Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 09/14/09

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002118

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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 09/14/09

Index:
1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei)
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 11 (Nikkei)

Political Agenda
4) Tanigaki to run for LDP president (Asahi)
5) Extraordinary Diet session to be convened at the
end of October (Tokyo Shimbun)
6) DPJ to exclude SDP and PNP from National Strategy Bureau
(Nikkei)
7) Okada to visit U.S. at end of month (Mainichi)

Japan-U.S. Security Relationship
8) In April the U.S. sounded out the Japanese govt.
about the possible withdrawal of F-16s from Misawa
(Tokyo Shimbun)
9) First anniversary of nuclear-powered flattop's
deployment in Yokosuka; protestors demand carrier leave
(Akahata) 10) New administration to request inclusion
of environment clause in the SOFA (Sankei)
11) DPJ's policy toward U.S. begins with "safe driving";
Okada has first meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Japan
(Nikkei)
12) Japanese Ambassador to U.S. expresses concern about
request for continuation of refueling mission (Sankei)
Secret nuclear accord
13) DPJ to establish secret-nuclear-accord investigation
team (Nikkei)
14) Foreign Ministry moving quickly on issue of secret
nuclear accord (Nikkei)

Opinion
15) Yomiuri-Waseda poll: 72 PERCENT have expectations for
DPJ; 77 PERCENT uneasy about new administration (Yomiuri)

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi, Mainichi:
American Airlines also sounds out JAL about tie-up

Yomiuri:
Wall Street learns no lessons from Lehman collapse

Sankei:
New government to call on U.S. to include a provision
in SOFA to require removal of contaminated soil from
military facilities

Tokyo Shimbun:
Profile of Yukio Hatoyama (Part 1): Hated politics but
changed his mind in U.S.

Akahata:
Yokosuka citizens stage protest against deployment of
U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) One year after Lehman collapse: Global cooperation now needed

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Mainichi:
(1) No change in breeding ground for "acting irresponsibly" one year
after Lehman collapse
(2) Drastic review of new bar examination necessary

Yomiuri:
(1) Employ bureaucrats' expertise, instead of being hostile to them
(2) Japanese, U.S. auto industries should search for ways to
coexist

Nikkei:
(1) Consider income limitation for childcare allowance measures
(2) Emerging countries show latent power in crisis

Sankei:
(1) "Abolishment" of driver's license renewal system: Concern over a
retreat from education reform
(2) Prevention of suicide: Listen to pleas for help

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Try to reconstruct relations with China, through cooperation and
assertions
(2) Increase in child suicide: Government urged to establish places
where children can feel secure

Akahata:
(1) Target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions: Business circles
must fulfill social responsibility

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, September 11

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 12, 2009

07:33 Took a walk around his official residence.
10:02 Cabinet meeting at the Kantei. Then met Deputy Chief Cabinet
Secretary Matsumoto, followed by former National Personnel Authority
Tani. Then met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani.
15:27 Met Senior Vice Foreign Minister Ito.
18:52 Met persons related to his support group at a restaurant in
Nishiazabu.
21:50 Arrived at his official residence.
23:19 Arrived at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho.

DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 11

10:17 Left home in Denenchofu with his wife Miyuki.
11:26 Met former prime minister Hata and Upper House member Yuichiro
Hata at the party headquarters.
11:57 Met journalist Tamao Hosokawa.
12:30 Dined with his wife at a Japanese restaurant "Hitotsugi
Chikurinso" in the TS Kyowa Rokubankan Building in Akasaka.
13:37 Met Abduction Issue Headquarters chief Nakai at the party
headquarters.
14:52 Met Executive Office chief Hirano.
17:33 Met Deputy President Kan.
19:17 Arrived home.

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Prime Minister's Schedule, September 12

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 13, 2009

Spent the morning at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho.
13:30 Arrived at the Imperial Hotel.
16:35 Shopped at Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream Azabu Store in
Minamiazabu.
17:29 Arrived at his private residence.

DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 12

09:20 Visited Sengen Shrine with his wife Miyuki on foot from his
home in Denenchofu.
09:36 Went to Tokyu Tamagawa Station.
09:40 Left the station by Tokyu Tamagawa Line train.
09:41 Arrived at Tokyu Denenchofu Station.
09:44 Shopped at bakery Maison Kayser Denenchofu Store.
09:55 Arrived home.
Spent the afternoon at home. No visitors.
18:29 Went to Hiroko Koshino Aoyama Store, womenswear shop in the
Hashimoto Building in Minami Aoyama with his wife.
18:56 Dined with his wife at Korean restaurant "Taishikan
Roppongi."
20:06 Met party executive office chief Hirano at Hotel Grand Palace
in Iidabashi.
23:21 Arrived home.

Prime Minister's schedule, September 13

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 14, 2009

10:03 Took a walk around his private residence in Kamiyama-cho.
Spent the afternoon at his private residence.

DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 13

Spent the morning at home. No visitors.
12:32 Left home.
12:55 Met Lower House member Yorihisa Matsuno at Hotel Okura in
Toranomon.
15:07 Arrived at Hotel New Otani in Kioicho.
17:37 Arrived at his office in the Lower House Members' Office
Building 1.
18:44 Attended a reception to celebrate the conferment of Federation
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Chairman Blatter at
The Ritz Carlton Tokyo in Akasaka.
20:04 Arrived home.

4) Tanigaki to run in LDP presidential race

ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged)
September 14, 2009

Yesterday former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 64, officially
announced his intention to run in the presidential election of the
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The election will be held on Sept.
28 and its official campaign will kick off on Sept. 18. He declared
his candidacy against the background of such likely candidates as
Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe expressing their

TOKYO 00002118 004 OF 009

intentions not to run for the presidency. Attention will now shift
to former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, 64, and
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 52,
who are waiting to see how things develop, and to moves by junior
and mid-level LDP lawmakers critical of the faction-driven election.

5) Extra Diet session to be convened toward Nov.

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
September 14, 2009

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided on Sept. 12 to convene
toward Nov. an extraordinary Diet session, at which DPJ President
Yukio Hatoyama will deliver his first policy speech as prime
minister.

Azuma Koshiishi, chairman of the DPJ caucus in the House of
Councillors, said at a press conference in Kofu City: "(The extra
Diet session) will be held around the end of October. It would be
impossible to convene it earlier than that." He indicated that it
would be desirable to convene the extra session after Upper House
by-elections are held in Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures on Oct.
25.

According to DPJ sources, it will be difficult to convene the extra
session before the by-elections because Upper House President
Satsuki Eda will visit Russia, Britain and Lithuania from early to
mid-October,

6) DPJ to exclude SDP, PNP from national strategy bureau: Policy
coordination to be made among party leaders, others

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt)
September 14, 2009

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on Sept. 13 decided not to allow
the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party (PNP)
to take part in the national strategy bureau, which will be
responsible for the nation's basic policies, including budget
compilation, under the incoming administration. The basic policy
cabinet ministerial committee made up of party head-level persons of
the three parties will be solely tasked with policy coordination
between the government and the ruling coalition. Since the SDP and
the PNP are hoping to participate in the bureau as well as in the
committee, they are likely to strongly oppose the DPJ's decision.

7) Okada to visit U.S. in late September

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full)
September 14, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada,
tapped to be the next foreign minister, plans to visit the United
States later this month. Okada's U.S. visit is aimed to coincide
with the planned visit to New York by DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama
after his election as prime minister. Okada will attend a foreign
ministerial of the Group of Eight slated for Sept. 23 in New York.
Coinciding with the G-8 foreign ministerial, coordination is
underway for a trilateral foreign ministerial meeting among Japan,
the United States, and Australia.

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Hatoyama is expected to leave Japan as early as Sept. 21. Okada
appears to be accompanying Hatoyama to the United States. Hatoyama
plans to attend the opening ceremony of the High Level Meeting on UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change on Sept. 22 and to deliver a
speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 23rd. A meeting
between Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to be
held on the 23rd as well.

8) U.S. sounded out Japan on F-16 pullout from Misawa base

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full)
September 12, 2009

The U.S. government sounded out the Japanese government early this
April on a plan to withdraw all of about 40 F-16 fighter jets
currently deployed to the U.S. Misawa Air Base in Misawa City,
Aomori Prefecture, beginning as early as this year, sources on
Japan-U.S. relations revealed yesterday. At the same time, the U.S.
government also proposed reducing the current deployment of F-15
fighter jets to the U.S. Kadena Air Base, which straddles Kadena
Town and some other municipalities in Japan's southernmost island
prefecture of Okinawa and which currently deploys more than 50
F-15s, according to the sources.

The move reflects the Obama administration's review of the United
States' defense strategy since coming into office. The Japanese
government, concerned about the impact on the North Korean situation
and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, is opposed to the
proposed plans and withholding an answer, the sources said. Japan
and the United States have reached an intergovernmental agreement on
a plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan, the agreement being a
precondition for maintaining the current deployment of U.S. forces
in Japan. With the Democratic Party of Japan soon to launch a new
government under DPJ President Hatoyama, the Japanese and U.S.
governments could enter into consultations over this issue and again
focus on such matters as the proposal to move the heliport functions
of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City,
Okinawa Prefecture, to the Kadena base.

A Japanese government official predicts that in case the
Misawa-based F-16s are withdrawn, F-35 fighter jets could be
deployed instead in rotation from a U.S. base on Guam. The F-35 is a
next-generation fighter jet model.

The F-35, however, has yet to be mass-produced. Its deployment is
still more than five years away. The Misawa base may therefore have
no fighter planes deployed on a standing basis.

9) "U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, get out of Japan!";
Protest rally held ahead of first anniversary of carrier's
deployment to Yokosuka

AKAHATA (Top play) (Lead paragraph)
September 14, 2009

The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington was
deployed to its new homeport of Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka,
Kanagawa Prefecture, about one year ago. A rally to protest against
the carrier's deployment was held at Verny Park in the city on Sept.
13, ahead of its first anniversary, with many people holding banners
saying, "U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, get out of Japan!"

TOKYO 00002118 006 OF 009

10) New government to call on U.S. to include in SOFA provision to
require removal of contaminated soil from military facilities

SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts)
September 14, 2009

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Social Democratic Party,
and the People's New Party decided yesterday to propose to the U.S.
government that the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
include a provision that would require the U.S. to remove hazardous
materials if such are found on U.S. military sites. The agreement
between the U.S. and Germany and that between the U.S. and South
Korea insert an environment-protection provision. Focusing on this,
they do not think it will be difficult to have the U.S. understand
their proposal.

After coming into office as prime minister, DPJ President Yukio
Hatoyama is scheduled to visit the U.S. to attend the UN General
Assembly and meet U.S. President Barack Obama possibly on Sept. 23.
In the summit meeting, Hatoyama intends to relay his basic view to
Obama regarding a revision of the SOFA.

Under the current SOFA, Japan's central and local governments
concerned are not allowed to enter U.S. military bases or training
sites if the U.S. military refuses it. The agreement does not
require the U.S. military to remove contaminated soil and other
materials, either.

Furthermore, U.S. military personnel are excluded from the
application of Japan's domestic law under the SOFA, so the three
parties also plan to look into including in the SOFA a provision
calling on the U.S. to try to abide by domestic law. An agreement
they reached on Sept. 9 to form a coalition government specifies
that "the new government will propose revising the SOFA."

11) DPJ diplomacy gets off to a safe start; Okada holds first
meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Japan

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly)
September 12, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who
will serve as foreign minister under the incoming administration,
held talks for the first time with U.S. Ambassador to Japan John
Roos at DPJ headquarters on Sept. 11. At the meeting, the two agreed
to work hard to make the first talks between DPJ President Yukio
Hotoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama, planned for Sept. 23, a
success. The DPJ, which advocates a "close and equal Japan-U.S.
relationship," has effectively launched its diplomacy toward the
U.S. At the same time, there are mounting challenges, such as
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, and a purported secret pact
on the introduction of nuclear weapons.

Global warming, refueling mission pose challenges

"What is important is that the Japan-U.S. alliance will continue and
deepen over the next 30 years and even 50 years," Okada told Roos.
The U.S. Ambassador replied, "It is necessary to further deepen the
alliance over the next 50 years." The meeting, which lasted 45
minutes, was conducted in an amicable atmosphere. The DPJ's
diplomacy toward the United States has gotten off to a safe start.

TOKYO 00002118 007 OF 009

"I was able to have a very productive meeting with the future
foreign minister," Roos told reporters contentedly. Ahead of the
launch of the DPJ administration, the U.S. Obama administration is
expediting efforts to build ties (with the DPJ) on the assumption
that Okada will become the next foreign minister.

Expectations for the Japan-U.S. summit

Okada expressed his hopes on the upcoming Japan-U.S. summit by
telling Roos: "I hope the upcoming summit will help Japan and the
United States to cooperate closely in dealing with global issues
such as global warming and nuclear weapons, and lead the world."
Nevertheless, global warming is a thorny issue.

The DPJ said in its manifesto (campaign pledges) that Japan will
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from the level of 1990
by 2020. After the election, President Hatoyama also announced that
his party will implement the initiative as promised. Okada, who
serves as the head of the party's taskforce to curb global warming
and played a central role in drafting the party's campaign pledges,
is considering visiting the United States ahead of Hatoyama to
coordinate targets with other countries.

The DPJ's target of reducing emissions by 25 percent from the level
of 1990 is higher than the government's target of cutting emissions
by 15 percent from the level of 2005, and is drawing fire from
business circles. Both Japan and the United States have used the
year 2005 as the base year. If Japan unilaterally adopts 1990 as the
base year after a change of government, that might cause a schism in
Japan-U.S. relations.

Another potential source of trouble is the question of continuing
(Japan's) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean that is scheduled to
expire next January. Although the DPJ does not intend to extend it,
a U.S. Defense Department spokesman has strongly called for its
extension.

Stance remains unchanged

Okada made this comment in a Sept. 11 press conference: "A spokesman
cannot say anything that is different from the policy course in the
past. The reaction is natural. Our thinking is that we will not
simply extend the mission. Nothing more, nothing less." Okada
reportedly brought this up in his talks with Roos, but the U.S.
ambassador avoided referring to it.

Hatoyama has indicated that the new administration will reveal the
truth to the public about the purported secret agreement allowing
the United States to introduce nuclear weapons into Japan. The DPJ
will launch an investigation into the matter by sending an
investigative team to the United States. "We will thoroughly
investigate the matter," said Okada, who will take charge of the
investigation as the next foreign minister.

12) Ambassador to U.S. expresses concern about U.S. request for
continuation of Japan's refueling mission

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
September 12, 2009

Ambassador to the U.S. Ichiro Fujisaki at a press conference on

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Sept. 10 expressed his displeasure at Pentagon spokesman Morrell's
Sept. 9 request to Japan to continue its refueling operation in the
Indian Ocean. He said, "The relationship between Japan and the U.S.
is not the kind of relationship in which views are exchanged through
spokesmen." He was apparently concerned that the statement made by
the spokesman could be taken as pressure from the U.S.

Fujisaki stressed Japan's independence in its diplomacy with regard
to assistance to Afghanistan. He said, "I believe that the Japanese
government will look into and discuss assistance to Afghanistan when
the new administration is launched. Japan's contribution is for
Japan to decide independently."

13) DPJ to set up team to investigate secret nuclear accord

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 12, 2009

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday decided that after the
new administration is launched, the party will establish a team to
clear up the truth about an alleged Japan-U.S. agreement allowing
U.S. warships carrying nuclear weapons to pass through Japanese
territorial waters, according to a senior party member. With the aim
of also looking into the situation at the time when the accord was
reached, the party intends to include experts in the team.

14) Foreign Ministry being pressed to quickly decide how to deal
with issue of secret nuclear pact

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt)
September 14, 2009

The Foreign Ministry is being pressed to quickly decide on how to
deal with the alleged Japan-U.S. agreement allowing U.S. warships
carrying nuclear weapons to pass through Japan's territorial waters.
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who
has been tapped as the next foreign minister, said, "We will
investigate the issue thoroughly." The Foreign Ministry is acting in
response to the DPJ's announcement that it is looking into setting
up a team to investigate the issue that would include experts. The
Foreign Ministry, which has repeatedly claimed that the secret pact
does not exist, will be placed in a difficult position.

15) Poll: 72 PERCENT pin hopes on DPJ, 77 PERCENT concerned about
DPJ's future course

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged)
September 13, 2009

The Yomiuri Shimbun and Waseda University jointly conducted a
face-to-face public opinion survey across the nation on Sept. 5-6
after the Aug. 30 general election for the House of Representatives.
In the survey, respondents were asked if they had expectations for
the Democratic Party of Japan. In response to this question, a total
of 72 PERCENT answered "yes." The percentage was a record high in
this series of surveys, markedly up from 52 PERCENT in the last
survey conducted June 27-28 before the general election. Asked if
they thought the DPJ is competent to run the government, 67 PERCENT
answered "yes" (51 PERCENT in the last survey). The Liberal
Democratic Party was at 57 PERCENT (56 PERCENT in the last
survey). The DPJ topped the LDP for the first time. These figures
appear to show that the public has growing expectations for the DPJ,

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which has translated a change of government into reality. As the
framework of the new administration becomes clearer, many more
people seem to think the DPJ is competent to govern the nation.

The Yomiuri Shimbun has conducted a series of seven joint surveys
with Waseda University since last October in order to probe public
attitudes on the House of Representatives election.

The general election ended in a landslide victory for the DPJ and a
change of government. Having seen this outcome, 66 PERCENT said
Japan's politics would change in a favorable way. However, 77
PERCENT said they were concerned about the DPJ, almost on a par
with the figure in the last survey, 76 PERCENT . This shows that the
public is watching the DPJ, which is waiting in the wings, with a
mixture of expectation and anxiety.

ROOS

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