JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/10/06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/10/06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 4) Imports resumed, US beef now being sold in some supermarkets 3 War responsibility issue: 5) Prime Minister Koizumi still firm on visiting Yasukuni, most likely on Aug. 15 6) 69 religious organizations ask Koizumi not to go to Yasukuni on Aug. 15 7) Foreign Minister Aso gets cautious response from Yasukuni on private proposal to secularize the shrine 8) Former chief priest of Yasukuni in speech rejects Aso plan that would remove institution's status as Shinto shrine 9) Prince Mikasa expressed apology to China in 1998 for Sino-Japanese war, violence committed 10) Yasukuni Shrine in 1959 asked that its enshrinement of B and C-class war criminals not be publicly revealed, according to government records Defense and security issues: 11) Foreign Minister Aso in magazine article details the tussle over Chapter 7 wording in recently passed UNSC resolution on North Korea missile issue 12) Japan asks US for early deployment of MD-related missiles with North Korea threat in mind 13) Except for Taepodong, North Korea's recent missile launch tests were highly accurate: deputy chief cabinet secretary 14) ABE considering setting up US-modeled NSC under him if he is elected prime minister 15) Japan may postpone controversial planned marine survey near disputed Takeshima Islands out of consideration to EEZ negotiations with ROK Political agenda: 16) Nukaga to shelve plan to run in LDP presidential race, but ABE will announce his candidacy on Aug. 31 Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Social Insurance Agency to step up efforts to ensure part-time workers' admission to social insurance system Mainichi: Less than 20% of fertility treatment hospitals fulfill standards Yomiuri: Tsushima faction to give up fielding Nukaga in LDP presidential SIPDIS election Nihon Keizai: M&A market boosts to 7.8 trillion yen in Jan.-July period Sankei: TOKYO 00004486 002 OF 010 Bird flu resurges in Southeast Asia Tokyo Shimbun: If elected prime minister, ABE would introduce open-recruitment system for administration staff Akahata: World Conference against A&H Bombs in Nagasaki ends: Urges treaty banning nuclear weapons 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) CPAs found guilty: New system needed to sever collusion (2) Comparison of lifetime wages also needed between company workers, civil servants Mainichi: (1) Excessive reaction unnecessary to pause in US interest rate hikes (2) Walking and chewing food well to prevent metabolic syndrome Yomiuri: (1) CPA-client collusion must be ended (2) Fed rate decision: Uncertainly looming over US economy Nihon Keizai: (1) Attention focused on whether US economy can make soft landing after Fed decision (2) Prime minister's Mongolian visit expected to deepen bilateral ties Sankei: (1) Work out measures to rectify gap among young people in cool-headed manner (2) Akita murders: Prefectural police headquarters must respond to criticism Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Income gap among the young: Government urged to map out countermeasures (2) DPJ must not forget to do its homework Akahata: (1) 2006 World Conference against A&H Bombs: Let's move international politics, starting with grass-roots activities 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, August 9 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) August 10, 2006 08:04 Left Haneda Airport on JAL flight 1841. 09:24 Arrived at Nagasaki Airport. Greeted by Nagasaki Gov. Kaneko and others. 10:34 TOKYO 00004486 003 OF 010 Attended memorial service for the 61st anniversary of atomic bombing of Nagasaki. 12:24 Arrived at Nagasaki Airport. 13:46 Met with Nagasaki Vice Gov. Tateishi and Deputy Mayor of Nagasaki City Uchida. 14:07 Left Nagasaki Airport on ANA flight 666. 15:37 Arrived at Haneda Airport. 16:36 Met at Kantei with Vice Foreign Minister Yachi, followed by Kumiko Hashimoto, wife of the late Prime Minister Hashimoto, Lower House member Gaku Hashimoto. 17:23 Met with LDP policy chief Nakagawa. 18:17 Had haircut at barbershop in Capital Tokyu Hotel. 19:11 Returned to his official residence. 4) US beef now back in store cases SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) August 10, 2006 Following the resumption of US beef imports, Costco Wholesale Japan Inc., a membership-based US general merchandize store, yesterday started selling imported US beef products at its three outlets in the Kanto region, such as the Makuhari store in Chiba, ahead of other stores. It will soon start selling at two other stores outside the Kanto region as well, such as the Amagasaki store in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. It is the first time in seven months since an import embargo was placed following the discovery of specified risk materials (SRM),a BSE risk material, in a shipment this January that US beef has become available to consumers. At the Makuhari store, 100 grams of chuck eye role sold for 95 yen and 100 grams of steak for 249 yen. Many customers rushed to the store, because the prices were slightly lower than the pre-ban level in January, according to a store spokesman. A skeptical view about the safety of US beef is deep-rooted in the market. Leading supermarket chains have no plans to sell US beef for the time being. However, if import amounts increase, boosting trading among retailers, the incidences of consumers eating US beef at restaurants without knowing the country of origin will likely increase. Gregory Haynes, representative of the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) in Japan visited the Makuhari store yesterday and noted, "Since a bad image is spreading about US beef, we would like to play up its safety some more." TOKYO 00004486 004 OF 010 5) Prime Minister Koizumi adamant about keeping "campaign pledge" to visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15; China, South Korea focusing on Abe NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Excerpts) August 10, 2006 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has stated his intention to visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15. Though he has given a certain level of consideration toward China and South Korea. However, he apparently intends to keep his campaign pledge while he is in office, judging that his Yasukuni visit would have a limited impact on the next administration's diplomacy. China and South Korea are nervous about the "next visit to Yasukuni" by Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe, considered as the front-runner in the post-Koizumi race. A vigorous debate will be carried out in order to come up with specific measures, including unenshrinement of Class-A war criminals, to resolve the Yasukuni issue. Koizumi said on Aug. 6, "I can go anytime." "My promise is still valid," he said on Aug. 8. "The pledge should be kept," he said yesterday. He has recently looked for public reaction, while expressing little by little his eagerness for a visit on Aug. 15. In the past five years, Koizumi was unable to visit the Shinto shrine on Aug. 15. Before assuming the prime minister's post, he pledged that he would definitely go to the shrine on Aug. 15, but he has avoided the Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of World War II. The reason why Koizumi sticks to keeping his campaign pledge is because he thinks that China and South Korea will criticize Japan even though he caves in on Yasukuni. Beijing has sounded out the prime minister several times since this spring about the resumption of summit meetings with the condition that Koizumi not visit Yasukuni while in office. Tokyo judged that if Koizumi gave up his Yasukuni visit, it would give the impression that he conceded to China's demand. Therefore, secret contacts was suspended in late June. 6) Shinshuren submits opinion paper opposing Yasukuni Shrine visits by prime minister and cabinet ministers SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) August 10, 2006 The Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan (Shinshuren), consisting of 69 religious organizations, such as Rissho Kosei-kai and Church of Perfect Liberty, yesterday submitted to Yoshio Yatsu, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Party Organization Headquarters an opinion paper addressed to Prime Minister Koizumi, opposing visits to Yasukuni Shrine by the prime minister and cabinet ministers, noting such visits are contrary to the Constitution's principle of separation between state and religion stipulated under Article 20. 7) Former Yasukuni Shrine chief priest cautious about Aso proposal YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) August 10, 2006 Tadashi Yuzawa (76),a former Yasukuni Shrine chief priest, TOKYO 00004486 005 OF 010 yesterday gave a speech at the Diet Members' Office Building of the Upper House. Regarding Foreign Minister Aso's personal view calling for turning Yasukuni Shrine into a non-religious corporation, he noted, "If Yasukuni Shrine becomes secular, it will lose its nature as a shrine established by the Emperor Meiji. We cannot accept such a proposal that easily." He also said, "It is impossible to remove Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni." Touching on proposed legislation that would have had the state maintain Yasukuni Shrine, which was killed in 1974, Yuzawa said, "Under that legislation, the object of worship enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine would have been made a remembrance and the Shinto priests there would have left. Only the name Yasukuni would remain." He pointed out that there is a similar concern about the Aso plan. Regarding a memorandum that noted the displeasure Emperor Showa remarked about the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine along with the war dead, he said, "I was also astounded to know that the emperor made such remarks. At first, I thought I should take the remarks solemnly, but now I doubt the propriety of the release of such a memo." 8) Former Yasukuni Shrine chief priest negative toward idea of turning the shrine into a nonreligious corporation, saying, "The shrine will lose its essence" YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 10, 2006 Tadashi Yuzawa, a former Yasukuni Shrine chief priest, yesterday made a speech in Tokyo. In the speech, he indicated a negative view toward a proposal for turning Yasukuni Shrine into a nonreligious corporation. Commenting on that proposal, he stated: "It would lose its substance as a shrine and end up one in name only. We cannot easily go along with this." Regarding the idea of unenshrining Class-A war criminals, a proposal made by Makoto Koga, chairman of the Japan War-Bereaved Association and former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, and others, Yuzawa said: "The souls of 2.46 million war dead are enshrined together. It is, therefore, impossible to separate the Class-A war criminals. There is nothing good about this for the shrine." He thus once again stressed the shrine's position that it is impossible to remove Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni Shrine in view of Shinto beliefs. 9) Prince Mikasa expressed apology over Sino-Japanese War to Chinese President Jiang in 1998; "I saw assaults by Imperial Japanese Army" TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpts) August 10, 2006 Jiji, Beijing Prince Mikasa, 90, a brother of the late Emperor Showa, told visiting then Chinese President Jiang Zemin during an imperial banquet in 1998 regarding the Sino-Japanese War: "I have felt guilty about it all along. I would like to offer an apology to the Chinese people." This came to light yesterday from a Chinese official document. Jiang's book titled In Order to Make the World More Beautiful, a foreign travelogue, was published in late July, which included an episode that Prince Mikasa had witnessed assaults by the former TOKYO 00004486 006 OF 010 Imperial Japanese Army during his service as a military staffer in Nanjing in Jiangsu Province. According to a Chinese source familiar with relations with Japan, Prince Mikasa voluntarily walked up to President Jiang to talk to him. Prince Mikasa, who was critical of the Sino-Japanese War, apparently wanted to convey his feelings directly to Jiang on the occasion of the imperial banquet. It has never come to light that a member of the imperial family with experience in the war had expressed an apology - a sentiment stronger than regret - to a top Chinese political leader, though it was not an official statement. The revelation is likely to have an impact on Japan's views on history, which China has repeatedly criticized. According to the book, Prince Mikasa said during the banquet hosted by the Emperor and Empress on the night of November 26, 1998: "I was stationed in Nanjing as a former Imperial Army officer. I saw assaults by the Imperial Japanese Army. I have felt guilty about them all along. I would like to offer an apology to the Chinese people. I must work hard to pass historical truth on to young member of the imperial family members in order to realize friendly relations between the peoples of Japan and China transcending generations." 10) Yasukuni Shrine asked welfare ministry not to let public know that Class-B, Class-C war criminals had been enshrined ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) August 10, 2006 In April 1959, Yasukuni Shrine enshrined Class-B and Class-C war criminals for the first time. Right before that, however, the shrine asked the then Health and Welfare Ministry to withhold this fact from the public, the Asahi Shimbun found from an in-house document of the ministry. In 1978, the shrine also enshrined Class-A war criminals in private. In those days, the war criminals were being evaluated in various ways in society. For this reason, the shrine attempted to enshrine the war criminals behind the scenes. The Class-B and Class-C war criminals are military personnel and civilian employees accused of ordinary war crimes, such as abusing prisoners, in the war court of the Allied Powers. War leaders accused of crimes against peace, such as planning and carrying out a war of aggression, were tried by the Tokyo War Crimes Trials (International Military Tribunal for the Far East) and called Class-A war criminals. The document is titled "Office Memorandum No. 7," dated April 4, 1959, in the name of a Health and Welfare Ministry official in charge of historical records in the Demobilization Division of the Repatriation Relief Bureau. At the request of Yasukuni Shrine, the official wrote the memo to the division director. In this memo, the official states his views regarding the enshrinement of Class-B and Class-C war criminals. The memo is sealed with a "HANDLE WITH CARE" mark. Yasukuni Shrine reportedly enshrined a total of 353 Class-B and Class-C war criminals in a spring festival about the middle of that month. The memo notes that disclosing the enshrinement of Class-B and TOKYO 00004486 007 OF 010 Class-C war criminals could cause "grave misunderstandings and could result in interfering with future enshrinements." "Yasukuni Shrine is very careful about this matter," the memo says. It also says, "They hope we will not make it public and we will instead let things continue with the changing of the times." Furthermore, the memo states the official's own view on how to respond if and when there were inquiries based on misunderstandings like "even war criminals are being enshrined." The memo also points to the purport of Yasukuni Shrine, noting that those war criminals were enshrined as persons who "died while conducting state affairs." In this regard, the official writes that he wants this point to be well understood in responding to such inquiries. In 1952, the Diet first resolved in its lower and upper chambers to call for releasing Class-B and Class-C war criminals. In June 1953, after Japan's restoration of its independence, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations petitioned the government to release war criminals. A signature-collecting campaign started across the nation. Meanwhile, in the fall of 1957, Shiragikukai, an association of war criminals' families, asked Yasukuni Shrine to enshrine the war criminals. That gave rise to arguments for and against enshrining the war criminals, and public opinion was split. After that, on Oct. 17, 1978, Yasukuni Shrine enshrined 14 Class-A war criminals as "martyrs in the Showa era" at the decision of Nagayoshi Matsudaira, the then guji or chief priest of Yasukuni Shrine. In April 1979, newspapers and news agencies reported the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals. Yasukuni Shrine, in its official bulletin issued late that month, referred to the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals. On its sidelines, the bulletin also revealed that Yasukuni Shrine had gradually enshrined Class-B and Class-C war criminals as well after the San Francisco Peace Treaty was inked, and that the shrine had already completed its enshrinement of Class-B and Class-C war criminals in 1970. 11) Aso's Chuo Koron article: Japan gave up reference to Chapter 7 several hours before UNSC adopted North Korea resolution YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 10, 2006 In an article written for the September issue of the monthly literary magazine Chuo Koron that will go on sale today, Foreign Minister Taro Aso revealed an inside story on the recent adoption of a North Korea resolution by the US Security Council. He wrote that only several hours before the adoption of the resolution was when Japan gave up insisting on including reference to Chapter 7 of the UN Charter that would have served as grounds for economic sanctions and the use of armed force. China and other countries were opposed to a draft resolution presented by Japan, the United States, and other countries. But it became clear late at night on July 15, the day before the resolution was adopted, that China would accept the draft resolution if a reference to Chapter 7 was dropped. In the early hours of July 16, Aso discussed the matter with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the phone, and they agreed to eliminate the reference. Aso was proud of himself: "I continued giving instructions to New York that Japan must not TOKYO 00004486 008 OF 010 back down or wrap things up. I was unwavering with the aim of adopting a strong resolutions quickly." The article also introduces an episode that in his telephone conversation with Rice, Aso half jokingly said, "You might have realized once again that it's important to make Japan a permanent UN Security Council member," to which Rice responded favorably 12) Japan asks US to move up MD deployment MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) August 10, 2006 In the wake of North Korea's firing of ballistic missiles on July 5, Japan and the United States held intergovernmental talks in Washington on Aug. 7-8, with senior officials for foreign and defense affairs attending. In the talks, the Japanese government asked the US government to cooperate in Japan's deployment of a missile defense system earlier than scheduled. The US government answered that it would consider the request. The two governments also agreed to discuss problems that became clear regarding bilateral intelligence sharing and joint operations when North Korea fired the missiles. Japan asked the United States to frontload the ground-based deployment of PAC-3 intercept missiles. Japan plans to purchase PAC-3s from the United States in order for the Air Self-Defense Force to deploy them at its Iruma base in Saitama Prefecture by the end of next fiscal year. So the Japanese government asked the US government to move up the PAC-3 introduction timetable. In addition, the US Navy plans to deploy the USS Shiloh, an Aegis-equipped vessel loaded with SM-3 intercept missiles, to Yokosuka this month. However, Japan asked the United States to consider whether other US naval vessels based in Hawaii can be staged near Japan if and when there are signs of an imminent missile launch. 13) Deputy chief cabinet secretary: Six North Korean missiles accurately landed in zone 30 to 40 kilometers square YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 10, 2006 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Suzuki, delivering a speech in Nagoya yesterday, revealed that of the seven ballistic missiles North Korea launched on July 5, six Rodong and Scud missiles with the exception of a Taepodong-2 had splashed into a sea zone 30-40 kilometers square in the Sea of Japan. Of the six missiles, Suzuki said: "They all accurately landed in an area 30 to 40 kilometers square." 14) ABE mulls Security Council reform NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Abridged) August 10, 2006 Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe, who is expected to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, will set forth his political platform featuring a plan to establish a body in charge of Japan's strategy for its foreign relations and national security modeled after the US National Security Council (NSC). The planned body will have a security assistant to the prime minister for decision making without delay under the prime minister. Its TOKYO 00004486 009 OF 010 secretariat will also be expanded in its staffing. SIPDIS The new body, according to Abe's plan, is to be made up of the prime minister, the chief cabinet secretary, the defense chief, the finance minister, and the prime minister's assistant for national security. It is also expected to include the director for cabinet intelligence and the Self-Defense Forces' Joint Staff Office chief. Abe would like it to meet on a daily basis to talk about various diplomatic issues. 15) Government likely to put off radioactivity survey in waters near Takeshima islets, with eye on EEZ negotiations NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) August 10, 2006 The government yesterday started looking into postponing the planned radioactivity survey in waters near the Takeshima/Dokdo islets, over which both Japan and South Korea have claimed sovereignty. This decision reflects a judgment that since Seoul has begun to express understanding for Japan's proposal for creating a system of prior notification on maritime research, it would be better to take time and watch its moves with an eye on the negotiations on EEZ boundaries scheduled for September. A senior Foreign Ministry official stressed no change in the government's plan on the survey, but he added: "There is no need to immediately undertake it. Our top priority is to create a prior-notification system." The official thus indicated the government's willingness as part of efforts to avert a conflict with South Korea to give priority to creating a prior-notification system. Even so, since research is difficult in the winter when the Sea of Japan is choppy, Tokyo hopes to complete the system at an early date. South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon said in a meeting with Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Aug. 8: "It is necessary to maintain maritime order in an amicable way," revealing that South Korea is working out specifics about the new system. South Korea had initially indicated an unwillingness to hold talks on a system to deal with territorial issues, but "Seoul seems to have become a little bit positive," according to the ministry official. In response to the revelation that the former Soviet Union had dumped radioactive waste in the Sea of Japan, Tokyo and Seoul began surveys of radioactivity in 1994. Just after South Korea carried out research on ocean currents on July 5, Japan conveyed to the ROK its plans for the survey. 16) LDP's Tsushima faction to give up fielding Nukaga in party presidential race; ABE may announce candidacy on Aug. 31; Battle among Abe, Tanigaki, and Aso highly likely YOMIURI (Top Play) (Slightly abridged) August 10, 2006 The Tsushima faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided in an executive meeting yesterday to give up fielding Defense Agency Director-General Fukushiro Nukaga, 62, in the Sept. 20 LDP presidential election. The decision was made since support for TOKYO 00004486 010 OF 010 Nukaga is not expected to expand. With this decision, the expectation is strong that the presidential race will be contested by Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe, 51, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, 65, and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 61. If Nukaga decides not to run, most of the Tsushima faction members will likely support Abe, making Abe's advantage in the race clear. ABE may formally announce his candidacy on Aug. 31. A senior Tsushima faction member will inform Nukaga, who will return from Indonesia as early as today, of the faction's decision not to field him due to circumstances within and outside the faction. As the faction has decided that it is impossible to run Nukaga as its candidate for the presidency, it is highly likely that he will not run. The executive meeting was attended by six House of Representatives members, including Chairman Yuji Tsushima; Vice Chairman Takashi Sasagawa, former science and technology minister; Secretary General Hajima Funada, chairman of the LDP Research Commission on Constitution; and Toshimitsu Motegi, former state minister in charge of Okinawa and northern territories affairs. At the meeting, Sasagawa said, "We should not make him a second Yasuo Fukuda," referring to former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, who did not make his position clear as to whether he would run or not, although many in the LDP hoped he would. Sasagawa then demanded an early announcement by Nukaga that he would not run in the race. Others agreed that the faction should keep Nukaga in reserve as a future presidential candidate. Motegi, however, insisted that the faction should field Nukaga to give party members a wider choice and demonstrate that the LDP is a party of depth. Tsushima concluded the meeting, saying, "I will tell Mr. Nukaga that he is in a difficult position." SCHIEFFER