DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02/13/06-2

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000777

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SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02/13/06-2


INDEX:

(14) Poll: Cabinet support rating falls 4 points to 48%

(15) Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, female accession
to imperial throne

(16) Poll: 39% for, 55% against revising Imperial House Law in
current Diet session; 65% support emperor of matrilineal descent

(17) US deputy under secretary of defense gives no grounds for
estimated cost of relocating Marines in Okinawa to Guam

(18) US force realignment: Japan, US faced with mounting
challenges before reaching settlement in March; Local consent not
obtained, huge relocation cost not clear

(19) US force realignment: Japan presents compromise plan to
allow partial use of Iwakuni by aerial tankers

(20) Police to investigate leading precision equipment maker in
Kawasaki tomorrow over illegal supplies of nuclear-related
equipment to China, Thailand

(21) SDP adopts declaration calling SDF unconstitutional and
previous support for single-seat system "mistake"

(22) SDP calls SDF "unconstitutional" in party platform; DPJ's
Maehara says it is "regrettable"

(23) Government to strengthen ties with India, Australia against
China

(24) Editorial: Secret pact on Okinawa reversion - time to come
clean

ARTICLES:

(14) Poll: Cabinet support rating falls 4 points to 48%

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged)
February 12, 2006

In a recent telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey
conducted Feb. 10-11, the support rating for the cabinet of Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi was 48%, down 4 percentage points from
the last survey conducted in January. The nonsupport rating for
the Koizumi cabinet rose 5 points to 40%. The cabinet support
rating rebounded after Prime Minister Koizumi's dissolution of
the Diet for postal privatization and was over 50%. However, it
fell below 50% for the first time in six months, possibly
reflecting the Livedoor shock. The figure still remains high.
Among those who support no specific party, however, the Koizumi
cabinet's approval and disapproval ratings have changed places.
As seen from this finding, there are also changes in the
structure of public support for the Koizumi cabinet.

Among female respondents, the Koizumi cabinet's support rate was
50%, almost leveling off with a slight drop of 1 point. Among
male respondents, however, the figure in support of the Koizumi
cabinet markedly dropped from 52% to 45%. Among those in their
50s, the cabinet support rate decreased 13 points from 48% to
35%. Among those who support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party,

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the cabinet support rate was 82%. Among those who support the New
Komeito, a coalition partner of the LDP, the cabinet support rate
was 57%. Among those with no particular party affiliation,
however, the Koizumi cabinet's support rate was 39% (44% in the
last survey) and its nonsupport rate was 44% (37% in the last
survey). As seen from these figures, the disapproval rating
topped the approval rating in the latest survey.

In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the
ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 31 %, up 3 percentage
points from the last poll. The leading opposition Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) also rose 3 points to 20%.

(15) Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, female accession
to imperial throne

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
February 12, 2006

Questions & Answers
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female)

Q: Do you support the Koizumi cabinet?

T P M F
Yes 48 (52) 45 50
No 40 (35) 44 36
Not interested 10 (13) 9 12

Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the above question) Why?

T P M F
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party
5 (5) 6 4
Because something can be expected of Prime Minister Koizumi's
leadership
29 (28) 32 26
Because new policy measures can be expected
17 (15) 16 18
Because the nature of politics is likely to change
46 (51) 45 47


Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the above question) Why?

T P M F
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party
13 (9) 14 12
Because the prime minister compromises too much with the ruling
parties
21 (21) 22 20
Because the nation's economic recovery is slow
29 (40) 29 30
Because the prime minister is reluctant to take action against
political scandals
25 (19) 23 27

Q: Which political party do you support?

T P M F
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
31 (28) 33 30
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)

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20 (17) 23 17
New Komeito (NK)
4 (6) 2 6
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)
4 (3) 5 3
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto)
2 (2) 2 2
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto)
0 (0) 0 --
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon)
0 (0) -- 0
Other parties
1 (1) 3 0
None
36 (41) 31 40

Q: Do you support female accession to the imperial throne?

T P M F
Yes 78 74 81
No 17 19 15


Q: To date Japan has preserved the male line of imperial
succession with emperors receiving imperial blood from the
father's side. If those receiving imperial blood from the
mother's side are also allowed to ascend to the imperial throne,
it will be a historic changeover. Do you think the male line of
imperial succession should be preserved, or do you otherwise
think female-line succession should be allowed as well?

T P M F
Male-line succession should be kept
29 30 29
Female-line succession should also be allowed
65 63 67

Q: Her Imperial Highness Princess Kiko is expected to give birth
to a baby this fall. Do you support revising the Imperial House
Law before that during the current Diet session to allow female
and female-line succession to the imperial throne?

T P M F
Yes 39 34 42
No 55 59 51

Q: Do you think the Imperial House Law should be revised even in
case the law is not revised at the current Diet session?

T P M F
Yes 52 54 50
No 41 39 42

(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "0" indicates
that the figure was below 0.5 %. "--" denotes that no respondents
answered. "No answer" omitted. Parentheses denote the results of
the last survey conducted Jan. 21-22.

Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Feb. 10-11 over the
telephone with the aim of calling a total of 1,000 voters across
the nation on a computer-aided random digit sampling (RDS) basis.
Answers were obtained from 1,115 persons.


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(16) Poll: 39% for, 55% against revising Imperial House Law in
current Diet session; 65% support emperor of matrilineal descent

MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged)
February 12, 2006

The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide
public opinion survey on Feb. 10-11. In the survey, respondents
were asked if they were in favor of revising the Imperial House
Law during the current Diet session before Princess Kiko, the
wife of Emperor Akihito's younger son Prince Akishino, gives
birth to a baby, in order to allow female accession to the
imperial throne or an emperor of matrilineal descent. In
response, "yes" accounted for 39%, with "no" at 55%. Even in the
event Princess Kiko gives birth to a boy, 52% said it is
necessary to revise the law, with 41% said it is unnecessary to
do so. Respondents were also asked if they would support a female
monarch, and 78% answered "yes" to this question. The poll also
found that 65% would support an emperor of matrilineal descent,
meaning a person who received imperial blood only from the
mother's side. The figure is down from a previous survey
conducted in December last year, but still accounts for a
majority.

(17) US deputy under secretary of defense gives no grounds for
estimated cost of relocating Marines in Okinawa to Guam

ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
February 11, 2006

Defense Agency (JDA) Director General Nukaga met with US Deputy
Under Secretary of Defense Lawless at the Defense Agency
yesterday. Nukaga called on Lawless to present grounds for the
estimated cost worked out by the US to transfer Marines now
stationed in Okinawa to Guam. Both sides incorporated this
transfer plan in the interim report on US force realignment.
Specific grounds are necessary for the agency to submit bills
related to financial aid for the transfer to the current Diet
session. Nukaga said: "In order to take satisfactory legal and
budgetary bills by March, we will need to quickly map out
specific measures at an early date." But Lawless stopped short of
mentioning the basis for the calculation or a timeframe for
presenting it.

According to JDA officials, Nukaga told Lawless: "The entire
world now knows that Japan and the US will come up (with a final
report) by March. A failure to do so will inevitably have a
negative impact on bilateral relations." Lawless replied: "If we
miss this opportunity, it will become impossible to realign the
US forces in the next decade or two." Lawless, though, added:
"More problems have been left unresolved than expected."

(18) US force realignment: Japan, US faced with mounting
challenges before reaching settlement in March; Local consent not
obtained, huge relocation cost not clear

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged)
February 11, 2006

The Japanese and US governments have been speeding up their talks
on the planned US force realignment in an effort to produce a
final report by the end of March, as planned. In a three-day
meeting that began in Tokyo on Feb. 9, senior officials of the

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two countries worked hard to finalize specific plans and costs
for the relocation of US bases. The prevailing view is that
obtaining local consent before producing a final report will be
difficult. The two countries are faced with mounting challenges.

Local coordination

In his talks with US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Richard
Lawless on the night of Feb. 10, Defense Agency Director General
Fukushiro Nukaga revealed his intention to put an end to the
ongoing deputy director-level talks in February. He said:

"In light of the future political timetable, we need to settle
issues, including seeking local understanding and cooperation,
before the end of February. Otherwise, it will be difficult to
produce a final report in March."

Nukaga also underlined the importance of measures for local
areas, saying, "Lawmakers know it is important to offer
explanations to the electorate."

In the talks on Feb. 10, senior officials of the two countries
discussed the realignment and consolidation of US bases in the
central and southern parts of Okinawa and other matters. US
officials are scheduled to explain the cost for relocating US
Marines from Okinawa to Guam today.

But local chiefs have yet to agree to the planned realignment.
For instance, when Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro of Nago, Okinawa
Prefecture, the relocation site for US Marine Corps Futenma Air
Station, called on government and ruling party leaders on Feb. 9,
he reiterated his intention to reject a plan to relocate Futenma
Air Station to the coast of Camp Schwab. Shimabukuro has
reportedly cancelled his meeting with Nukaga as well. "It was a
message that Shimabukuro would not discuss the matter with the
Defense Agency, which has refused to make changes to the coastal
plan," a Defense Agency official said.

Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is also scheduled to conduct a
municipal plebiscite on March 12 on the propriety of shifting
carrier-borne aircraft from Atsugi to Iwakuni. The stage is not
set to obtain the consent of affected local governments before
the final report is produced in March.

Although Nukaga announced a plan Feb. 7 to establish a council of
the central government and affected local governments, specific
steps and other factors have yet to be worked out. Some in the
government have begun whispering of the need to postpone local
coordination until after the production of final report.

A financial burden

In the current talks with the US, Japan has put particularly high
priority on its share of the expenses for relocating US Marines
to Guam. In talks in the past, the US has informed Japan that the
relocation would cost approximately 8 billion dollars in total.
But a Defense Agency official complained: "The figure lacks a
clear basis for the calculation, including the number of
facilities to be built and other specifics. The estimate is
simply too rough."

Contrary to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's remarks that
realignment cannot wait any longer, the US has been slow to work

TOKYO 00000777 006 OF 010


out detailed estimates and make arrangements within the US
military for the planned base relocations.

Discord in the Japanese government is also being mentioned. On
Jan. 30, the Defense Agency replaced Defense Policy Bureau Deputy
Director General Chisato Uchiyama, who was responsible for the
deputy-director-level talks, with the agency's spokesman Hironori
Kanazawa. The Defense Agency has rejected making any changes to
the plan to relocate Futenma Air Station to the coast of Camp
Schwab, while the Foreign Ministry seems willing to alter the
plan.

The Defense Agency and the Foreign Ministry are also at odds over
the return of the air traffic control held by Yokota Air Base,
with the former contending that there is every reason for the US
to return to Japan control of the airspace over the country's
capital and the latter arguing that the US is unwilling to return
it because of operational reasons, so there is no need to ask for
it so strongly.

(19) US force realignment: Japan presents compromise plan to
allow partial use of Iwakuni by aerial tankers

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
February 12, 2006

Japan and the United States held deputy-director-level talks in
Tokyo on Feb. 11 to discuss the planned relocation of aerial
tankers based at US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan,
Okinawa Prefecture. In the session, Japan presented compromise
plans to basically relocate them to the Maritime Self-Defense
Force's Kanoya base in Kagoshima Prefecture, as specified in the
interim report, and also to allow them to partially use the US
Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station, as called for by the US. The
compromise plans called for the use of Iwakuni only within the
limits of not increasing noise. The two countries plan to
continue the discussions.

The interim report gave priority to relocating 12 KC-130 tanker
planes from Futenma Air Station to the Kanoya base, saying, "The
two countries will reach a final decision based on a study on
operational and technical factors."

In the talks, the US presented an official estimate of 8 billion
dollars (856 billion yen based on the fiscal 2005 exchange rate)
for the relocation of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam. The US
also promised that it would soon present Japan with a detailed
breakdown of the costs, in addition to rough estimates for base
facilities and training facilities. The US, however, did not
present Japan's share of the expenses.

(20) Police to investigate leading precision equipment maker in
Kawasaki tomorrow over illegal supplies of nuclear-related
equipment to China, Thailand

SANKEI (Top Play) (Slightly abridged)
February 12, 2006

The Metropolitan Police Board (MPB) has decided to raid a leading
precision equipment maker based in Kawasaki possibly tomorrow on
suspicion of a violation of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign
Trade Control Law. The company allegedly exported three-
dimensional measuring equipment and related software to China and

TOKYO 00000777 007 OF 010


Thailand in 2001 without obtaining permission from the Ministry
of Economic, Trade, and Industry (METI).

The three-dimensional measuring equipment can be used for
operating centrifuges designed to enrich uranium in the process
of manufacturing nuclear weapons.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspected nuclear
weapons facilities in Libya from December 2003 through March
2004, following leader Kadhafi's admission that the Libyan
government had been engaged in the development of nuclear and
chemical weapons and his agreement to accept IAEA inspections.
The UN nuclear watchdog found the high-tech equipment in question
and other types of measuring equipment at a nuclear development
research institute.

Investigators suspect the equipment was illegally exported to
Libya through a third country. In response to a report submitted
by the IAEA, the MPB, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry
and METI, traced the equipment's shipping route.

The Libyan government explained to the IAEA: "We procured the
nuclear-related equipment on the international black market."

The Metropolitan Police Board now suspects through the
investigation that the measuring equipment had been flown into
North Korea or had been put on the nuclear black market via
Thailand or other countries. In 2003, the MPB prosecuted a
trading firm on suspicion of attempting to supply North Korea
with direct current stabilizing power-supply equipment without
permission in violation of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade
Control Law. At that time, the MPB found that the firm had
planned to illegally export the product to North Korea through a
corporation in Thailand in order to avoid a METI investigation.

The company in question in Kawasaki was established in 1938 and
is the nation's largest precision equipment maker. The
manufacturer has strategic bases in 23 countries across the
world, including such communist countries as China and Vietnam,
as well as nuclear powers like India.

(21) SDP adopts declaration calling SDF unconstitutional and
previous support for single-seat system "mistake"

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
February 12, 2006

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) at its 10th party convention
held on Feb. 10 adopted a declaration saying, "The existence of
the Self-Defense Forces clearly violates the Constitution." The
declaration also touched on the party's aim of disbanding the SDF
in the future, saying, "We aim to realize an unarmed Japan." The
SDP, which declared the SDF constitutional in 1994 when it was
called the Social Democratic Party of Japan, has again openly
referred to the SDF as unconstitutional, shifting its stance.

Party head Mizuho Fukushima delivered a speech in which she said,
"The SDF, which have been dispatched to Iraq to assist the US
military using force, can hardly be said to be within the purview
of the Constitution." She also underlined the need to maintain
Article 9, revealing her party's plan to oppose a move to submit
to the Diet a national referendum bill stipulating a set of
procedures for amending the Constitution.

TOKYO 00000777 008 OF 010



Secretary General Seiji Mataichi also indicated that the party's

SIPDIS
support for a bill implementing the system combining single-seat
constituencies and proportional representation in 1993-1994 had
been a mistake. The party approved his view. The party also
decided to restore the honor of the nine Lower and Upper House
members who had been punished for revolting against party policy.

The party convention ends Feb. 12 with the adoption of an action
policy aiming, among other things, to win seven seats in next
summer's Upper House election.

(22) SDP calls SDF "unconstitutional" in party platform; DPJ's
Maehara says it is "regrettable"

ASAHI (Page 2) (Full)
February 12, 2006

The opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) has
adopted a declaration expressly stipulating that the Self-Defense
Forces are "clearly in an unconstitutional state." Asked about
this declaration, Seiji Maehara, president of the leading
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto),noted
yesterday to reporters in the city of Oita that it is important
to think of how to rewrite the Constitution, as the SDF are
needed for Japan. "It's regrettable that the SDP is now back in
an unrealistic situation," Maehara said.

(23) Government to strengthen ties with India, Australia against
China

ASAHI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged)
February 11, 2006

Japan-China relations are growing more and more serious as seen
from the sharp exchange of barbs between both countries' leaders
over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni
Shrine. Although both sides have continued holding working-level
talks and personnel exchanges at the levels of private citizens
and lawmakers, the prime minister and Foreign Minister Aso have
taken an uncompromising stance toward China. Such a stance has
been reflected in the Foreign Ministry's China policy. The
ministry is gearing up to check China by deepening Japan's ties
with India and Australia.

The antagonism between Japan and China is becoming fierce. In a
House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on Feb. 7,
Prime Minister Koizumi said: "Only the Chinese and South Korean
leaders say where the Japanese prime minister can or cannot go in
his own country." In reaction, Chinese State Council member Tang
Jiaxuan (deputy premier-level official responsible for foreign
policy) told visiting Lower House member Takeshi Noda on Feb. 8:
"We can no longer place expectations on Prime Minister Koizumi."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe criticized Tang's remark as
"inappropriate as a statement made by a leader."

(When Noda visited China,) he said to Chinese officials that the
Japanese government was ready to hold summits and foreign
ministerial meetings with Beijing. But China adamantly refused
such talks, citing the prime minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine.
Foreign Minister Aso made a statement in a speech on Feb. 4
indicating that the level of education in Taiwan was improved
when it was under Japan's control. This remark further stiffened

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China's stance.

Chinese First Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo arrived in Japan
to attend the vice-minister-level comprehensive policy talks
started on Feb. 10 in Tokyo. A Chinese Communist Party member
quoted him as saying: "I came to Japan, although some suggested
that I not do so." The Japanese government aims to create an
amicable atmosphere in the talks by selecting a hot spring resort
as the site. Japan and China are also expected to soon hold
bureau-director-level talks on the issue of gas field development
in the East China Sea.

At the same time, the Japanese Foreign Ministry aims to deepen
the partnerships Japan formed with India and Australia during the
East Asia Summit late last year. Foreign Minister Aso toured
India during the New Year's holiday and is also expected to visit
Australia in March.

Administrative Vice Minister Shotaro Yachi visited member
countries of the European Union (EU) and work on them to continue
their bans on arms exports to China. Yachi succeeded in
soliciting an agreement from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to
take a cautious stance about lifting the ban.

China, though, has indicated no signs of changing its attitude.

(24) Editorial: Secret pact on Okinawa reversion - time to come
clean

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
February 11, 2006

A former senior Foreign Ministry official admitted to the fact
that Japan paid the cost of restoring land in Okinawa to its
original state (on behalf of the United States) in spite of the
Japan-US agreement on the reversion of Okinawa (that stipulated
the US obligation to pay the cost). The existence of a secret
pact on Japan's shouldering of the cost was already revealed in
US government documents and other files, but this official was
the first Japanese official to admit to the existence of such a
pact.

The official who admitted Japan's shouldering of the cost is
Bunroku Yoshino, who at the time served as chief of the
ministry's American Affairs Bureau. In an interview with the
Mainichi Shimbun, Yoshino essentially acknowledged the existence
of a secret deal, noting: "The US Congress wouldn't have accepted
it if Japan hadn't paid money." His acknowledgement is of great
significance, given his role at the time in negotiations.

As for Okinawa, which since the end of WWII had been under US
administration, in 1969 Prime Minister Eisaku Sato and President
Nixon agreed that Okinawa would be nonnuclear and on a par with
mainland Japan, and in 1971 they signed an agreement on
reversion. The Diet approved the agreement.

This agreement stipulated that the US would on its own initiative
pay four million dollars as compensation for damage US forces
caused during their occupation to land previously owned by
Okinawa residents. This cost was not supposed to be included in
the 320 million yen Japan paid to the US to purchase its assets.

However, US government documents include a description that

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indicates the existence of a secret deal on Japan's shouldering
of the cost.

According to a US government file the Mainichi Shimbun obtained
at the US National Archives and Records Administration in 2002,
four million dollars of the cost to restore land to its original
state was supposed to have been paid by the US, but the amount
was added to the 316 million dollars - the amount Japan paid to
the US in return for the reversion of Okinawa. The file gave this
explanation: "The Japanese government has become nervous about
how to prevent the figure of four million dollars and the secret
pact on this matter from coming out."

In 1971, a Mainichi Shimbun reporter obtained Foreign Ministry
telegrams (on the secret pact) and reported on portions of them.
Following the reports, the secret pact issue was debated in the
Diet, but the government has continued to deny the existence of
such a deal. This time, as well, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo
Abe commented: "We have been informed that there was no secret
pact." Foreign Minister Taro Aso as well denied it, saying: "This
issue has been resolved. There's no change in the Foreign
Ministry's stance."

However, the testimony this time by a former Japanese diplomat
corresponds to what US government documents indicated. In other
words, a historical fact has now been confirmed. No matter how
firmly the government denies it, it will be useless. Facts are
not something the government can invent.

The government's basic stance about the disclosure of diplomatic
documents is to disclose them in principle 30 years after their
creation. But such documents relating to the reversion of
Okinawa, Japan-USSR negotiations, and Japan-ROK treaty talks have
not been opened to the public yet.

Under the Information Disclosure Law, the government is allowed
not to disclose information in some cases, for instance: 1) there
is fear of national security being endangered; 2) there is fear
of damaging a relationship of trust with another country; and 3)
there is fear of putting Japan at a disadvantage. But when it
comes to the agreement on the reversion of Okinawa that was
concluded 35 years ago, it has certainly entered the domain of
history. And considering the present Japan-US relationship, it is
least likely that disclosing relevant information would damage
security or harm the relationship of trust.

Our advice is that it is about time for the government to admit
to the fact.

SCHIEFFER