DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/27/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 005605 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: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/27/06 INDEX: (1) ABE cabinet shifts policy weight to "economic growth", with advocates of fiscal construction placed outside cabinet (2) US hopes for Japan's continued reform (3) Profiles of five prime ministerial assistants (4) Profile of Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshihide Suga: Mastermind of Parliamentary League Supporting Society with Second Chances (5) Profile of State Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy Hiroko Ota (6) Profile of Foreign Minister Taro Aso: Joined forces with prime minister over North Korea's missile issue (7) Koizumi & America: Koizumi follows Uncle Sam without hesitation, but what about Abe? (8) Minshuto's "Next Cabinet" includes many junior members (9) Uncertainty looming over prospect of making profit from first Japan-made passenger plane with carriers remaining cautious about introduction ARTICLES: (1) ABE cabinet shifts policy weight to "economic growth", with advocates of fiscal construction placed outside cabinet ASAHI (Page 11) (Slightly abridged) September 27, 2006 Many business leaders and market players see the selection of the new economic minister in the ABE cabinet as a result of "priority given to economic growth," as said by Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Co. Economic Research Institute Chief Economist Hideo Kumano. Prime Minister ABE appointed Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers lobbying for commerce and industry interests as finance minister and economy, trade and industry minister. Meanwhile, many of those giving priority to fiscal reconstruction were left out of the cabinet. Under such a situation, discussion of a hike in the consumption tax is likely to be put off to sometime after next summer's House of Councillors election. Fiscal policy In a speech he delivered after being appointed finance minister, Koji Omi, even while touching on the importance of fiscal reconstruction, indicated a willingness to reduce the corporate tax. Omi said: "A tax system that helps promote investment in research and development will contribute to bringing tax revenues to the plus column over the long run." Omi used to be an official of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. In debates on tax system reform held at every year's end, Omi proposed reducing the tax burden on corporations in order to bolster their competitiveness and revitalize small businesses. In discussion on tax reform at the end of this year, the focus will be on whether the government would decide on corporate tax cuts worth several hundred billion yen. TOKYO 00005605 002 OF 011 Asked about a hike in the consumption tax, Omi said: "Full-scale discussion will start next fall or later." The latest annual economic and fiscal policy guidelines compiled under the previous Koizumi administration noted: "A conclusion will be reached within FY2006." But discussion on sweeping tax reform is now likely to be put on hold. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari is also a member of the LDP commerce and industry policy clique in the Diet, serving such posts as LDP Commerce and Industry Division head. METI has welcome Amari's assumption of office as METI minister, a senior ministry official saying: "Now, we have a major ally in the process of compiling next fiscal year's budget and revising the tax system." Over a review of tax revenues for highway building, it has generally been decided that extra funds will be used for fiscal reconstruction. But Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba stated in an inaugural speech: "Respect should be paid to taxpayers' intentions." Fuyushiba indicated a cautious view about reallocating fiscal resources for road construction for general expenditures and understanding about tax cuts. State Minister in Charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy Hiroko Ota was picked from the private sector and will have jurisdiction over the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. She once engaged in drawing up the government's annual economic and fiscal policy guidelines in the Cabinet Office. Recently, though, the leadership for policymaking has been shifted from the policy panel to the ruling camp. Attention is being focused on to what extent she will be able to demonstrate her political presence in playing against LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa and Policy Research Council SIPDIS Shoichi Nakagawa. Financial policy State Minister in Charge of Financial Services and "Second Chance" Programs Yuji Yamamoto have the experience of serving as senior vice minister for financial affairs, but his ability in dealing with financial affairs remains unknown. With an eye on deliberations on a bill amending the Loan Shark Control Law in the upcoming extraordinary Diet session, Yamamoto said: "I am determined to resolve the issue of multiple debts, a problem standing in the way of promoting the second chance programs." With the aim of accelerating the nation's economic growth, Yamamoto may apply greater pressure to the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to ease its monetary grip further. His predecessor, Kaoru Yosano, indicated understanding toward the BOJ and contributed to the removal of the monetary-easing policy and the zero-interest policy. The BOJ, which is looking for the right timing for additional interest-rate raise, might be driven into a difficult position. (2) US hopes for Japan's continued reform ASAHI (Page 11) (Slightly abridged) September 27, 2006 Kaoru Nishizaki, Washington The United States Bush administration hopes that the ABE government will continue Koizumi's reform line. Treasury Secretary Paulson said: "It is necessary for Japan to continue economic reform in TOKYO 00005605 003 OF 011 wide-ranging areas, including telecommunications. Reform should be continued, even not dramatically, as Prime Minister Koizumi did." The favorable personal relationship between Koizumi and President Bush was reflected in bilateral economic relations under the Koizumi administration. However, the US, seeing the ABE administration's economic management as unknown, has judged it necessary to remind the new administration of the need to continue reform. The United States also seems to be keeping in mind former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka's resignation as House of Councillors member. Takenaka is credited in Washington with economic recovery. Some members in the US government have also begun to stress the need to further strengthen dialogue over economic relations between Japan and the US, taking the opportunity of the ABE government's establishment. With few trade disputes pending between Japan and the US for now, US industrial circles and Congress set their harsh sights on China. Even so, in Detroit, in which auto manufacturers are concentrated, some have criticized Japan or have trust requests at Japan. A local assembly member said: "By keeping a stronger yen, Japan has encroached on the US market." On the beef issue, the assembly member said: "A total ban should not be repeated." (3) Profiles of five prime ministerial assistants ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) September 27, 2006 Yuriko Koike, in charge of national security As environment minister under the former Koizumi administration, spearheaded the national "Cool Biz" drive encouraging business people to wear cool and comfortable clothes, such as laid-back Okinawa shirts, that were appropriate for business occasions, shedding ties and jackets. The drive also encouraged people to sprinkle water to stay cool, reducing urban heat island effects. After serving as a television newscaster, entered the political world as requested by former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa. Joined the Liberal Democratic Party in 2002 after the Japan New Party, the New Frontier Party, the Liberal Party, and the New Conservative Party. Served as an aide to Ichiro Ozawa during the Liberal Party days. Voluntarily played the role of an "assassin" candidate in the Lower House election last fall. Age 54; Mori faction; served as environment minister; Cairo University graduate, elected five times to the Lower House, once to the Upper House; Tokyo No. 10 district. Takumi Nemoto, in charge of economic and fiscal policy On friendly terms with Prime Minister Shintaro Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, and LDP Acting Secretary-General SIPDIS Nobuteru Ishihara. During the 1998 "financial Diet session," attracted attention as a member of a new policy breed. Believes that policies are most important for lawmakers. Although generally regarded as a lawmaker representing the interests of the health and welfare industries, worked hard for coordinating views in the party over the question of reviewing road revenues. TOKYO 00005605 004 OF 011 Likes swimming and climbing mountains. Holds a first-degree black belt in Aikido. Likes ice cream, as well. Abe 55; Niwa-Koga faction; served as Lower House Economy, Trade and Industry Committee chairman and senior vice Cabinet Office minister; University of Tokyo graduate; elected five times to the Lower House; Fukushima No. 2 district. Kyoko Nakayama, in charge of the abduction issue Made strenuous efforts to support abductees and their families as especial adviser to the cabinet for two years from the fall of 2002. Those long and hard days are discussed in Prime Minister Abe's book Toward a Beautiful Country. Families of abductees trusted her so deeply that the Association of the Families of Victims of Kidnapped by North Korea released a statement urging her not to resign as cabinet adviser. Served as the nation's first female Shikoku regional financial bureau chief of the former Finance Ministry. Lower House member Nariaki Nakayama is her husband. Age 66; not a lawmaker; served as special adviser to the cabinet, ambassador to Uzbekistan, and Foreign Ministry official; University of Tokyo graduate. Eriko Yamatani, in charge of education reform Believes the failure to teach differences in the roles of the two genders at school have resulted in extreme sex education. Hurled a question at former Prime Minister Koizumi at the Diet by producing teaching materials illustrating sexual intercourse. Served as secretary general of a fact-finding team led by Abe. Also served as SIPDIS editor-in-chief of the publication Sankei Living. A mother of three children. Unsuccessfully ran in the 2003 general election on the New Conservative Party ticket, and won an Upper House proportional representation seat in 2004 on the LDP ticket. Age 56; Mori faction; served as Cabinet Office parliamentary secretary and information magazine editor-in-chief; Sacred Heart SIPDIS University graduate; elected once each to the Upper House and the Lower House; proportional representation. Hiroshige Seko, in charge of public relations After entering NTT, obtained a master's degree in public relations and corporate communications from Boston University. Served as the company's public relations section chief. Won an Upper House seat for the first time in 1998 that was vacated by the death of his uncle Masataka Seko. In the final days of the Mori cabinet, which had been suffering from low support rates, stressed the need to improve the government's public relations to then Deputy Chief Cabinet SHINZO Abe. Since then, constantly supported ABE in party reform and general elections. Took charge of the party's media strategy in the Lower House election last fall. Age 43; Mori faction; served as Upper House General Affairs Committee member and NTT public relations section chief; Waseda University graduate; elected twice to the Upper House; Wakayama TOKYO 00005605 005 OF 011 district. (4) Profile of Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshihide Suga: Mastermind of Parliamentary League Supporting Society with Second Chances SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) September 27, 2006 Distinguished himself as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) simulation team for economic sanctions against North Korea. Became close to Prime Minister SHINZO ABE during the process of drafting the legislation to ban the cargo-passenger ship Man Gyong Bong from making port calls in Japan. Masterminded the Parliamentary League Supporting Society with Second Chances. Contributed to boosting the number of fellow supporters of ABE behind the scenes using his solid channel to him. Born as the eldest son of a farming family in Akita Prefecture. Has been through the school of hard knocks, as can be seen in the fact that after coming to Tokyo as part of a program in the early 1960s of bringing in masses of middle or high school graduates from the rural districts and finding jobs for them. He pulled himself up by his bootstraps and entered a university. Worked as a salaried worker and then served as a secretary to the late Lower House member Hikosaburo Okonogi. Decided there to enter politics. First elected to the Lower House in 1996, after serving as a Yokohama municipal assembly member for two terms. Took a portfolio in the ABE cabinet while in his fourth term as a Lower House member -- as is the case with Sanae Takaichi, who became a Lower House member the same year as he did and has just been appointed state minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories. In the 1998 general election, left the faction he belonged to in order to support the then Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama for the premiership, countering the Obuchi faction's policy line. Noted for being strong-willed, though he seemingly looks soft, and for taking a good care of junior members. Upgraded from being senior vice minister of the same ministry, he is now challenged to promote financial decentralization. Can he parlay his experience of being raised in a rural area and making a living in an urban area into effective politics? He enjoys jogging and fishing. (5) Profile of State Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy Hiroko Ota SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) September 27, 2006 Served as a researcher at the Life Insurance Culture Center Foundation, an associate professor at Saitama University and a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, after graduating from the Hitotsubashi University Sociology Department. Versed in financial affairs. Named as a candidate to serve as a first female vice governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) in the BOJ presidential race three years ago. Then State Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy Heizo Takenaka selected her as a Cabinet Office counselor (division director-level post) in 2002. Was then promoted to director general for policy planning, the first time a woman has served in that position. She was charge of drafting white papers on the economy and public finance and monthly economic TOKYO 00005605 006 OF 011 reports. Appealing for the need to ease regulations, she served as a member of a number of government councils and experts' panels. In private, she has the image of being a gentle mother because of her soft demeanor, as a Cabinet Office source put it. She may be well qualified to serve as a poster minister for the new cabinet's economic policy. The ABE administration's spending cut policy, which is probably its major economic policy, is expected draw criticism from some lawmakers. Since Ota has no experience as a politician, her coordination capability is unknown. One veteran lawmaker noted: "There is fear that she might fall into the same trap as Mr. Takenaka did. Mr. Takenaka came under fierce fire from within the LDP, when he was in charge of economic policy, for he had yet to become a lawmaker at that time. (6) Profile of Foreign Minister Taro Aso: Joined forces with prime minister over North Korea's missile issue SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) September 27, 2006 He won the second largest number of votes in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),garnering 136 in total -- 67 from rank-and-file members and 69 from lawmakers; ABE took the no. 1 slot with 464. However, the better than expected achievement has led to his reappointment as foreign minister. During the past five years of the Koizumi administration, he has served in key posts in the government and the LDP, including LDP policy research council chairman, internal affairs and communications minister, and foreign minister. Reappointed as foreign minister, Aso has apparently managed to stay as one of the candidates to succeed Prime Minister ABE in the future. Aso is hard-faced and has a tight-lipped mouth with one end turning up. He is outspoken and speaks in an unpolished manner. Many gaffes he has made are attributable to this manner of speaking. He is at the same time a person with heart. He always cares about the people around him. Since there is no way to recognize his charming points unless one becomes close to him, he was called the man with a radius or 2 meters during the LDP presidential race. However, he also attracted enthusiastic devotees while campaigning. In the face of the launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea this July, he stood firm against Pyongyang along with then Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe. He led the effort for the adoption of a resolution condemning North Korea by the United Nations Security Council. His cooperation with Prime Minister ABE was called the AA coalition. Aso is the grandson of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and the scion of the Aso zaibatsu, which used to run the largest coal mine in Kyushu. He studied at Stanford University in the US, after graduating from Gakushuin University. He was first elected to the Lower House in 1979, after serving as chairman of his family business "Aso Industry," now Aso Cement, and chairman of the Japan Junior Chamber of Commerce. He originally belonged to the Kochi-kai, a faction led by former Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, but later formed the Daiyu-kai (Kono group),protesting Miyazawa's TOKYO 00005605 007 OF 011 transferring his faction to former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato in 1999. He is well known for enjoying reading comic books. He reads more than 10 comic books a week. He once represented Japan in the skeet-shooting competition at the Olympic Games. His motto is "administration is for the sake of the public." His wife is the third daughter of the late Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki. The couple have one son and one daughter. (7) Koizumi & America: Koizumi follows Uncle Sam without hesitation, but what about Abe? ASAHI (Page 13) (Full) September 26, 2006 Hiroshi Hoshi, Asahi Shimbun senior writer "Koizumi seems to be a nationalist," someone said. Another said, "He might come out for Japan having an independent defense." Such a conversation was going on in Washington in April 2001, when Junichiro Koizumi survived the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential race and was soon to become prime minister. At the time, eight Japan desk officials met to analyze Koizumi's career and policy. Among the eight were officials from the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the Office of the US Trade Representative. A week later, they worked out a report, which was delivered to President Bush. The report was wary of Koizumi, who was little known in the United States. But it also stated that Koizumi, depending on the Bush administration's response, could be a strong partner. In June that year, two months later, Prime Minister Koizumi was invited to the president's retreat, where Koizumi played catch ball with Bush. The two leaders soon built a relationship of mutual trust. Koizumi and Bush-far from being strong partners-continued their honeymoon-like relationship. More than five years have passed since then, and the Koizumi government has come to an end. Why did Bush give high marks to Koizumi? I asked this question of a former high-ranking US government official who took part in preparing that report. "After 9-11," the former official answered, "he sent troops and cooperated with the United States as he promised." He added, "That's the big reason." However, he also noted that Bush and Koizumi "basically had the same position" and that Koizumi did not hesitate to choose global values over Asian values. The former official went on with the following commentary: When talking about values like democracy, respect for human rights, and market mechanism, Japanese political leaders often underscored Asia's originality. They said they did not want us to force our western-style values on them. They sometimes excused themselves for accepting the delay of democratization and market liberalization in China and Southeast Asia. Koizumi did not stick to Asian values... In point of fact, "global" values overlap with "American" values. Indeed, American market mechanisms held their own in the policies of the Koizumi government. Koizumi followed US global strategy-including the Iraq war-without hesitation. In the meantime, TOKYO 00005605 008 OF 011 his visits to Yasukuni Shrine resulted in worsening Japan-China relations, and he distanced himself from Asian values. He was "in the same position" as Bush. If the United States is honored by people around the world and keeps its position as a superpower, Koizumi's way of following the United States might remain in Japan's interests. However, the world situation is changing. In particular, the United States, now bogged down in Iraq since the war, has clearly shown its limits. Kaname Saruya, a historian who has observed the United States for over a half century, noted in his recently published Iwanami Shinsho book, America, Why Don't You Get Old Beautiful: "America also peaked after the Soviet Union collapsed. And now, Uncle Sam appears to be in its autumn-gradually declining from the zenith of his power. However, he may show the ugliness of old age if he gets into the autumn of his life being disliked by other countries like now. He probably cannot get old beautiful since he is so hated and disliked all over the world." The United States is now at a turning point, just when SHINZO ABE is coming into office as Japan's new prime minister. In his Bunshun Shinsho book, Toward A Beautiful Country, ABE talks about his view of the United States. "The Japan-US alliance is the best choice, when considering the United States' influence on the international community as well as its economic power and its strongest military power," ABE writes. He also notes, "Japan and America share fundamental values in terms of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, free competition, and market mechanisms." Abe has something in common with Koizumi in their respective views of the United States. However, ABE is positive about improving Japan's relations with China and South Korea. Will this make ABE approach Asian values or otherwise make him keep hanging on to American values? At any rate, how to face this superpower in its autumn is a major challenge for ABE and his administration. (8) Minshuto's "Next Cabinet" includes many junior members ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) September 27, 2006 The main opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) announced yesterday a new lineup of its "Next Cabinet" composed of 20 members. The cabinet is well balanced with the posts evenly distributed to all groups, including the one led by former party head Seiji Maehara. Nine posts -- about a half of the total -- have been given to junior members in their thirties and forties. Members of the Next Cabinet Prime Minister Ichiro Ozawa, age 64, member of the Lower House, elected to the Diet 13 times, president of the party Deputy Prime Minister Naoto Kan, 59, Lower House, 9, acting president State Minister Yukio Hatoyama, 59, Lower House, 7, secretary general Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Koichi Takemasa, 45, Lower House, 3 TOKYO 00005605 009 OF 011 Minister of Foreign Affairs Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, 51, Lower House, 2 SIPDIS Minister of State for Defense Ryuzo Sasaki, 49, Lower House, 3 Minister of State for the Cabinet Office Toshihiro Asahi, 63, Upper House, 2 Minister of Finance Motohisa Ikeda, 65, Lower House, 5 Minister of State for Financial Services (Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy) Naoki Minezaki, 61, Upper House, 3 Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Wakio Mitsui, 63, Lower House, 3 Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yosuke Kondo, 41, Lower House, 2 Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeaki Matsumoto, 47, Lower House, 3, policy research committee chair Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka, 52, Lower House, 3 Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Osamu Fujimura, 56, Lower House, 5 Minister of State (for Children's Policy Kumiko Hayashi, 34, Upper House, 1 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Takashi Shinohara, 58, Lower House, 2 Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Yutaka Banno, 45, Lower House, 3 Minister of the Environment Yoshinori Suematsu, 49, Lower House, 4 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Goshi Hosono, 35, Lower House, 3Keiichiro Asao, 42, Upper House, 2 (9) Uncertainty looming over prospect of making profit from first Japan-made passenger plane with carriers remaining cautious about introduction YOMIURI (Page 7) (Full) September 26, 2006 The central government and private firms including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are forging ahead with a project to jointly develop a jet airliner called "MJ" as the first Japan-made passenger jet plane. The Japanese airline industry anticipates an introduction of the product to replace the nation's first domestic passenger aircraft "YS-11," which is scheduled to end its domestic regular services on Sept. 30. Parties concerned, however, are worried about whether enough orders will be secured amid development costs increasing. TOKYO 00005605 010 OF 011 There is a high hurdle to clear before the product is commercialized. MJ stands for Mitsubishi Jet. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries President Kazuo Tsukuda said in an advisory panel meeting of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) in late August that the company has continued discussion with Rolls Royce of Britain on engines for MJ. He underscored that progress is steadily being made in preparations for the project. METI earmarked 2 billion yen in its budgetary request for next fiscal year to subsidize the MJ project. This figure is four times larger than in this fiscal year's budget. However, domestic airlines remain cautious about introducing the product. The spokesman of All Nippon Airways Co. said: "Since it is necessary to thoroughly study the project from various angles, we cannot comment on it yet." The spokesman of Japan Air Lines Co. remarked: "We are carefully watching the situation to judge if the profitability of operations and the comfort of the cabin will be both secured." There are differences in interest and ardor between the airline companies and Mitsubishi or METI. Take-off and landing slots for jet planes have been reduced at Osaka (Itami) Airport since last year. Focusing on this fact, some are voicing concerns about the MJ's adaptability to domestic circumstances. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the main contractor for the MJ project and will be responsible for production and sales. The company initially planned to develop a smaller plane with 30-50 seats for fights to be offered between small cities and start services in 2007, instead of a medium-size or large one, which will cost a lot. However, the company rewrote the specifications of the jet airliner last year into those for a plane that can accommodate 70-90 passengers. In addition, the company also delayed the target year for the introduction to 2012. The Japan Aircraft Development Corporation anticipates that demand for this class of product will grow to 4,200 units in the coming two decades. Even so, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has no experience in selling passenger planes. The problem is how the company can receive orders. In this market, there are a number of competitive rivals, such as Bombardier Inc. of Canada and Embraer Inc. of Brazil. By demonstrating its higher performance, such as 20% better mileage than aircraft of other makers, Mitsubishi intends to sell the product to foreign airlines on a basis of commission to trading firms. But optimism may not be warranted. Excluding orders directly from the Defense Agency, the Japanese airline industry has lived with subcontracts from overseas manufacturers, such as Boeing of the US and Airbus of Europe. Keeping such a situation in mind, many in the government and the private sector are calling for Japan's market access as the first case since YS-11 was introduced. Reflecting such voices, the government has injected approximately 9 billion yen in the MJ project. The propeller aircraft YS-11 went into service in 1965, and a special corporation financed by both the public and private sectors TOKYO 00005605 011 OF 011 produced 182 units, underscoring the superiority of the Japanese airline industry domestically and internationally. However, there were many problems in terms of profitability, with a loss of about 36 billion yen incurred until its production was suspended in 1973. As one METI official said, "The same mistake won't be tolerated," an essential condition is to achieve a profit. To that end, producing at least 350 units is necessary. In order to make sufficient profit, producing 600 units would be necessary. The company must make a decision in FY2007 if it wants to continue the project. The company could drop the project if it is unable to receive a necessary volume of orders by then. How to finance swelling development costs is also a head-ache. The total cost was initially estimated to be 60 billion yen, but it is now likely to double to 120 billion yen. Based on the judgment that it is impossible for the government and the company alone to share the risk, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plans to establish a special company responsible only for developing the fuselage, seeking investment from trading houses and banks. On this plan, too, no prospects are in sight yet. SCHIEFFER