JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/13/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001990

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/13/06


Index:

1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule

Defense and security issues:
4) Data leak at Misawa Air Base through Winny software
5) Okinawa Prefecture to go along with two-runway plan for
Futenma relocation, appreciates reduction of security burden
6) Japan asks US for large reduction in estimated total cost of
Guam relocation
7) Yokosuka Navy Base faces labor strike that could impact on
carrier's embark
8) JDA presents outline of bill to LDP that would raise its
status to ministry level

North Korea problem:
9) China's vice foreign minister: No restarting of 6-party
talks this month as US, DPRK remain intransigent
10) US, DPRK talks did not materialize in Tokyo; Japan, US
ratchet up pressure on the North
11) Government asks cooperation of South Korea to tackle North
Korea abduction issue based on new DNA revelation

12) Iran's announcement of successful uranium enrichment has
Japan worried its oil field project in that country will be
affected

13) Former Prime Minister Nakasone calls for removal of
enshrined Class A war criminals from Yasukuni Shrine

Political agenda:
14) Gap still wide but narrowing between Shinzo Abe and Yasuo
Fukuda in popular choice for next premier: Yomiuri poll
15) LDP, New Komeito agree to change controversial word in
amended Basic Education Law to "love of nation and homeland"
16) Minshuto comes out against administrative reform bill,
demands major overhaul

17) With US, China reaching agreement to resume beef trade,
Japan expects US to heighten pressure on it to do the same

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun:
LDP, New Komeito agree on idea of including in revised education
law "patriotism" definition as a "mind that loves the nation and
homeland"

Mainichi:
USEN mulls taking full control of Livedoor

Yomiuri:
Okinawa Prefecture set to accept Futenma relocation plan after
release of final report on US force realignment

Nihon Keizai:
Small, mid-size firms in precision parts and die-cast businesses
increasing capital investments

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2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Lynch murder case: Police tried for negligence
(2) Six-party talks: Cold wind blowing

Mainichi:
(1) One year after anti-Japanese demonstrations: Strained
relations between Japan, China have negative impact on Asia
(2) Lynch murder in Tochigi: Police must take judgment seriously

Yomiuri:
(1) Fundamental Law of Education: Dispute over "patriotism"
finally comes to end
(2) Despite highest record of yuan's value, US still
dissatisfied

Nihon Keizai:
(1) Distrust in EU exposed in general election in Italy
(2) Japan, South Korea should join hands on North Korea's
abduction, nuclear issues

Sankei:
(1) Judgment in lynch-murder trial "Investigation neglect" has
weighty meaning
(2) Perfect international coalition necessary against Iran's
nuclear development

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Tochigi murder case: Police must fulfill duty of protecting
citizens' lives
(2) GM restructuring: Reliable business partner necessary

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, April 12

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
April 13, 2006

09:56
Met National Personnel Authority President Tani at Kantei.

11:40
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe.

14:28
Met LDP Secretary General Takebe.

16:00
Met Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorim and others.

17:47
Met LDP Public Relations Bureau Director Ishizaki.

18:25
Had a haircut at Capitol Tokyu Hotel.

20:46
Arrived at residential quarters in Kantei.


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4) Misawa base data, including permits to enter premises,
uploaded to Internet via Winny

MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full)
April 13, 2006

Report by the cyberterrorism news coverage team

Information including data on permits required for entering US
Misawa Air Base in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, and lists of
registered vehicle numbers, have been uploaded to the Internet
via the Winny file-sharing program, sources revealed yesterday.

Experts have warned that such data, still in effect, might
threaten the security of the base.

According to data obtained by the Mainichi Shimbun, the lists are
written in English and included some Japanese names. The data is
believed to have been uploaded to the Internet in late March.
Included in the data were permits issued to 109 construction
workers and 77 vehicles. Additionally, such information as names,
genders, dates of birth, names of companies, and specific work
was listed.

They are believed to be lists of companies and their workers who
undertook repair work for a building at the base this past March.
An official of an Aomori civil engineering company on the list
acknowledged that engineering work had actually been conducted
and that company employees were on the list, saying: "Our company
carried out work at the base in around March. The people on the
list exist."

Besides these lists, the data includes construction reports in
English. Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. is also listed as
a contractor. A company spokesperson noted: "We don't know
because we haven't been able to get hold of the person in charge.
We would like to check facts."

Both the US Forces Japan Headquarters Public Affairs Department
in Tokyo and the US Misawa Base press section said, "We cannot
make any comments, because officials in charge are not here."
Officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Facilities
Administration Agency also said, "We are not in a position to
comment."

The Air Self-Defense Force is jointly using Misawa Air Base.

Comment by military analyst Kazuhisa Ogawa

Equipped with a signal-monitoring facility commonly called an
"elephant cage," Misawa Air Base is an extremely vital base for
the US military. Someone could enter the base by passing himself
off as a construction worker by forging a permit based on the
leaked data. The use of data by a terrorist group for subversive
acts could seriously damage the US military's global strategy.

5) Okinawa ready to OK Futenma relocation

YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged)
April 13, 2006

Okinawa Prefecture has informally told the government that it

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overall appreciates and accepts the planned realignment of US
forces in Japan, including a plan that has been basically agreed
on between Tokyo and Nago City to relocate the US Marine Corps'
Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the city.
The Okinawa prefectural government, however, has set
preconditions for its acceptance of the realignment process on a
formal accord between the Japanese and US governments to
translate a package of burden-lessening steps into action.
Specifically, Okinawa has asked Tokyo to cut 8,000 US Marines
from those stationed in Okinawa, return bases in the middle and
southern parts of Okinawa's main island, and transfer fighter jet
training flight missions from Kadena airbase to elsewhere.
Okinawa Prefecture's Governor Keiichi Inamine is ready to meet
with Prime Minister Koizumi this month as soon as the two
governments works out a final report on their realignment
efforts. The governor will then welcome it. With this, the
relocation of Futenma airfield, a major issue left pending in the
process of realigning the US military presence in Japan, is now
expected to reach a settlement.

The government plans to lay down a V-shaped pair of airstrips at
the site of an alternative facility to be built in Camp Schwab's
coastal area (across the cape of Henoko in the city of Nago) to
take over the heliport functions of Futenma airfield. Meanwhile,
Inamine met with Defense Agency Director General Nukaga on April
8 and told the defense chief that he would oppose the coastal
relocation plan. Inamine also said he would respect the city's
decision on its own.

The government has yet to show the whole picture of measures
designed to alleviate Okinawa's base-hosting burden. "If the
package matches the request we presented to the government, then
I will give it my positive evaluation," Inamine told his aides.

On April 11, Okinawa asked Tokyo to redo a cabinet decision to
replace the government's initially adopted Henoko offshore
heliport installation plan with the newly agreed Camp Schwab
coastal relocation plan after the final report is released.

"The governor can't change his basic stance over the Futenma
issue right away because of the circumstances in the past," an
influential supporter of Inamine said. "That's why," this
supporter added, "he says he will 'respect' (Nago City's decision
to accept the government's overtures of V-shaped tarmacs)." He
also said, "That's the same as his de facto acceptance (of the
government's coastal relocation plan),and we also support the
prefectural government's stance."

The government is legally required to ask for the governor's
permission before it can start filling in the sea to build the
replacement facility. "That's the matter we'll talk about after
an environmental assessment (three years from now)," the governor
said. With this, the government is thinking of foregoing his
decision on whether to give go-ahead or not.

6) USFJ realignment; Japan to call for substantial reduction in
cost of relocating US Marines to Guam to less than 8 billion
dollars

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
April 13, 2006


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Tokyo and Washington will resume working-level talks of officials
responsible for foreign and defense affairs in Tokyo starting
today. The US estimates the cost of transferring US Marines
stationed in Okinawa to Guam at approximately 10 billion dollars,
but Japan plans to call on the US to cut the amount to less than
8 billion dollars. Since the US estimate covers the cost of
building facilities for the Navy and the Air Force, as well,
Tokyo intends to ask it to limit the coverage of cost
calculations to facilities for the Marine Corps, taking into
account the wary atmosphere in the ruling camp about the massive
fiscal burden Tokyo will likely have to bear.

The government has recently struck a deal in principle with Nago
City on its acceptance of the relocation to Camp Schwab of
Futenma Air Station. The government wants to give impetus to a
final agreement on the issue before the end of the month, by
paving the way for the settlement of the relocation of US Marines
to Guam, the greatest obstacle in working-level talks.

Japan plans to pay over 30% of the relocation cost from the
general account and over 30% in loans, using the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation. It hopes that the US will cover the
remaining 30% or so.

7) All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union planning strike at
Yokosuka Naval Base due to loggerheads with government and US
military over continued employment; Kitty Hawk's departure may be
affected; Talks with DFAA on April 14

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Abridged)
Evening, April 12, 2006

The All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union (Zenchuro) composed of
Japanese workers employed at US bases in Japan has been at
loggerheads with the government and the US military over
employment conditions. In the event their collective bargaining
April 14 with the Defense Facilities Administration Agency breaks
off, union members are planning to stage a large-scale strike for
the first time in 15 years at Yokosuka Naval Base, where the US
Navy's Seventh Fleet is based, sources revealed. The strike may
delay the departure of the USS Kitty Hawk based at Yokosuka and
hinder US military operations.

Yokosuka Naval Base is characterized as an essential base for the
US military's global strategy. The USS Kitty Hawk based at
Yokosuka is scheduled to be replaced with the USS George
Washington in 2008. Of the 5,400 Japanese employees at the
Yokosuka base, 1,700 engineers work at the Ship Repair Facility
(SRF).

The Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement stipulates that the
employment of Japanese workers and their labor conditions are
basically subject to domestic laws and ordinances. But in
reality, making changes to their treatment is not possible
without US consent.

The union is demanding that those over 60 of age be allowed to
continue to work at US bases in accordance with the revised Law
for the Stabilization of Employment of the Aged that took effect
April 1. The law basically obligates employers to continue the
employment of all workers in accordance with their wishes to
match the gradually delay in the eligible age to start receiving

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pensions. That can be achieved either by raising the mandatory
retirement age, introducing a continued employment system as was
agreed upon between labor and management, or abolishing the
mandatory retirement system. Although private corporations have
reportedly completed implementing one of those systems, a
conclusion has yet to be reached for Japanese workers employed by
US bases.

The union has criticized the DFAA's stance toward the US military
as weak-kneed, while the DFAA simply indicated that it would do
its best to obtain the understanding of the US military. The two
sides have yet to find common ground.

A union member noted, "The US military, especially the Navy, is
insistent on having discretionary powers to determine those
subject to continued employment."

According to a union executive, several hundred members are
planning to put pickets at the base's gates. Details of the
strike will be determined after talks. "We are not hesitate to
adversely affect the departure of the Kitty Hawk expected to
occur in late May," a union member said.

Meanwhile, a DFAA labor union affairs official said, "We have
been working hard so that the US military and the union can reach
a basic agreement to (avoid the strike) in line with the union's
position."

8) Defense Agency presents to ruling coalition outline of bill to
upgrade itself to a ministry

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
April 13, 2006

The Defense Agency presented yesterday the outline of its bill to
upgrade itself to the level of a ministry to the ruling coalition
parties, which aim to submit a set of relevant bills to the
ongoing Diet session. The agency plans to have the bill submitted
as a set along with another bill amending the Self-Defense Forces
(SDF) Law so that international peace cooperation activities
would become an SDF primary duty.

The agency proposes two amendments to the SDF Law that add to the
SDF's primary duties: (1) activities in response to contingencies
in areas surrounding Japan; and (2) activities that contribute to
stability of the security environment through the promotion of
international cooperation.

The anti-terrorism special measures law and the Iraq
reconstruction special measures law would be characterized as
supplementary provisions to the SDF Law as is. However,
activities to be conducted under those two laws would be
interpreted as part of the SDF's primary duties. The ruling
parties will likely start full-scale coordination next week or
later.

9) No resumption of six-party talks in April, according to
Chinese vice foreign minister; No compromise between US, DPRK

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
April 13, 2006


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Chief representatives to the six-party talks on North Korea's
nuclear programs yesterday continued mutual contacts in order to
bring about a resumption of the six-party talks, but their
efforts ended without results yesterday. Some of the
representatives, including those from Japan and the United
States, called on North Korean officials to return to the six-
party talks unconditionally, but North Korea simply reiterated
its position that the first order of business must be lifting the
financial sanctions imposed on it. Because of the failure to gain
any prospect for restarting the six-party talks, which have been
suspended since last November, the US is certain to bolster its
hard-line attitude toward North Korea in the days ahead.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill and South
Korea's Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Diplomacy Chun Yung
Woo met yesterday morning. Chun briefed Hill on his meeting on
the night of April 11 with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim
Kye Gwan. After the meeting, Hil told reporters that resuming the
six-party talks "would benefit not only us but also North Korea."
Chun said, "It's difficult to find a point of compromise between
the US and North Korea."

Wu Dawei, vice foreign minister of China, the host nation of the
six-party talks, yesterday was asked by reporters at Narita
Airport about the possibility of restarting the six-party talks
in April. Wu replied, "No."

10) Japan, US shifting emphasis toward pressuring North Korea; No
talks between US, DPRK

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Excerpts)
April 13, 2006

Senior officials from the United States, China, and South Korea,
who had been visiting Japan to attend an international academic
conference, sponsored by a private organization, left for their
home countries yesterday. Talks between the US and North Korea at
the conference had been viewed as a key to a resumption of the
six-party talks but never occurred. The US has instead decided to
take a fresh sanction measure against North Korea. A stable
Korean Peninsula is in the common interests of Japan, the US, and
South Korea, and the three countries have used the two policy
lines of dialogue and pressure as the situation demands, but they
are likely to move to put even more pressure on North Korea in
the near future.

New sanction measure

In addition to financial sanctions already imposed on North
Korea, the US will take add a fresh punitive measure against
North Korean ships starting on May 8. The US Department of the
Treasury will amend the regulations on foreign asset management
so as to prohibit US firms and Americans to possess or use North
Korean ships. This action is unlikely to have a substantial
impact on the North, but it is intended to underscore America's
position of increasing pressure on that country.

A high-level US official explained: "We will deal with such human
rights issues as North Korean defectors during the upcoming US-
China summit talks set for April 20." In the US-China summit,
Washington apparently intends to make clear its position of
driving Pyongyang into a corner by intensifying pressure on it.

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ROK shows sign of turning around its policy

South Korea has until recently advanced its reconciliation policy
but it is now showing signs of shifting the stance. Chun Yung
Woo, chief of South Korea's Office of Korean Peninsula Peace
Talks, visited Japan and attended a trilateral meeting of Japan,
the US, and South Korea for the first time in a long while,
although Seoul until then had avoided taking part in such a
meeting out of fear of irritating Pyongyang. Before leaving
Japan, Chun told reporters: "I hope North Korea has a good
perception about the common voice of other members of the six-
party talks and used that to consider returning to the six-party
talks."

On April 11, the Japanese government unveiled the results of DNA
tests on Megumi Yokota's husband as if to be timed with
individual talks between major representatives to the six-party
talks. Many observers analyzed this move of Japan as aiming to
form a coalition against North Korea by bringing South Korea,
which also has the abduction issue, into the abduction talks.

11) Japan asks ROK for cooperation on abduction issue, plans to
provide Megumi Yokota's daughter's blood for DNA testing

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
April 13, 2006

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe yesterday discussed on the
phone with South Korean Ambassador to Japan Ra Chong Il the
results of DNA tests that showed a strong possibility that the
husband of Megumi Yokota might have been a South Korean abductee
and said to him: "We'd like to work in close cooperation with
your country in the future as well." The government plans to
provide a blood sample from Megumi Yokota's daughter, Kim Hye
Gyong, and South Korea intends to conduct a DNA test
independently.

Abe expressed gratitude for cooperation from the South Korean
government in the process of obtaining blood samples from
families of South Korean abductees. Referring to Japan-South
Korea cooperation, Ra stated: "After verifying the facts based on
(our own DNA test result and other means),we'd like to consider
a future response, heeding the wishes of the victims' families."

12) Iran succeeds in producing enriched uranium; Japanese
government concerned about impact on oil field development

MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpts)
April 13, 2006

Iran announced on April 11 that it has succeeded in producing low-
grade enriched uranium. The announcement came amid the United
Nations Security Council's (UNSC) efforts to have Iran drop its
uranium-enrichment project. Some observers anticipate that the UN
may invoke economic sanctions against Iran under the lead of
Western powers in fear of Iran's possible development of nuclear
weapons. Talk is also growing for US military action against it.

The Japanese government and business circles are closely looking
at the situation. Should oil prices rise further in response to
the tense situation, a damper could be put on Japan's rising

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economy. Further, the United States might urge Japan to suspend
the development of the Azadegan oil field in Iran.

Crude oil prices are now likely to go up further. On the New York
Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) crude oil futures market on April 11,
the Wet Texas Intermediate (WTI) to be delivered in May closed at
68.98 dollars per barrel, up 0.24 dollars from the previous day.
This figure is close to the highest ever record of 69.81 dollars
on August 30 of last year.

The intensifying situation in Iran is a cause for anxiety for
Japan's energy policy. Japan imported about 230 million barrels
of oil from Japan in 2004. Iran is its third largest oil supplier
(15% of Japan's imports),following United Arab Emirates and
Saudi Arabia. Japan has also established a friendly relationship
with Iran. In February 2004, the two countries signed a contract
for a project to develop the Azadegan oil field, the largest oil
field in Iran.

Given this, the Japanese government is now in a quandary. Chief
Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe criticized Iran in a press
conference yesterday: "If it is true that Iran has started
enriching uranium, it is highly regrettable." But he emphatically
said that Japan would try to bring about a settlement through
diplomatic efforts, indicating that Japan would like to avoid
economic sanctions.

The US, though, is expected to step up efforts toward UNSC
economic sanctions against Iran. The Japanese government has no
other choice for the time being but to work on both the US and
Iran to continue diplomatic efforts. It has exchanged views with
the US.

13) Former Prime Minister Nakasone calls for separate
enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
April 13, 2006

Speaking at a study session yesterday of new lawmakers of the
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, former Prime Minister
Yasuhiro Nakasone criticized China and South Korea, "It is narrow-
minded to reject summit meetings due to the Yasukuni issue." He
then added:

"I don't go along with the International Military Tribunal for
the Far East (in which Class-A criminals were tried). However,
leaders at the time had responsibilities for the consequences. I
am one of those who calls for enshrining the Class-A criminals at
Yasukuni Shrine separately from the other war dead. I think such
would be possible if the head of the shrine so decides."

14-1) Poll: Fukuda closes in on Abe in post-Koizumi race

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged)
April 13, 2006

In a recent face-to-face public opinion survey conducted by the
Yomiuri Shimbun on April 8-9, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe topped
the list at 44%, down 1 percentage point from last month's
survey, as the most likely successor to Prime Minister Koizumi,

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who has clarified his intention to step down in September. In the
survey, respondents were asked to pick one from among nine
persons in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party as the post-
Koizumi leader. Abe stood out of all other candidates, following
the two previous surveys taken in February and March. In the
latest survey, however, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo
Fukuda rose 3 points to 13% in public support, starting to close
in on Abe.

Among other post-Koizumi candidates in the LDP, Foreign Minister
Aso stood at 5%, down 1 point from last month; Internal Affairs
and Communications Minister Takenaka at 3%, leveling off from
last month; former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato at 2%,
leveling off from last month; Environment Minister Koike at 2%,
also flat from last month; Finance Minister Tanigaki at 1%, down
1 point.

14-2) Poll: Post-Koizumi race

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
April 13, 2006

Questions & Answers
(Figures shown in percentage.)

Q: Prime Minister Koizumi has clarified that he would step down
when his term as LDP president expires in September this year.
Pick only one from among the following nine persons if there is
anyone who you think is appropriate as the next prime minister.

Taro Aso 5.0
Shinzo Abe 44.0
Koichi Kato 2.3
Yuriko Koike 1.9
Heizo Takenaka 2.6
Sadakazu Tanigaki 1.2
Fukushiro Nukaga 0.2
Yasuo Fukuda 13.2
Taku Yamasaki 0.5
Others, none, no answer 29.2

Polling methodology
Date of survey: April 8-9.
Subjects of survey: 3,000 persons chosen from among all eligible
voters throughout the country (at 250 locations on a stratified
two-stage random sampling basis).
Method of implementation: Door-to-door visits for face-to-face
interviews.
Number of valid respondents: 1,823 persons (60.8%).
Breakdown of respondents: Male-48% , female-52% .

15) LDP, New Komeito agree to define "patriotism" as "a mind that
respects tradition and culture, loves the country and homeland
that have fostered them"

ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts)
April 13, 2006

A study panel on a revision of the Basic Education Law of the
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito yesterday
agreed to find a suitable expression for "patriotism" by calling
it "a mind that respects tradition and culture, loves the country

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and homeland that have fostered them." Following this, the
government and ruling coalition will hurry up coordination in
order to submit a bill to the current Diet session. Coordination
will not go smoothly because some LDP lawmakers will likely
oppose the panel's decision and because there will be need to
extend the term of the ongoing Diet session in order to pass the
bill.

Regarding the description of patriotism, the panel accepted its
chairman Tadamori Oshima's proposal with no changes.

The panel also agreed in effect to retain such wording as "in
accordance with the sprit of the Japanese Constitution," which is
stipulated in the preamble to the Constitution, as well as
"(education) is not compliant with improper control," which is
included in a clause of the education administration law.

16) DPJ to present counterproposals to government's
administrative reform promotion bill; Drastic revision to
government-sponsored projects

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
April 13, 2006

The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) at a meeting of
its "next cabinet" decided to oppose the government's
administrative reform promotion bill. It will introduce
counterproposals to the Diet today. The major opposition DPJ will
thus come up with a stronger confrontational stance in Diet
debate on administrative reform as well.

The DPJ's bill will consist of the following features: (1)
establishing an administrative renewal conference chaired by the
prime minister for a major transfer of central-government-
sponsored projects to local governments; and (2) strengthening
regulations on the prevention of government-office-led bid-
rigging and amakudari practices by retiring bureaucrats.

A senior DPJ Policy Research Council member noted that in calling
for revisions to government-sponsored projects, the DPJ would
claim that the abolition or decentralization of unnecessary
projects would contribute to eliminating over 40% of such
projects.

As measures to prevent government-office-led bid-rigging, the DPJ
will propose reviewing qualifications for companies that have
accepted retired bureaucrats to take part in bidding and
strengthening a regulation that restricts former bureaucrats
reemployed in the private sector from asking for the provision of
information on biddings from government offices to which they
belonged.

The DPJ bill will also include various proposals it has made in
the past, including reform of the civil servant system,
government-affiliated financial institutions, and the special
account system.

Commenting on his party's bill, DPJ Policy Research Council
Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto on April 12 told a news conference:
"Leader Ozawa said that in presenting such a bill, it is
important that the basic positions on various proposals are
solid. In this respect, we are in total agreement with Mr.

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Ozawa."

He also explained why the DPJ is against the government bill, "It
has become clear during the process of discussions on the bill
that its contents are opaque."

17) Japan may come under greater pressure to resume US beef
imports

YOMIURI (Page 8) (Full)
April 13, 2006

Now that an agreement has been reached between Washington and
Beijing on China's reinstatement of US beef imports, Japan may
come under heavy fire for its continued rejection of beef trade
with the US. US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns noted in the
April 11 press conference, "China's decision will send a signal
throughout the world (that US beef is safe)."

China has expressed its willingness to match its import
conditions to international standards. The US may urge Japan to
ease significantly its standards, which are more severe than
those of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),in
resuming US beef imports.

SCHIEFFER