DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/07/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 001883

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SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/07/06


INDEX:

(1) Nomo the savior of the Major Leagues: US Ambassador
Schieffer, ex-Texas Rangers president

(2) US force realignment following a wild path (Part 4): Friction
evident between uniformed and non-uniformed personnel in Defense
Agency

(3) US force realignment following a wild path (Part 5 -
Conclusion): X-band radar in Japan may end up serving as
"endorsement" of preemptive strike

(4) Editorial: USFJ realignment talks making little progress

(5) Editorial - Transfer of US troops in Japan: Highly costly
"bill" for troop relocation

(6) Who is benefiting from US beef embargo?

(7) Death of John Carbaugh, behind-the-scenes mastermind in Japan-
US relations

ARTICLES:

(1) Nomo the savior of the Major Leagues: US Ambassador
Schieffer, ex-Texas Rangers president

SHUKAN ASAHI (Page 156-157) (Full)
April 14, 2006

By Shannon Higgins

On March 15, two days after the 'questionable call' in a recent
US-hosted World Baseball Classic (WBC) game between Team Japan
and Team USA, another Japan-vs.-USA ballgame was played at Tokyo
Dome. It was a charity event in the name of bilateral friendship
between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's rookies and the
American Embassy. The game ended in a 15-15 tie. This time
around, however, it doesn't matter much...

My target was US Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer, 58,
manager of the US Embassy team. This is my interview with the
ambassador, who was in the dugout to coach his team during the
interview.

-- I know this game is to promote friendship. Even so, they're
playing baseball at Tokyo Dome. That's great.

Schieffer: "We normally make efforts to communicate with Diet
members. But there were so many newcomers elected in last year's
general election. I invited them to a luncheon at the embassy,
and in that meeting, we enjoyed talking about baseball after a
while. I said, `Then why don't we play a ballgame?' Anyway,
baseball is the greatest sport in the world, and it's the best
way to promote friendship. Well, probably because the embassy
staff made too much of a to-do about it, they decided to hold
this event at Tokyo Dome. But everyone looks happy, so they made
the right decision. All we have to do now is hire American
umpires, and then we can win handily." (Laughs)

In fact, Ambassador Schieffer is one of the world's most
prominent baseball nuts. In 1989, Schieffer bought the Texas

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Rangers, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, with US President
George W. Bush, a friend of his from the oil industry. Schieffer
was a co-owner of the Rangers and manned its front office as
president for about 10 years, and he led the team's golden age.

Schieffer: "I had some very memorable days. I had the best time
of my life during that decade. I was in charge of building
Arlington Stadium. (Schieffer reportedly invested a total of 1.4
million dollars in the ballpark project.) The ballpark was
completed in 1994. Shortly thereafter, however, MLB players went
on strike. I was shocked. The strike dealt an economic blow to
me. But I, as a baseball lover, didn't know what to say, and I
felt sad, like someone who had been jilted by a lover. . . . But
in 1995, when play resumed, the savior showed up. It was Hideo
Nomo. He was doing well over there. Nomo made the news something
other than the strike. American baseball fans could again realize
how great baseball is, I believe. Actually, Nomo pitched in the
All-Star Game that year. That game was played in Arlington
Stadium. I was moved. I thought there were still many great
ballplayers in the world."

-- Nomo went over to the States, where he paved the way for
Japanese ballplayers to play in the Major Leagues. Now, are there
any other Japanese ballplayers who have caught your eye?

Schieffer: "Well, I'm also a baseball fan. Perhaps, all the teams
want (Hideki) Matsui and Ichiro (Suzuki). If I were the owner of
a team, I would do all I could to get them. But there are many
other gifted ballplayers in Japan. I will withhold their names,
though. (Laughs). Yeah, since I came to Japan, I've actually
taken every opportunity to watch Japanese professional ballgames.
It's interesting. I want them to go over to the Major Leagues.
They would evolve as they play hard against the best ballplayers
in the world. In the long run, that would lead to baseball's
further development."

Japanese ballplayers at a high level

-- What are the characteristics of Japanese players in your eyes?

Schieffer: "Their fundamentals are solid, and they have a high
level of skill. Before today's game, I saw skills training for a
baseball team of local boys. They were all good at holding the
bat, and their swing was also good. We're now playing the game
here with those young lawmakers today, and they're also good.
Probably, they were blessed with good coaches when they were
small. Well, generally speaking, Japanese ballplayers are not so
big. Even so, they have power and speed, because they're good at
using their body. But the most impressive thing to me is that
Japanese ballplayers know how to create a big inning for their
team by stringing together hits. That shows how smart they are.
I'll say it again, their baseball is at a high level."

-- Late last year, you talked with Mr. Shigeo Nagashima-who is
well known as "Mister"-at your own earnest wish. Let me go back a
little. You have such a love of baseball, but you sold the
Rangers in 1998. What made you do so?

Schieffer: "Well, when it comes to why I sold that ball club,
that's based on my judgment purely as an investor. It was about
time to sell. That's why. After that, until 1999, I remained as
the ball club's president. But later, the time came for me to
undertake a new business challenge and to go on to the next

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stage. I thought to myself that it was a chance to do so, and I
resigned as the team's president."

-- You later worked as a business consultant. In 2001, President
Bush, who just came into office, appointed you to the post of
ambassador to Australia.

Schieffer: "Yeah. I was also surprised. But it was a good chance
for me to serve my country, so I was pleased to accept the
offer."

-- And last year, you became ambassador to Japan. At first, when
you arrived at your post here, some people felt uneasy about you.
They said you were not an expert on Japan in particular, and they
also said that you're a friend of President Bush. In addition,
they said you're less experienced in the area of diplomacy and
that you came from the private sector.

Schieffer: "Well, few people knew about me, so they probably felt
somewhat uneasy. But I'm not alien to the world of politics. I
majored in political science in college and international
relations in a postgraduate course. When I was younger, I ran
from the Democratic Party and served as a Texas State
representative for three terms. I also worked as a lawyer. So I'm
not a layman when it comes to negotiations. (Laughs) Of course, I
have no experience or career in Washington, but I've so far been
tied to American politics in various ways."

-- By the way, your brother is Mr. Bob Schieffer, the veteran
political reporter and commentator for CBS, isn't he? But why do
you think you were named for the post of envoy to Japan?

Schieffer: "The president told me, 'I want to entrust someone
whom I can directly talk with and rely on.' Japan is an important
partner of the United States. He probably wanted unfiltered
information, I guess."

-- It's been almost one year since you became the US envoy here.
Looking back over the past year, how do you feel now?

Schieffer: "It's hard to be away from my family and friends. But
I'm honored to be entrusted with the post of ambassador to a
country to represent the United States' interests. I'm really
enjoying myself."

-- Finally, today's ballgame with the Japanese lawmakers has been
a seesaw game. But what's the score in your own diplomatic arena?

Schieffer: (Laughs) "Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. (Laughs)
Well, I'll continue to do my best and will continue to work to
develop our two countries' bilateral relationship."

On March 16, the day after this interview, the ambassador was in
Niigata with Megumi Yokota's parents. This was also something he
wanted to do after becoming ambassador. He was there to visit and
see the place where she was abducted.

(2) US force realignment following a wild path (Part 4): Friction
evident between uniformed and non-uniformed personnel in Defense
Agency

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 28) (Abridged)
April 5, 2006

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On September 2, 2005, a data analysis building opened at the
Maritime Self-Defense Force's Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi
Prefecture. The four-story building to house a data analysis unit
cost the government 600 million yen.

The data analysis unit flies EP3 electronic-warfare aircraft and
OP3 observation planes over the East China Sea and other areas to
collect secret data, including electronic intelligence of China
and North Korea. The data analysis system installed in the new
building also went into full operation Sept. 2.

Two months later, on October 29, the Japan-US Security
Consultative Committee (2 plus 2) produced an interim report on
the realignment of US forces in Japan. It was also decided to
transfer the data analysis unit to the Atsugi base in Kanagawa
Prefecture. A senior Defense Agency official commented on the
data analysis building: "It will cost money to demolish the
building. The Defense Agency will probably ask the US military if
they want to use it."

Moving to Atsugi are 17 planes and 2,000 MSDF personnel and their
families. Their transfer would deal a blow to the economy of
Iwakuni. In its March 12 plebiscite, Iwakuni rejected accepting
carrier-borne jets now in Atsugi. Iwakuni also urged the Defense
Agency to call off its plan to move the MSDF's analysis unit to
Atsugi.

Last December, a heated debate took place between "non-uniformed"
internal bureaus and the "uniformed" Ground Staff Office over a
central rapid response group.

The GSDF had planned to construct a new building at Camp Asaka
straddling Tokyo and Saitama for the rapid response group to be
launched in March 2007 for the purpose of dealing with domestic
and foreign disasters and international activities. But the
interim report specified its transfer to Camp Zama along with the
US Army 1st Corps.

But a decision was eventually made to launch the rapid response
group at Camp Asaka, as originally planned. Construction work
will begin soon to build the group's headquarters at a cost of
750 million yen. A senior Defense Agency official explained that
once the group was transferred to Zama, the building at Camp
Asaka would be used for other purposes. But a GSDF officer took
this view: "Local residents are opposed to the relocation of the
1st Corps, and we don't know when the rapid response group can
move to Camp Zama."

Some plans have been called off, although they had been included
in the interim report. One of them was a plan to establish an
infantry regiment at the US Army's Sagami Depot in Kanagawa. The
plan vanished with the Ground Staff Office's statement, "We have
no plan to set up a regiment in Kanagawa."

Meanwhile, the Air Self-Defense Force has reportedly reaped
benefits from the planned US force realignment. The interim
report specified plans to relocate the ASDF Air Defense Command
to Yokota Air Base and the joint use of Kadena Air Base, the
ASDF's long-cherished dream.

To the ASDF's surprise, however, the interim report also
specified the Nyutabaru base in Miyazaki and Tsuiki base in

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Fukuoka as emergency airports for Futenma Air Station in Okinawa.
An ASDF officer cast doubt about the emergency airport plan,
saying: "The Tsuiki and Nyutabaru bases are small. In order to
build US facilities there, we will have to buy up land, and that
might meet stiff resistance from local residents."

A decision was also made to split fighter training at Kadena Air
Base among five ASDF bases. Okinawa residents, who have been
suffering from aircraft noise, are hopeful that the step will
help reduce the burden on their prefecture. But a senior ASDF
officer predicted: "The purpose is to increase interoperability
between Japan and the US. Given the slashed training budget, the
US military may not be able to transfer its training, as Okinawa
expects."

What caused this type of confusion? An SDF official complained:
"For fear of leakage of talks with the US, internal bureaus did
not consult with uniformed personnel. Non-uniformed officials,
who don't know anything about troop operations, made the
decisions."

A Defense Agency official described the US force realignment as a
once-in-a-century major reform comparable to a revision of the US-
Japan Security Treaty. Although he also underscored closer
military cooperation between Japan and the US, discord in the SDF
is now obvious.

(3) US force realignment following a wild path (Part 5 -
Conclusion): X-band radar in Japan may end up serving as
"endorsement" of preemptive strike

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 26) (Abridged)
April 6, 2006

On December 7, 2005, a group of US Defense Department officials
and technical experts toured the Air Self-Defense Force's Shariki
detachment base in Aomori Prefecture.

Their purpose was to determine a location for X-band radar, an
integral part of the ballistic missile defense (MD) system. They
concluded their 11 days of research by picking a spot on the base
facing the Sea of Japan.

Missile defense is an intricate system to intercept an incoming
ballistic missile with another missile. The United States began
deploying MD in 2004 for homeland defense. The deployment of an X-
band radar installation in Japan is specified in the US force
realignment interim report produced by Tokyo and Washington last
October.

The US is on alert against North Korean and Iran. North Korea
fired a Taepodong ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean off
Misawa in August 1998. Some parts in the missile reportedly flew
5,000 kilometers. Beyond that point lies Hawaii, where the US
Pacific Command is based.

A person connected with the Defense Agency said:

"The United States has only one ground-based X-band radar
installation. The US has decided to deploy such a valuable
component in Japan to defend itself."

Japan made a cabinet decision in December 2003 to introduce a

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missile defense system. Although the interceptor missiles are US-
made, Japan has been developing radar independently.

A 30-meter-tall FPS-XX advanced radar installation has been built
at the Technical Research and Development Institute Inooka branch
office in Chiba Prefecture for testing.

Tanegashima lies about 1,000 kilometers away from the Inooka
branch office, a distance comparable to the range of North
Korea's Rodong ballistic missile.

A Self-Defense Force officer noted: "The FPS-XX radar
successfully detected an H2 rocket launched from Tanegashima. The
radar clearly showed the rocker's rising path. A Defense Agency
official in charge neither confirmed nor denied the SDF officer's
statement, which suggested the radar's readiness for full-fledged
operation.

The X-band radar is highly capable of detecting warheads,
although its coverage is narrow. In contrast, the FPS-XX radar
has low detection capability with a wider coverage.

FPS-XX radar installations are set at four places in Japan:
Shimokoshikijima in Kagoshima, Sado in Niigata, Ominato in
Aomori, and Yozadake in Okinawa. Japan's radar network must be
appealing to the United States.

An SDF officer familiar with missile defense proudly noted:

"There are many US satellites and American spies around the
world. In terms of intelligence, the US military and Japan's SDF
are as different as a grown man and a child. But with the MD
system, Japan can stand on an equal footing with the US."

Japan and the US have also reached an agreement on close
cooperation between the two countries' MD headquarters and
sharing sensory intelligence to pave the way for containing North
Korean ballistic missiles.

But military journalist Tetsuo Maeda took this view:

"The system could pose serious problems. Japan may be used often,
and our country might be enmeshed in the Bush administration's
preemptive strike strategy. If the US threatened North Korea with
force, the North might react angrily and fire a missile as a
result. In that event, it would be Japan alone that would be
affected, because North Korean ballistic missiles cannot reach
the continental United States. And if a Japan-US interceptor
system is in place at that point, however vague it is, the MD
system would give a seal of approval to the US to make a
preemptive strike."

The United States is scheduled to deploy X-band radar at the
ASDF's Shariki base this August and the Aegis-equipped Shiloh at
Yokosuka Naval Base at the end of this year. When it comes to US
force realignment, Washington's moves have been especially fast.
(4) Editorial: USFJ realignment talks making little progress

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
April 7, 2006

Talks to implement the realignment of US forces in Japan are
making little progress. The interim report adopted by the

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governments of Japan and the US last October noted that a final
report should be compiled by this March. Some, however, take the
view that it will not be issued before late April. There is no
prospect in sight for compiling a final report on USFJ
realignment.

The Japanese government is now pursuing dual-track negotiations
with the US. One is talks between Defense Agency (JDA) Director
General Fukushiro Nukaga and Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro on
the relocation of Futenma Air Station to Nago. The focus of their
talks is on to what extent the plan to move Futenma functions to
the Camp Schwab coast as set in the interim report can be revised
in response to local residents' requests.

The other is working-level talks between officials of the two
countries responsible for foreign and defense affairs.
Discussions are continuing on how to share the cost of relocating
US Marines in Okinawa to Guam and the ratio of expenditures from
the general account (direct fiscal outlays) and the sum paid as
loans in the amount borne by Japan.

Nukaga and Shimabukuro had agreed to reach a conclusion during
the next round of talks to be held this week. There is concern
that if a decision were reached before obtaining the consent of
affected local communities, they would remain opposed to the
plan, casting a pall over the future course of the realignment
plan.

The bilateral working-level talks, which had been held in
Washington from April 4, fell through. The next round of the
talks will be held in Tokyo, starting on the 13th. The US has
estimated the cost of relocating Marines to Guam at approximately
10 billion dollars. It is calling on Japan to pay 7.5 billion
dollars of that amount. The two countries' views are wide apart
on this issue, with the JDA basically intending to bear the cost
in the form of loans through the Japan Bank for International
Cooperation for family housing.

During the talks on USFJ realignment, Tokyo has strongly called
for a reduction in the burden on Okinawa. The transfer of 8,000
personnel from the Marine Corps Command is the result of such
efforts. The US position is that since the US will continue to
take responsibility for dealing with emergencies in Japan even
after the relocation, Japan should pay a large portion of the
relocation costs.

If the relocation were to be carried out, based on the Marine
Corps' budget and a reduced financial contribution by Japan, then
the process would take longer. Numbers are the focus of
discussions on the relocation of Marines to Guam and the Futenma
relocation to Nago. Bargaining over numbers is nothing but a
political discussion. The Nago relocation issue has to be settled
first at a meeting between Nukaga and Shimabukuro so that
politics can play a role in settling the cost issue as well.

(5) Editorial - Transfer of US troops in Japan: Highly costly
"bill" for troop relocation

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 5) (Full)
April 7, 2006

Japan and the United States have yet to reach a final agreement
on the realignment of US forces in Japan, though the end of March

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was supposed to be the deadline. On the cost of the planned
relocation of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam, the US should not
persist in its one-sided request to Japan.

Senior-working-level talks between Japan and the US had been held
in Washington on a three-day timetable, but they ended one day
early. Given the gap in views between the two countries, on such
issues as the division of the cost of relocating the US Marines
headquarters from Okinawa to Guam, even if consultations are soon
restarted, it would the two sides time to reach a final
agreement.

The idea of transferring Marines from Okinawa to Guam was put
forth in the joint paper released last October by the ministers
for foreign affairs and defense of Japan and the US. The paper
states that specifics of the troop relocation plan will be laid
out before the end of March. This timetable was agreed on by the
two governments and was a political commitment to both the
peoples of Japan and the US.

Bilateral consultations on the details of the relocation plan
have hardly made progress since the agreement was reached. The
reason is presumably the idea that it would be easy to figure out
such matters as how to share in the cost of the US troop
relocation and responses by municipalities that will be affected
by the US force realignment. Both the governments must take
seriously their failure to come up with a final plan before the
deadline.

It is an uncommon situation in that an important agreement
between Japan and the US is not put into action. If this
situation becomes protracted, there could be an impact on the
relationship of trust between the two countries. Tokyo and
Washington need to make even more effort to give shape to a final
plan in a way that would be acceptable to both nations.

The US government has estimated the total cost of relocating US
Marines to Guam at approximately 10 billion dollars, or about 1.2
trillion yen, and has asked Japan to pay 75% of the cost.

The transfer of US Marines to somewhere overseas will alleviate
the burden on Okinawa. Marines, even after their transfer to
Guam, will continue to play the role of defending Japan. Given
this, it is no wonder that Japan will offer to pay a portion of
the relocation cost in accordance with its ability. However,
Japan's payment should be premised on a clear explanation from
the US about how the money Japan will provide will be used and
how Japan's share of the cost was determined.

We wonder why America's estimated relocation cost of 10 billion
dollars includes expenses for the construction of social
infrastructure, such as housing, roads, and water supply, in
addition to the expenses for constructing base facilities. Even
if Japan were to be generous enough to pay the expenses necessary
for the construction of relevant facilities in accepting
America's request, wouldn't the ownership of those facilities
still belong to the US? Unless this simple question is resolved,
the issue will become more complicated in the public eye
regardless of whether the two governments reach a final
agreement.

On the other hand, even in the understandable realm of cost
sharing, there is room for contriving ways for cooperation. Not

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only grant aid but also government loans and private investment
are possible means. Given the deep and broad relations between
Japan and the US, it is advisable for both countries to be
flexible and think about cooperation in other areas instead.

(6) Who is benefiting from US beef embargo?

ASAHI (Page 33) (Full)
April 7, 2006

Talks between Tokyo and Washington on a resumption of US beef
imports are still continuing. Following the ban on US beef
imports, a large portion of beef eaten in Japan is from
Australia. An industrial source noted: "Australian beef has an
image of safety. It is also cheaper than US beef."

The US is concerned that while the import ban is in place,
Australian beef might dominate the Japanese market, a major
importer of US beef products. Bilateral government-level beef
talks were held last month at the government's joint-use
conference hall, which is located next to the Australian Embassy.
A senior Japanese government official who attended the talks
said, "From the window we could see an Australian flag that
almost looked as though it were fanning the US negotiators'
frustration."

(7) Death of John Carbaugh, behind-the-scenes mastermind in Japan-
US relations

ASAHI (Page 15) (Full)
April 6, 2006

Yoichi Kato, Washington bureau chief

The memorial service for John Carbaugh, attorney, 60, was held at
a church in a suburb of Washington on March 29 when the cherry
blossoms were at their peak. He once served as an adviser to
Senator Jesse Helms. He was known for developing anticommunist
political movements in Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s. A
few days ago, Washington Post reported in its obituary section
that Carbaugh was a leading member of the Senate's "shadow State
Department."

Carbaugh began his involvement in Japan-US relations after he
left Congress in 1982, setting up his office close to the White
House. He had a broad range of conservative personal connections.
He recently highlighted his close ties with President George W.
Bush's political advisor Karl Rove.

He worked as a consultant for Japanese and US defense-related and
trading companies. He was like a fixer who was involved in the
process of making agreements between the two governments behind
the scenes. All those involved in security in the two countries
know him.

Hideaki Kato, a foreign policy commentator who is a longtime
acquaintance of Carbaugh, said, "He served as a communication
channel between the two countries. He conveyed the two
governments' real views that two government officials could not
tell each other face to face."

Washington Post columnist Robert Novak stated in a speech: "John
was the best news source for me." His remark provoked laughter

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from attendees at the memorial service. Novak looked back on the
past, recalling a time when, "He left a bag containing top secret
Defense Department information in my office."

Novak said: "He was sure that liberal forces, including the
Carter administration, would lead the country in the wrong
direction. His presumption was correct."

In 1989, Carbaugh fanned discord in the US Congress when Japan
and the US were at odds over Japan's plan to develop the FSX
fighter aircraft. He was said to have been involved also in the
2003 withdrawal of Japanese trading firms from the Azadegan oil
field project that the US government strongly opposed. He was
shunned by some Japanese companies. He reportedly was also
involved in the ongoing bilateral negotiations on the realignment
of US force in Japan. He urged the White House and the Defense
Department to accept Japan's plan to relocate the US Marine
Corps' Futenma Air Station, backing Japan's Defense Agency.

Michael Green, Japan Affairs Director at the Center for Strategic
International Studies, who served as senior advisor for Asian
affairs at the White House National Security Council until at the
end of last year, commented:

"We met one in a while. It was helpful to have a friend who kept
a close eye on the right wing in Congress. We'd known each other
since the mid-1990s. I thought he disliked Japan before meeting
him, but he was friendly to Japan."

When the Cold War was over, the US enemy disappeared. US hard-
line conservatives, including Carbaugh, made Japan the new
"enemy" of the US as its business rival. However, Carbaugh
developed a liking for Japan. Some said that he was recently
considering how to strengthen Japan so that the US and Japan
would be able to compete with China.

Green said, "This symbolizes a change in the US conservatives'
thinking of Japan."

Carbaugh called himself the "kuromaku (behind-the-scenes
mastermind),but he did not have influence affecting agreements
between the two governments. He, however, seemed to have enjoyed
being involved in Japan-US relations in order to move the
situation in the direction he wished.

Some observers in Washington believe that since Japan-US
relations have improved overall, there are fewer opportunities
for a fixer like Carbaugh to play an active role. It is also true
that diplomatic channels, except for the Koizumi-Bush friendship,
have not functioned well. Therefore, behind-the-scene masterminds
like Carbaugh are still needed.

SCHIEFFER