried out Sept. 4-9, and 814 people
responded.

In the poll, respondents were asked if they thought that the
incoming Hatoyama government would have a two-tier power structure.
In response to this question, 34 PERCENT answered "yes," with 38
PERCENT saying "yes to a certain degree." Those concerned about a
dual power structure totaled 72 PERCENT . Among DPJ supporters,
those concerned about it added up to 61 PERCENT . Respondents were
also asked if they thought that Hatoyama has fulfilled his public
accountability on his fund-managing body's false reports on
political donations from individuals. To this question, a total of
74 PERCENT answered "no." Among DPJ supporters, negative answers
accounted for 57 PERCENT .

Respondents were further asked if they thought that the number of
seats the DPJ garnered in the general election should have been
smaller. To this question, a total of 58 PERCENT answered "yes."
Among DPJ supporters, "yes" accounted for 29 PERCENT . Among those
with no particular party affiliation, "yes" accounted for 60 PERCENT
.

11) U.S. Defense Department asks for continuation of refueling
mission, terms this "international responsibility"

SANKEI (Page 3) (Full)
September 11, 2009

Takashi Arimoto, Washington

U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Geoff Morrell discussed the
refueling mission of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF)
in the Indian Ocean at a news conference on September 9. He said,
"We have greatly benefited from Japan's participation in those
efforts, and we would very much encourage them to continue those
efforts," asking the next administration led by the Democratic Party
of Japan (DPJ) to continue the mission.

Against the background of statements by the next administration that
it will end the refueling mission, Morrell commented, ''I know there
was a lot of campaign rhetoric... But there's a difference between
campaigning and governing," indicating his expectation for the DPJ
to adopt realistic policies as a ruling party. He emphasized that

TOKYO 00002103 007 OF 009

Japan should continue to contribute to peace and stability in
Afghanistan, asserting that "there is an international
responsibility... to contribute to the effort to bring about a more
peaceful and secure Afghanistan, to avoid it returning to a country
that could launch attacks against Japan and the U.S."

Morrell reiterated that there is no plan to review the agreement
reached between the Japanese and U.S. governments on U.S. Forces
Japan realignment. "We look forward to working with (the next
administration) on executing all the existing agreements, including
the relocation (of U.S. Marines in Okinawa) to Guam," he said.

12) Citizens protest U.S. military aircraft's demo flights at
Futenma relocation site in Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa

AKAHATA (Page 15) (Abridged)
September 11, 2009

In connection with the construction of the new U.S. military base in
Henoko, Nago City in Okinawa, the Ministry of Defense's Okinawa
Defense Bureau conducted demo flights by two CH-53 helicopters over
the sea areas near the construction site on September 10 to measure
noise level.

According to the Defense Bureau's public relations office, the demo
flights were conducted based on a request from Okinawa Prefecture,
Nago City, and Ginoza Village, and this was "unrelated" to the
environmental assessment procedures currently in progress.

The demo flights were conducted for the prospective flight routes
for takeoffs and landings at the V-shaped runways to be built on the
new base as described in the preparatory documents for environmental
assessment from the north and south. Later, hovering was also
conducted at the four sites where helipads will be built, which were
added to the preparatory documents.

Some 50 members of citizens' groups and local residents opposing the
construction of the new base held a sit-in protest in a tent nearby.
Japanese Communist Party members of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly
Nobuko Tamaki, Masaaki Maeda, Osamu Toguchi, and Sumie Nishime
participated in the protest action.
13) Rise in demand for refueling in Indian Ocean after Lower House
election, probably reflecting desire for MSDF's continued mission

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full)
September 11, 2009

The U.S. Defense Department has asked Japan to continue its
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Before the House of
Representatives was dissolved, Japan provided oil and water for
vessels from eight coalition vessels five times a month. In August,
after the Lower House dissolution, however, the number increased to
seven, including refueling three U.S. warships, according to
informed sources yesterday.

Although Japan once refueled more than ten vessels a month, the
number has reduced by half recently. Among the eight coalition
countries including the U.S., Britain, Germany and France, only
Pakistan, an eligible country for Japan's official development
assistance (ODA) funds, has received the refueling service every
month.

TOKYO 00002103 008 OF 009

In the case of the U.S., its vessels did not receive refueling
during the period between this March and July, but in August, Japan
refueled three U.S. vessels. Britain also received the service two
times. These moves apparently show their willingness to see Japan
continue its mission.

On the propriety of Japan's refueling mission, Administrative
Defense Vice Minister Kimito Nakae just said yesterday: "A decision
should be made on this matter by the government as a whole." The
Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) has provided oil and water free
of charge, although the U.S. and Britain has provided fare-paying
refueling.

14) Hatoyama to attend meeting for assistance to Pakistan in New
York

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
September 11, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama has decided to
attend the Summit of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum when
he visits the U.S. in late September. At the meeting, to be held in
New York on the 24th, Hatoyama intends to praise Pakistan's efforts
to fight the terrorism and promote economic reform and then to
announce Japan's specific assistance measures for helping to
stabilize that nation.

15) Hatoyama: Whether bilateral relations are improved depends on
North Korea's response

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 11, 2009

Speaking before reporters yesterday, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
President Yukio Hatoyama made this comment on his stance toward
North Korea:

"The problems that currently exist between the two countries are on
the North Korean side as seen from its repeated test-firing of
missiles and nuclear tests, as well as from the lack of progress in
negotiations on the issue of its past abductions of Japanese
nationals. Whether North Korea can build fruitful relations with
Japan hinges on its response."

16) DPJ, JCP to cooperate to uncover the truth about secret nuclear
pact

ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
September 11, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President held talks with Japanese
Communist Party (JCP) Chairman Kazuo Shii in the Diet building
yesterday. Regarding the basic stance of the incoming Hatoyama
administration, Shii said, "As a constructive opposition party that
cooperates on good things and opposes bad things, we will deal with
it accordingly." The two leaders agreed that their parties will
cooperate in uncovering the truth about a purported secret
Japan-U.S. agreement on the introduction of nuclear weapons and to
actively create opportunities for the heads of opposition and ruling
parties to exchange views.

17) "International community highly praises Japan's refueling

TOKYO 00002103 009 OF 009

operation"

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
September 11, 2009

Referring to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operation
in the Indian Ocean, Vice Defense Minister Kimito Nakae during a
press conference on Sept. 10 underscored the meaning of the mission,
noting, "I am aware that the international community highly praises
the operation." He then said, "I would like to explain the
circumstances, the meaning of the operation, and the present
situation" to the new administration. He also said, "If the new
government sets its policy, we will naturally abide by it."

18) DPJ President Hatoyama says, "The North is to be blamed for the
nuclear and abduction issues"

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
September 11, 2009

Referring to North Korea's nuclear, missile, and abduction issues,
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Hatoyama on the evening of
September 10 stressed: "I believe that the North Korean side is to
be blamed for the situation in which it has repeatedly launched
missiles, developed nuclear arms, and carried out nuclear tests, and
there has been no progress in the abduction issue." He also said,
"If fruitful Japan-North Korea relations are to be built, whether
that can be done or not naturally depends on what approach Pyongyang
makes."

ROOS

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