Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO2144
2006-04-20 01:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/20/06

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002144 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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 04/20/06

INDEX:
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002144

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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 04/20/06

INDEX:

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

Ambassador Schieffer's Jiji speech:
4) In speech in Tokyo, Ambassador Schieffer calls for early end
to ban on US beef imports
5) Ambassador Schieffer calls Japan's agriculture a barrier to
US, Japan signing economic partnership agreement
6) Schieffer unhappy that proposed East Asian FTA would exclude
US

Crisis in the Japan Sea:
7) As JCG ship sails to survey waters near disputed isles, last
minute Japanese, South Korean officials negotiate to avoid
international incident
8) Japan ready to stop survey near Takeshima (Dokdo) isles if
ROK agrees not to submit names of sea-bottom features to
international confab
9) Row between Japan, South Korea over maritime survey in
disputed waters could derail bilateral cooperation on North Korea
abduction issue

10) Finance Ministry as pressure tactic against North Korea to
restrict foreign sailors from taking used goods out of Japan

11) LDP's Yamasaki to visit China starting on April 25

12) EU High Representative for the CSFP Solana says EU will
consult Japan, US before removing ban on weapons exports to China

13) Happy with its resolving Futenma relocation issue, Prime
Minister's office gives go-sign to JDA to become a ministry, with
bill to Diet this session

USTR:
14) Japanese government rebuts latest USTR trade barrier report
15) USTR-designate Susan Schwab known as tough negotiator who
knows Japan

16) DOE: As follow-up to GNEP, US wants to sign agreement with
Japan on verification testing of technologies related to

recycling nuclear fuel

Political agenda:
17) Five administrative reform-related bills to clear the Lower
House today
18) New Komeito annoyed that Minshuto President Ozawa denied
meeting with Soka Gakkai leader

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
Fierce tug-of-war underway between Japan, South Korea over
Japan's Takeshima maritime survey that may begin today; Tokyo
searches for breakthrough; South Korea adopts parliamentary
resolution demanding Japan's survey be suspended

Mainichi:

TOKYO 00002144 002 OF 010


Majority of Nuclear Safety Commission quake resistance sub-panel
members doubling as industrial organization officers; Neutrality
questionable

Yomiuri:
Metropolitan Police Department to search eHomes on suspicion of
dressing capital

Nihon Keizai:
Financial Services Agency considering TOB requirements, such as
disclosure of terms and acquisition rates

Sankei:
Chernobyl - 20 years later (Part 1): Eerie-looking damaged "stone
coffin"

Tokyo Shimbun:
Government suggests suspension of Takeshima maritime survey on
condition that South Korea gives up proposing Korean names at
international conference

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Takeshima maritime survey: Level-headedness essential for
Japan, South Korea
(2) New traffic system: Learn lessons from unprofitable Kobe
Port Liner

Mainichi:
(1) Yen loans to China: Program should focus on environmental
projects
(2) Social divide: Realize coexistence of multiple cultures by
overcoming absurdity

Yomiuri:
(1) New oil shock threatens nation
(2) Kubota makes speedy decision to help asbestos victims

Nihon Keizai:
(1) Japan, South Korea must exercise self-discipline for
settling Takeshima row
(2) Customers must come first in e-money

Sankei:
(1) Takeshima: Who has been provocative?
(2) Wheel-separation suit: Ruling must fit social norm

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Takeshima maritime survey: Extreme reaction undesirable
(2) Consumer protection requires legal steps

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, April 19

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
April 20, 2006

08:03
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Nagase at Kantei.

09:00

TOKYO 00002144 003 OF 010


Attended a meeting of the Lower House Administrative Reform
Special Committee.

11:58
Arrived at Kantei.

13:00
Returned to the Lower House Administrative Reform Special
Committee meeting.

17:47
Attended a meeting of Council on economic and Fiscal Policy at
Kantei.

19:17
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe.

19:42
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi.

19:44
Returned to his official residence.

4) US ambassador: "We would like Japan to lift its ban on US beef
imports"

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full)
April 20, 2006

In a speech in Tokyo yesterday, US Ambassador to Japan Thomas
Schieffer pointed to the existence of a perception gap between
Japanese and American consumers on the safety of US beef. He
remarked: "In order to remove it (the perception gap),we would
like the Japanese government to lift its ban first. If US beef
reach them, I believe Japanese consumers, too, will find US beef
safe." He called for an early resumption of US beef imports.

The ambassador then added: "Even if I stress the safety of US
beef, the product is not on supermarket shelves, so (consumers)
cannot buy it. (Japanese consumers) have no choice of buying US
beef."

5) US Ambassador: "Agriculture stands in way of promoting Japan-
US EPA," calling for Japan's early resumption of US beef

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Full)
April 20, 2006

In a speech in Tokyo yesterday, US Ambassador to Japan Thomas
Schieffer spoke about a possible economic partnership agreement
(EPA),including a free trade agreement (FTA),between Japan and
the US. He took a positive view about such an accord, saying: "If
the two countries promote economic integration, they would be
able to enjoy unimaginably high economic growth." But he also
indicated that the issue of Japan's agricultural market
liberalization would stand in the way of such negotiations
between the two countries.

Many Japanese government officials, from the viewpoint of
protecting domestic farmers, are negative about concluding an EPA
with the US. The ambassador said that the US gives priority to
concluding a comprehensive accord, including the agricultural
sector. "It is Japan that must make the judgment, for if it keeps

TOKYO 00002144 004 OF 010


its agricultural market closed, the US will not be able to start
negotiations," he added. In reference to the East Asia EPA
concept advocated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,
the ambassador said: "The US is a part of the Asia-Pacific
region. If we are excluded from Asia, it would be unacceptable to
us." On the issue of US beef imports, Schieffer stated, "Unless
we swiftly resolve the issue, it could undermine our bilateral
economic relations." He stressed, "I would like Japan to lift its
ban on US beef imports."

6) US Ambassador in speech: "I am worried about exclusion of US"
from East Asia FTA

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Full)
April 20, 2006

In a speech in Tokyo yesterday, US Ambassador to Japan Thomas
Schieffer expressed concern about the proposal by the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to conclude a comprehensive
free trade agreement (FTA) covering the entire East Asian region.
The ambassador said: "There seems to be the intention of
excluding the US from Asia."

Countries in East Asia are increasingly interested in signing
bilateral FTAs. The METI proposal calls for an accord involving
Japan, China, South Korea, the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN),India and other countries in the region. The
ambassador stated: "The US is a member of Asia and also has
interests in the region. I am worried that the US may be shut out
of Asia."

7) Japan, ROK trade last-minutes barbs over Takeshima survey;
Japan looking for ways to reach breakthrough, while ROK adopts
parliamentary resolution seeking cancellation of survey

ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts)
April 20, 2006

The government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has raised a strong
objection to the Japan Coast Guard's (JCG) plan for a marine
survey within (Japan's) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that
includes the waters around Takeshima (Dokdo),which is claimed by
both Japan and the ROK. The Japanese government, hoping to
resolve the standoff, continued negotiations with the ROK
yesterday. ROK Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade Ban Ki Moon is
expected to call Japanese Ambassador to the ROK this morning to
convey his country's response to the Japanese side. Meanwhile,
the JCG's two survey boats yesterday arrived at Sakai Port in
Tottori Prefecture and are standing by there for a survey.
Depending on the response from the ROK, relations between the two
countries are likely to go from bad to worse.

Prime Minister Koizumi late yesterday stated: "I'd like to deal
with the matter in accordance with international law." When asked
by reporters at his official residence about the strong
opposition raised by the ROK government, Koizumi said: "It's
better not to be overly excited. Japan will respond in a non-
emotional manner." He called on the ROK to respond cool-headedly.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe told a press briefing yesterday:
"Following international law, both sides need to respond coolly.
Our planned survey is a scientific one, and I think it is the
same as the ones conducted by other countries." Abe indicated

TOKYO 00002144 005 OF 010


that a marine survey is allowed without giving prior notice to
other countries under the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea.

He also revealed that Japan was discussing the matter with the
ROK, saying: "We on the part of Japan want to resolve it as
amicably as possible. We are in contact with South Korean
officials."

According to a government official, Administrative Vice Foreign
Minister Shotaro Yachi yesterday met with ROK Ambassador to Japan
Ra Jong Yil in Tokyo and suggested adopting a prior notification
system under which both countries would give prior notice to each
other on surveys.

In addition, Japan has suggested to the ROK that if the ROK did
not apply to the upcoming international conference in June for
permission to use Korean names to describe the ocean floor in the
area.

But the ROK appears unwilling to change its stance in spite of
this suggestion. Ban said, "If Japan immediately withdrew its
(survey) plan, we'd be able to respond to negotiations with
Japan." As it stands, no clue for resolving the standoff is in
sight.

8) Government may conditionally suspend maritime survey near
Takeshima; Proposes to South Korea it give up naming submarine
features

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Excerpts)
April 20, 2006

In an attempt to find a breakthrough in the standoff between
Tokyo and Seoul over Japan's planned maritime survey near a group
of South Korea-controlled islets (Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in
South Korea) in the Sea of Japan, claimed by both Japan and South
Korea, the Japanese government yesterday proposed to South Korea
that it give up on proposing at an international conference in
Germany in June a list of names for submarine features around the
disputed islets. Tokyo has told Seoul that if South Korea gives
up on the naming, Japan would halt the marine survey. This was
revealed by a government source.

Although the government has not changed its policy, it is
concerned that the bilateral relationship will worsen further
since South Korea has strongly reacted against the planned
survey. Tokyo has begun negotiations with Seoul to bring about a
satisfactory settlement. However, whether South Korea will
respond to Japan's proposal is uncertain.

9) ROK's strong reaction to Japan's maritime survey near
Takeshimas could derail two countries' "joint struggle" on
abduction issue; Perplexed Kantei eager to calm the storm

TOKYO (Page 2) (Excerpt)
April 20, 2006

The Japanese government plans to carry out a maritime survey in
the vicinity of Takeshima (Dokdo in Korean),the isles claimed by
both Japan and the Republic of Korea. Faced with a fierce
reaction to the plan from South Korea, the Prime Minister's
Official Residence (Kantei) is eager to calm the storm that has

TOKYO 00002144 006 OF 010


been created. If the Japanese side were to compromise and halt
the survey, it would make an accomplished fact the ROK's claim to
the isles. But if relations between the two countries become
even worse, it might lead to damaging the planned "joint
struggle" to resolve the issue of Japanese and South Koreans
abducted by North Korea.

10) Japan to embargo outward-bound secondhand goods, tighten
pressure on North Korea

SANKEI (Page 1) (Full)
April 20, 2006

The Ministry of Finance has decided to introduce stricter
procedures on May 1 for foreign seamen's personal exports of
secondhand articles from Japanese ports. At present, crewmen on
board foreign vessels entering Japanese ports have only to orally
declare outward-bound secondhand goods as private souvenirs. MOF
will now require them to declare these used commodities in
writing. This is intended to tighten customs clearance. However,
it is also aimed to step up Japan's pressure on North Korea with
its stricter application of existing laws.

A senior MOF official clarified the decision in yesterday's
meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's abduction task
force headed by LDP Acting Secretary General Ichiro Aisawa.

According to the MOF Customs and Tariff Bureau, outgoing foreign
seafarers currently have only to verbally declare their own
personal goods and other commodities worth up to 300,000 yen for
customs clearance. This has enabled foreign crewmen to export
commodities in large quantities, such as used electric appliances
and bicycles.

MOF has already decided to revise its relevant notifications and
narrow the applicable scope of simplified customs clearance.
Articles for non-private purposes will be subject to written
declaration with their names, quantities, values, and other
required descriptions for permission.

Electronic appliances with hi-tech parts could be diverted to
military use. Used bikes were reportedly sold in China as sources
for its acquisition of foreign currency.

"We strictly check even orally declared articles," a senior MOF
customs official said, adding: "From now on, however, we'd like
to step up our cooperation with other relevant organizations."
Customs agents will keep a sharp eye out for human and materiel
traffic to North Korea, as well as drug and gun running.

Pyongyang has not shown any sincere willingness to resolve the
problem of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea. The
government has therefore announced that Japan will intensify its
pressure on North Korea. In the meantime, the Ministry of
Internal Affairs and Communications has also notified each
prefectural government of its decision to review property tax
breaks and exemptions for facilities affiliated with the pro-
Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan
(Chongryun). In addition, MIC has plans to intensify postal
checks in order to prevent illegal remittances to North Korea and
to monitor illegal radiowaves.

11) Former LDP Vice President Yamasaki to leave for China on

TOKYO 00002144 007 OF 010


April 25

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
April 20, 2006

Taku Yamasaki, former vice president of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) will visit Beijing for two days from April

25. He is expected to meet separately with Chinese Vice President
Zeng Qinghong and National Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan. He
plans to exchange views with the Chinese leaders on such issues
as China's military buildup, China's gas exploration in the East
China Sea, North Korea's nuclear programs, and Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. He will be
accompanied by former Defense Agency chief Gen Nakatani, a member
of the Tanigaki faction in the LDP.

12) EU Representative Solana: "After consultations with Japan,
US," EU will decide on whether to lift its arms embargo

MAINICHI (Page 9) (Full)
April 20, 2006

By Naoki Fukuhara, Brussels

European Union (EU) Representative of Common Foreign and Security
Policy Solana was interviewed yesterday by the news media,
including the Mainichi Shimbun, ahead of the Japan-EU summit
meeting later this month. On the question of whether to lift the
EU's arms embargo on China, Solana took a cautious stance, saying
that the EU would make its decision after consultations with
Japan and the United States. On the other hand, he stated that
the EU "cannot provide assistance" to the Palestinian government
now led by Hamas, an Islamic fundamentalist group.

Since the Tiananmen Square Incident in 1989, the EU has placed an
arms embargo on such exports to China, but China has been calling
for its early removal. But Solana said, "We are not at the final
stage for lifting the ban," and he emphasized: "The EU is now in
the process of working out strict rules on arms exports."

Referring to Hamas, which the EU designates as a terrorist
organization, Solana called on it to reject violence and respect
the Middle East peace process. He implied that unless Hamas
complies with that request, the EU would continue the policy of
not providing direct aid to the Palestinian Authority.

13) Kantei gives green light to raising Defense Agency to
ministry status in appreciation of Futenma relocation agreement;
Bill may be submitted to current Diet session

SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
April 20, 2006

Bright prospects have appeared for the government's plan to
submit to the current Diet session a bill to upgrade the Defense
Agency to ministry status. The issue has been clouded by a bid-
rigging scandal involving the Defense Facilities Administration
Agency. The Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)
reportedly has approved the bill's presentation as a reward to
the Defense Agency, which successfully obtained local government
concurrence with the relocation plan for the US Marine Corps'
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. With the Diet's June 18 closing
date approaching, the bill may not pass the Diet without an

TOKYO 00002144 008 OF 010


extension of the session. Nevertheless, the ministry's elevation
in status has suddenly become a real possibility.

One Defense Agency official said, "The Kantei has given the go-
sign to the ministry plan." The Kantei has given high marks to
the Defense Agency's initiative in producing a revised government
plan that has obtained the support of Nago City, the relocation
site for Futenma Air Station, despite strong local opposition,
according to another official. Upon being briefed April 10 by
Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga on what was
agreed upon with Nago, Prime Minister Koizumi praised the
ministry's efforts, saying, "Great progress was made."

The bid-rigging incident involving DFAA, in which three agency
officials were arrested in January, has been an impediment to
raising the Defense Agency to ministry status. The Defense Agency
came up with a set of scandal-prevention steps, including
dismantling the DFAA, and presented them to the prime minister on
March 24. The view is prevalent in the Liberal Democratic Party
that the bid-rigging scandal has been settled for now.

Timed with this, the ruling bloc's coordination effort has moved
into full swing. The Ruling Coalition National Security Project
Team chaired by Taku Yamasaki met yesterday in the Diet building
to receive from the Defense Agency an itemized explanation on the
bill to make the Defense Agency a ministry. The Defense Agency
plan includes such steps as revising the Defense Agency
Establishment Law into a ministry establishment law and revising
the Self-Defense Forces Law in a way to raise the SDF's
international peace cooperation activities to be a primary duty.

14) Government submits letter rebutting USTR report

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full)
April 20, 2006

The government yesterday submitted to the US government a letter
of refutation of the 2006 trade barrier report issued by the US
Trade Representatives (USTR) that included a call for Japan's
early resumption of US beef imports. The letter noted: "The US
first must observe the import conditions agreed on between Japan
and the US as part of efforts to restore our confidence in its
export program."

The USTR report, released in late March, referred to the incident
in January of a specified risk material found in a US beef
shipment to Japan: "Export safety criteria were not observed, but
there were no problems in terms of safety." In reaction, Tokyo
claimed in the letter: "We suspended import procedures because
doubts are being raised about the inspection system of the US
Department of Agriculture, in addition to problems with private
meat-processing plants."

15) Susan Schwab, Japan expert and tough negotiator, nominated as
USTR representative

YOMIURI (Page 9) (Full)
April 20, 2006

Susan Schwab, 51, has been nominated as the US Trade
Representative after only five months in her post as deputy USTR
since last November. She is the third woman to assume the top
USTR post, following Carla Hills and Charlene Barshefsky.

TOKYO 00002144 009 OF 010



Schwab demonstrated her tough negotiating stance in the Doha
Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, which
took place immediately after she assumed the deputy USTR slot. At
the negotiating table, she said, "Food importers, including
Japan, have no interest in making progress in these
negotiations."

Schwab was once posted as a trade policy officer at the US
Embassy in Tokyo from 1979 to 1981. She is considered a Japan
expert. In an interview by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the sidelines
of the WTO Hong Kong conference late last year, she replied to a
question in the Japanese for: "Oh, is that so?" All the more
because she knows Japan well, she will likely take a tough stance
in the negotiations with Japan on US beef imports and other
issues.

The WTO Doha Round is now in an extremely delicate situation
since it is seems difficult to reach a general agreement in late
April, the date decided in the Hong Kong conference. The
replacement of the USTR representative may give the impression
that the United States has given up on having a successful Round.
Global attention will be on how enthusiastic the new USTR head
will be about those talks.

16) US plans nuclear fuel reprocessing test with Japan

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged)
April 20, 2006

Washington, Hiroaki Wada

The United States wants to conclude a bilateral agreement with
Japan to test technologies in the areas of fast reactors and
spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, US Deputy Secretary of Energy
Clay Sell told the Mainichi Shimbun in an interview on April 18.
The Department of Energy will send an official to Japan next week
to explain its plan.

In February this year, the United States announced the Global
Nuclear Energy Partnership, or GNEP for short, to work together
with Japan and other countries to develop spent nuclear fuel
reprocessing technologies that can hardly be diverted to nuclear
weapons. "Japan has an enormous accumulation of fast reactor and
reprocessing technologies," Sell said in the interview.

The GNEP initiative also coincides with Japan's policy of
consolidating a nuclear nonproliferation regime. "Japan is
interested in the export market of relevant technologies, so our
cooperation will be in the interests of both countries," Sell
stressed.

Sell said the United States for the time being would like to work
together with Japan within the framework of existing
arrangements, such as the Japan-US Atomic Energy Agreement. The
United States would like to hold talks with Japan and other
partners in order to enter into a bilateral or multilateral
agreement intended to protect intellectual property rights and to
share costs and benefits, the DOE official said.

17) Five administrative reform bills to pass Lower House today;
Prime minister indicates plan to leave formation of specifics to
next cabinet

TOKYO 00002144 010 OF 010



SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts)
April 20, 2006

In its meeting yesterday, the House of Representatives
Administrative Reform Special Committee voted on five
administrative reform bills, which the government regarded as
priority legislation, and adopted them by a majority. The five
bills are likely to be adopted in a Lower House in its plenary
session today and be sent to the House of Councillors. In a
general interpellation to wind up the meeting yesterday, Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed his intention to leave the
task of working out specifics for reform plans, including a cut
in the number of public servants, to his successor. Such a plan
might leave open the possibility of allowing the bureaucracy to
put up resistance.

In yesterday's meeting, the prime minister indicated that his
successor would take responsibility for working out specifics in
line with his policy line once the bills are enacted.

The administrative reform bills include only the philosophy of
reform and numerical targets. So the focus was on to what extent
details will be worked out in Diet deliberations.

In the meetings held so far by the Lower House Administrative
Reform Special Committee, however, all cabinet ministers remained
noncommittal. The prime minister, too, just said regarding the
proposed 5% net reduction in the number of public servants over
five years, a measure to which bureaucrats have reacted most
fiercely: "It is not easy to address this challenge, because it
is necessary to reduce about 6,800 civil servants annually."

18) New Komeito leader Kanzaki expresses annoyance with Minshuto
head Ozawa's denial of meeting with Soka Gakkai chairman

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
April 20, 2006

Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa
denied in a press conference on April 19 reports of a meeting
with Soka Gakkai Chairman Einosuke Akiya. The religious sect Soka
Gakkai is the main support body of the New Komeito. In that
connection, New Komeito head Takenori Kanzaki commented: "I heard
about the meeting from the Soka Gakkai. Mr. Ozawa reportedly
called on Mr. Akiya to tell him of his assumption of the Minshuto
presidency. I wonder why Mr. Ozawa denied the meeting." He
expressed his annoyance with Ozawa's action.

SCHIEFFER