Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO968
2006-02-24 02:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 02/24/06

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000968 

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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 02/24/06

Index:
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000968

SIPDIS

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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 02/24/06

Index:

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

Defense topics:
4) Prime Minister Koizumi rules out any changes in
controversial Camp Schwab coastal plan for Futenma relocation
5) Nago mayor, Okinawa react sharply to Prime Minister's
rejection of revision of relocation site for Futenma

6) MSDF leak in secret information reveals lax security
protection system
7) Four countries to discuss timetable for pullout from
Samawah, Iraq
8) Then Foreign Minister Yohei Kono order denial of existence
of secret pact between US, Japan on Okinawa reversion

9) Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe joins Foreign Minister Aso in
rebutting Russia on alleged "interference in internal affairs"

China connection:
10) Ruling parties get less than royal treatment during visit to
China
11) Japan, China agree to clean up WWII chemical residue left
behind by Japanese Imperial Army
12) Minshuto spells out policy view toward China

Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) crash lands in Diet:
13) Admitting "my assumption" was wrong, Minshuto lawmaker
offers to resign over e-mail fiasco but party puts it off
14) Minshuto in total confusion over e-mail fiasco, but so far
party is not asking for Maehara's head
15) As e-mail caper in Diet collapses, local chapters of
Minshuto wonder "what's going on in the party?"
16) E-mail disaster reveals total lack of crisis management
capability in Minshuto

17) Police crime statistics show rise in crimes by foreigners
last year

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi, Mainichi, and Yomiuri:

Nagata's resignation over "Horie e-mail" shelved for time being;
Exhausted lawmaker hospitalized for rest

Nihon Keizai:
High oil prices partially passed to finished products; Prices of
boxes, plastic bags rising

Sankei:
NTT DoCoMo succeeded in 2.5 gigabit -- 6510 times faster than
FOMA - fourth-generation telecommunications outdoor testing

Tokyo Shimbun:
Livedoor decided on fictitious deal before fiscal 2004 account
settlement in presence of Horie


TOKYO 00000968 002 OF 012


2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Minshuto, plunging deeper into chaos, must make a fresh
start
(2) Former National Land Agency chief Kosuke Ito: His good
offices for Huser exposed

Mainichi:
(1) Minshuto lawmaker Nagata: He should offer clear explanation
before resigning
(2) Japanese Red Army: Bitter lessons must not be forgotten

Yomiuri:
(1) Defense Agency must guard its secrets
(2) Horie rearrested: The hero betrayed the market

Nihon Keizai:
(1) Stage almost set for quantitative easing
(2) Minshuto must put an end to the e-mail scandal properly

Sankei:
(1) Minshuto needs a fresh start for restoring public trust
(2) Earthquake-resistance data falsification scandal: Ito must
be summoned as a sworn witness

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Minshuto in hot seat: Should Maehara leadership continue?
(2) METI Minister's visit to China: A chance to change the
politically cold relationship

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, February 23

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
February 24, 2006

11:00
Met at Kantei with LDP lawmakers from Okinawa, including Lower
House member Seiji Nakamura, joined by former defense chief
Ishiba. Met afterwards with Land, Infrastructure, and Transport
Ministry Policy Bureau chief Takekura, Fair Trade Commission
Secretary General Uesugi, and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet

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Secretary Saka.

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12:41
Met with Vice Administrative Vice Defense Minister Moriya.

14:30
Met with LDP FTA/EPA Committee Chairman Yatsu.

15:22
Met Japan Post President Ikuta.

16:35
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi.

17:30
Attended a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy.

19:18

TOKYO 00000968 003 OF 012


Dined with CEFP members from the private sector, Homan and
Yoshikawa.

21:16
Returned to his official residence.

4) Prime Minister Koizumi has no intention to revise government's
Futenma relocation plan

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
February 24, 2006

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met yesterday with five Diet
members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),including House of
Representatives member Seiji Nakamura, all of whom were elected
from Okinawa. In the meeting, Koizumi told the lawmakers that he
had no intention to revise the government plan to relocate the US
Marine Corps Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa
Prefecture) to the cost of Camp Schwab (Nago City, Okinawa).

5) Nago City mayor, Okinawa Prefecture react sharply to Prime
Minister's rejection of revision of relocation site for Futenma:
"We'll go with the government's plan"

RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Excerpt)
February 24, 2006

With Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's rejection of any revision
of the plan to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station
to the coastal portion of Camp Schwab by saying yesterday, "I
would like to go with the government's plan," Nago City Mayor
Yoshikazu Shimabukuro last evening reacted strongly, saying: "The
prefecture, the city of Nago, and local residents all are
unconvinced. Since the local community and the city government
have continued to state that we cannot accept the plan as is,
what in the world is he (the prime minister) thinking?"

6) MSDF info leak: Data control found lax, serious repercussions
likely

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged)
February 24, 2006

The recent Internet leakage of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's
in-house files, including confidential documents, has exposed the
government's lax management of information regarding national
security. The Defense Agency remains unable to gauge the
incident's possible impact. Prime Minister Koizumi yesterday told
the Defense Agency directly to take preventive steps. The
government is taking this problem seriously.

The Defense Agency categorizes its in-house materials under the
three-stage precedence of "top secret" (kimitsu),"strictly
secret" (gokuhi),and "secret" (hi).

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The materials leaked this time are less confidential data falling
under the "secret" category, a Defense Agency official says.
Those materials include a listing of call signs used to identify
Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels. "The MSDF will not be
affected, because its vessels use different call signs in
everyday operations," an MSDF staff officer at the Defense Agency
said. The officer added, "We're now looking into the incident's

TOKYO 00000968 004 OF 012


repercussions, but it's very difficult to find out which units
will be affected."

"We must have impeccable information security for Japan's
national security," Defense Agency Director General Nukaga stated
in a House of Representatives plenary session yesterday
afternoon. With this, Nukaga stressed that the agency would do
its utmost to establish an information security system. The
agency has set up an investigative committee to study specific
countermeasures.

Meanwhile, Koizumi called in Takemasa Moriya, administrative
deputy director general of the Defense Agency, to his office
yesterday afternoon. "This incident will cause the government to
lose public confidence," Koizumi told Moriya. The premier also
told Moriya to work out preventive measures for thoroughgoing
information management.

7) 4-nation talks to be held today on Samawah pullout

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged)
February 24, 2006

The governments of four countries-Japan, the United States,
Britain, and Australia-will hold a meeting of working-level
officials for foreign affairs and defense today in London to
discuss the planned withdrawal of Ground Self-Defense Force
troops currently deployed in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah,
as well as the pullout of British and Australian troops. Japan,
Britain, and Australia have decided to withdraw their troops by
the end of May. Their troop withdrawal is expected to begin in
March if the United States' understanding is obtained.

In Iraq, the timetabled establishment of a new government will
likely be delayed into April or afterward. However, Japan,
Britain, and Australia will withdraw their respective troops
before Iraq establishes a permanent government, explaining that
the political process in Iraq is underway. Japan will continue to
engage the Air Self-Defense Force in airlift missions between
Kuwait and Iraq, whereby Japan would like to obtain the United
States' understanding for its planned withdrawal of GSDF troops.

8) 'Secret deal' on Okinawa reversion denied at Kono's request:
ex-official

ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged)
February 24, 2006

In 1972, the United States returned Okinawa to Japan. In those
days, the US government was supposed to pay 4 million dollars to
restore the island prefecture's base land to its original state.
Japan, however, made a secret deal with the United States to
shoulder the cost. In 2000, US records verifying pact were
discovered. At the time, Bunroku Yoshino, 87, who was the then
director general of the American Affairs Bureau at the Foreign
Ministry and was in charge of negotiations with the US
government, told the Asahi Shimbun that Yohei Kono, the then
foreign minister and current House of Representatives speaker,
asked Yoshino to deny the pact. "Anyway, we had only to have the
agreement ratified," Yoshino said, adding: "Get it over with and
forget it. That's the kind of feeling I had. I thought to forget
all about it."

TOKYO 00000968 005 OF 012



Yoshino retracted his previous testimony in an Asahi Shimbun
interview early this month and admitted to the secret deal. Later
on, the Asahi Shimbun interviewed him twice. In the interviews,
he revealed Kono's request to deny the deal.

In 2000, Masaaki Gabe, a professor at the University of the
Ryukyus, and the Asahi Shimbun obtained US documents, one of
which quotes Yoshino as saying the Japanese government will
"secure" 4 million dollars, which, according to the Okinawa
reversion agreement, the US government was supposed to pay on its
own initiative. The document was signed by Yoshino and US
Minister to Japan Sneider from the US embassy in Japan.

Yoshino, according to his own account, received a telephone call
from a Foreign Ministry official after the secret deal made the
news. The official then asked Yoshino to deny the secret
agreement if asked about it in press interviews, Yoshino told the
Asahi Shimbun. Former Foreign Minister Kono also called Yoshino
and asked him to do so.

Kono later met the press and reiterated his predecessors'
parliamentary remarks. In 2002, another US government official
document endorsing the secret agreement was discovered. Foreign
Minister Kawaguchi at the time stated before the House of
Councillors Budget Committee that Kono had directly confirmed
this with Yoshino. With this, Kawaguchi, based on Yoshino's
testimony, denied the secret pact. With his testimony this time,
the government has lost its grounds for its Diet reply.

"Anyway, it was important to get the agreement ratified," Yoshino
said. "I thought to forget all about it because I thought that I
wouldn't feel guilty," he added.

9) Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe rebuts Russia over criticism of
Aso's comment

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full0
February 24, 2006

The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement that Japanese
Foreign Minister Taro Aso's comments on Japan-Russia relations
were "interference in internal affairs." In that context, Chief
Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe stated in a press conference
yesterday: "Foreign Minister Aso made a comment based on Japan's
claim that the four northern territories belong to Japan. The
Russian government's criticism is wrong."

Foreign Ministry European Affairs Bureau Deputy Director General
Tsuyoshi Yagi told the Russian minister to Japan on the phone,

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"Since Russia's claim is utterly wrong, we cannot accept it." The
minister then responded, by saying, "I will convey your claim to
my home country."

10) China differentiates treatment of ruling-party delegation to
China from pro-Chinese Nikai; No high-level official responds;
Checks post-Koizumi contenders

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
February 24, 2006

The ruling parties' delegation to China, including Liberal

TOKYO 00000968 006 OF 012


Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao
Nakagawa, returned home yesterday. The delegation in talks with
key Chinese government officials and members of the Communist
Party found common ground on the need to repair the strained
bilateral relations. The Chinese side, however, maintained the
position that settling the Yasukuni Shrine issue should be the
precondition for mending ties. Economy, Trade, and Industry
Minister Toshihiro Nikai happened to be separately visiting China
around the same time. In selecting partners for talks with ruling-
party delegation members and Nikai, the Chinese side sent
officials of different ranks to the two separate meetings. It
thus appears that it wanted to send a message to post-Koizumi
contenders, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, that it
will not give in on the Yasukuni issue, through Nakagawa, who
will play a role in the post-Koizumi race.

During a meeting of the Japan-China Ruling Party Exchange
Council, the main event in the delegation's visit to China,
Nakagawa stated, "Our two countries need to focus more on common
areas than differences, placing a priority on common interests."
He thus noted that if the two countries stick to the Yasukuni
issue, interests that are more important for both countries would
be lost. "Common interests" was the key phrase for the
delegation.

The Chinese side indicated understanding of common interests, but
it reiterated that differences in views of the two countries on
the Yasukuni issue are not minor. Chinese Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Liu Jianchao also pointed out: "If the Japanese side
has illusions on this issue, it will not suit the improvement and
development of bilateral relations."

The partners of the talks were also disappointing for the
Japanese side. Japan wanted to meet Wo Bangguo, chairman of the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Vice
President Zeng Qinghong. However, the delegation found it
impossible to make arrangements for talks with either of them. A
meeting with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing was also canceled that
day. On the other hand, Premier Wen Jiabao (who ranks third in
the Communist Party) met Nikai. Another delegation consisting of
members of seven Japan-China friendship organizations, including
Ryutaro Hashimoto, which is scheduled to visit China in late
March, is expected to meet with President Hu Jintao. Thus, the
gap in the treatment is clear.

Giving up on repairing the deteriorated relationship while Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi is in power, China has begun to
envisage a strategy toward Japan in the post-Koizumi era. The
Chinese side was, therefore, motivated by the desire to give
priority to the Japan-China Ruling Party Exchange Council as a
setting for it to directly indicate basic conditions for mending
the bilateral relations.

As if to endorse this, Feb. 23 edition of Chinese dailies, such
as the People's Daily, elaborately reported the contents of
discussions with members of the Exchange Council rather than the
contents of the talks between Wen and Nikai. Wang Jiarui,
director of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison
Department, during the meeting said: "The key to finding a
breakthrough in the stalemate is for Japanese leaders to stop
visiting Yasukuni Shrine. They should have political wisdom and
courage." His statement was directed at post-Koizumi contenders.

TOKYO 00000968 007 OF 012



China during an internal meeting held late last year confirmed
that the Yasukuni issue is a serious one concerning principles
and that China will not compromise. At the same time, it also
came up with a stance that once that issue is settled, it would
be possible to resume top-level exchanges. The meeting with
members of the Exchange Council can be characterized as a setting
for the Chinese side to convey this policy to the Japanese side.

China believes that Nakagawa will continue to play a key role in
the post-Koizumi era. It apparently wants to use the Exchange
Council as a starting point in building a new channel with
Japanese political circles.

11) Japan, China agree to set up combined organ to dispose of
chemical weapons abandoned by the former Japan Imperial Army

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
February 23, 2006

The Japanese and Chinese governments as of Feb. 22 have basically
agreed to a plan to establish in the near future a "Japan-China
Combined Organization" (tentative name) to jointly carry out the
disposal of chemical weapons abandoned in China by the former
Japan Imperial Army during World War II. The two governments
agreed to a five-year extension on the current deadline of April
2007 to dispose of the weapons, and, based on local surveys, to
revise downward the estimated number of buried shells from
approximately 700,000 to a new figure of between 300,000 and
400,000.

12) Minshuto recognizes China as threat to Japan

SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts)
February 24, 2006

The main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan)
approved in principle a basic view on China in a meeting
yesterday of its foreign policy and defense department. The view
finds it inevitable that China's military buildup and its moves
to line up marine interests " from the viewpoint of the Japanese
people are recognized as an actual threat to Japan " The largest
opposition party also criticized the "intent" of the Chinese
government for carrying out "words and actions that repeatedly
threaten Japan's sovereignty." Those views are likely to be
included in a "Maehara Vision" on foreign policy and security
policy, which will be issues before the end of the ongoing Diet
session.

The basic view titled, "For Stable Cooperative Relations with
China," points out that military threats rise to the surface with
there is a linkage of "capabilities" and "intention." The view
states that since there is a good reason for Japanese people to
feel a Chinese military threat, the party should seriously take
public concern about China's military actions.

Outline of Minshuto's view on China

China has rapidly moved forward with modernization of its
military power by adding a fourth generation fighter aircraft,
submarines and destroyers, in addition to nuclear weapons and
ballistic missiles that can reach Japan.

TOKYO 00000968 008 OF 012



There is a good reason for many Japanese people to feel a threat
to China's military buildup. The Democratic Party of Japan takes
seriously public concern about China's military activities.

The Chinese government has repeatedly in its words and actions
threatened our country's sovereignty in terms of "its intention"
such as the development of maritime resources based on its own
assertion of sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands
in Chinese),the Okinotorishima islands and the median line
between Japan and China.

If China strongly insists its own claims backed by its military
"capability," Japan-China relations will unavoidably become
tense. It is inevitable that the Japanese public takes such a
situation as an actual threat.

13) E-mail caper -- Minshuto Nagata: "Acted on my assumptions,"
apologizes and takes rest, but his resignation put off

MAINICHI (Top Play) (Full)
February 24, 2006

Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) member Hisayasu Nagata, 36,
expressed his intention to resign as a Diet legislator after he
failed to prove his allegation that former Livedoor President
Takafumi Horie had instructed one of his employees to wire 30
million yen to the second son of Liberal Democratic Party
Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe. In response to this

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development, the opposition party urgently called an executive
committee meeting last night to discuss whether to accept the
resignation. The party decided in the meeting to tell Nagata to
rest for a while. This means that the party leadership has chosen
to delay its decision on his immediate fate. Secretary General
Yukio Hatoyama quoted Nagata as saying: "I acted on my
assumption. I offer an apology to the people and the party." He
thus admitted it was a mistake for him to have taken up the issue
at the Diet and expressed his regret. The party executive expects
to see the situation calm down with Nagata's taking a rest. Some
Minshuto members, however, have questioned party leaders'
responsibility over the E-mail furor. The opposition party has
unprecedentedly been thrown into confusion.

Appearing on a TBS program last night, Hatoyama said: "Not only
Mr. Nagata but even the party leaders who believed the
credibility of the e-mail, including me, have to feel
responsible."

Last evening, Hatoyama and Diet Affairs Committee Chairman
Yoshihiko Noda met with Nagata at a Tokyo hotel. Although Nagata
had expressed his intention to resign when he met Noda on the
night of Feb. 22, he reportedly said yesterday changed his mind.
Hatoyama explained about Nagata's state of mind to reporters
after the executive committee meeting last night: "He is in
emotional turmoil. He is now in quite an unstable state in part
from lack of sleep." The party leaders cannot figure out Nagata's
real feelings. Hatoyama suggested that the party would take time
in making a judgment. Some observers speculate that party leaders
might be worried that an acceptance of Nagata's resignation might
lead to the issue of their own culpability.

In its emergency executive committee meeting yesterday morning,

TOKYO 00000968 009 OF 012


the party decided to leave to Hatoyama the decision on whether to
accept Nagata's resignation. Speaking to reporters last evening,
Noda ruled out the possibility of his resignation, saying: "It is
our responsibility to make utmost efforts to uncover the details
of the allegations involving Livedoor and persons close to Mr.
Takebe." But it is uncertain whether the party executive would be
able to calm down growing criticism against it over the clumsy
responses taken after Nagata brought up the topic in the Diet and
following Nagata's admission of his error.

In a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on Feb.
16, Nagata took up the e-mail issue but refused to table
evidence, such as who was the sender, citing the need to protect
the identity of the information provider. In reaction, questions
were being raised about the authenticity of the e-mail from among
LDP members. In the party head debate on Feb. 22, as well, the
Minshuto head failed to present new evidence. (TN: Articles in
weekly magazines have identified the sender as a freelance
journalist with a spotty reputation for scandalous stories in
tabloids.)

Nagata hospitalized

The Minshuto spokesman announced last night that Nagata was
hospitalized in Meguro Ward, Tokyo. An executive member
commented: "He is suffering from extreme stress."

14) Confusion in Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) likely to
be prolonged, with no one to replace Maehara; Ozawa, Kan, other
leaders shy away from setting foot in minefield?

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
February 24, 2006

The fury in Minshuto over the alleged Livedoor e-mail is likely
to turn into a call for the resignation of the party leadership,
including President Seiji Maehara. Members of each group in the
party have taken the position of not holding the party leadership
to account, apparently to avoid a destructive blow to the party,
but their true desire is to avoid setting foot in a minefield,
given the party is attempting to recovering from its crushing
defeat in the Lower House election last year. However, their
avoidance of doing so due to the difficulty in finding someone to
replace (Maehara) will only help prolong the confusion.

"The leadership has the responsibility to do our utmost to find
out the truth of the suspicions involving Livedoor and aides to
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe,"
Yoshihiko Noda, chair of the Minshuto Diet Affairs Committee
yesterday stressed to reporters in the Diet.

The party executives intend to continue their pursuit of
allegations that Livedoor offered money to Takebe's second son.
They want to avoid a resignation of the leadership triggered by
Hisayasu Nagata's resignation as a Diet member.

Ichiro Ozawa and Naoto Kan, former party vice presidents, and
others who have kept their distance from the leadership are
taking a wait-and-see attitude, thinking that driving the
leadership into a corner at this point could deepen the wound.

15) "Horie e-mail" draws outcries from Minshuto local chapters;

TOKYO 00000968 010 OF 012


Maehara's responsibility splits local reactions

ASAHI (Page 39) (Excerpts)
February 24, 2006

Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) lawmaker Hisayasu Nagata's
sudden announcement yesterday that he would resign over the
alleged "Horie e-mail" sent shockwaves through the party's local
chapters, leading to such comments as, "The problem will not end
with his resignation," and "If there is no hard evidence, he has
no other option but to resign." Nagata's announcement split party
members. Many also began questioning the responsibility of party
head Seiji Maehara and other executives. The largest opposition
party has gone down a self-destructive course after intensifying
its offensive against the ruling coalition over the Livedoor and
earthquake-resistance data falsification scandals and other
matters. "We have been thrown into the abyss of despair,"
lamented a senior member of a prefectural chapter scheduled to
face a by-election in April.

"How could he do such a thing?" blasted Osaka Chapter Secretary
General Kenji Tomita, obviously unable to conceal his irritation.
The chapter is scheduled to open a political school for the
general public next month with the aim of expanding the party's
support base for the unified local elections in spring 2007.

Tomita feared that the e-mail in question would prompt the public
to call for a Lower House dissolution. "He should have posed
questions based on hard evidence. He should of course fulfill his
responsibility, but he won't be able to do so if there is no
solid evidence." Tomita thinks Nagata has no choice but to
resign.

Shizuoka chapter Policy Research Council Chairman Masao Iwata
noted: "He took up a groundless matter at the Diet and threw the
party into turmoil. He cannot avoid taking the blame for it."

Secretary General Yuichi Sakano of the Toyama chapter also said:

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"We must respect Mr. Nagata's decision to resign. Besides,
Minshuto lawmakers have caused enough scandals, such as drug
abuse and allowing an aid to conduct legal activities without a
license. All those scandals have had negative impacts on
activities of prefectural chapters."

Some think Nagata's resignation will hurt the party's image even
more. One of them is the Fukuoka chapter's Ryohei Sukenobu, who
said:

"His resignation at this point would amplify public
disappointment with Minshuto. Resigning means that the e-mail was
bogus, and that would cause President Maehara to lose face as
well."

Maehara's responsibility splits local organizations

Local chapters are also split over Maehara's course of action.

Representative Yasuo Ichikawa of the Ishikawa chapter expressed
opposition to Maehara's resignation, saying: "The Diet is in
session, and Mr. Maehara should fulfill his responsibility. The
party should continue seriously investigating possible ties

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between the LDP and Livedoor."

Sharing Ichikawa's view, Kenji Narumi of the Ehime chapter also
commented:

"I would like to see Mr. Maehara continue urging the Diet to
exercise its investigative powers to prove the authenticity of
the e-mail. This will help clean up the political world."

Kyoto's Soichi Utsunomiya took this view:

"There was a party-head debate, and Mr. Maehara is not totally
blameless. But he should not resign. It's not good for party
executives to change all the time."

Some are not so lenient toward Maehara's responsibility. Kazuo
Takamatsu, an assemblyman in Akita, said in a strong tone:

"Minshuto has blown itself up, exposing a lack of leadership. All
those political stunts and the race for fame have also exposed
the foolishness of Diet members. Mr. Maehara allowed Mr. Nagata
to raise that question in the Diet, knowing Lower House
dissolution would follow. Mr. Maehara's responsibility is grave."

16) Minshuto lacking crisis management ability

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
February 24, 2006

By Shinya Tokumasu

Lawmaker Hisayasu Nagata yesterday apologized to senior members
of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) for the Horie e-mail
issue. His apology has proved the alleged Horie e-mail not to be
authentic. The case is likely to close with a poor result one
week after Nagata's bombshell in the Lower House Budget
Committee.

The more closely the e-mail was scrutinized, the more questions
cropped up. First, Nagata did not directly interview the person
believed to be the source of information. He relied solely on
information from his friend, a freelance journalist, thereby
making his pursuit of the issue somewhat weak. According to a
government source, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, based on
highly reliable information, concluded that the e-mail in
question was bogus.

Party members who knew of the e-mail issue before it was brought
up in the Diet were Nagata and only a few party executives,
including President Seiji Maehara and Diet Policy Committee
Chairman Yoshihiko Noda. Even Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama
was reportedly left out of the loop. Noda, who had allowed Nagata
to pursue the issue in the Diet, had expressed his expectations
before his questioning in the Diet. Maehara continued to be
protective of Nagata even after questions began to be raised,
insisting: "It's highly reliable." As a result, he helped bring
about a bigger blow to the party. The most serious problem is
that the Maehara-led leadership was unable to verify the email,
exposing its lack of crisis management capability and its
immature Diet response.

In 1983, former House of Representatives member Yanosuke Narazaki

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of the then Social Democratic Federation caused confusion in the
Diet by saying that the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) were planning a
coup at the Lower House Budget Committee. The case this time
seems as though it will end up the same way.

After its crushing defeat in the Lower House election last
September, Minshuto has been trying to rebuild itself under the
leadership of its young President Maehara, 43. But the nation's
largest opposition parties have seen internal strife and
divisions since the collapse of the 1955 political system, which
involved the LDP and the Japan Socialist Party. On the other
hand, in the LDP, where cohesive power lies in holding the reins
of government, Prime Minister Koizumi has overcome difficulties
by confronting the so-called forces of resistance in the party.
But the opposition parties tend to split every time a conflict
occurs.

Nagata offered an apology to party executives, but he has not
made any explanation at all not only to the party leadership but
also to the public. In addition, the question of who is
responsible has been put aside. The party appears to be in
hopeless confusion. A veteran DPJ House of Councillors member
remarked: "Nagata seems confused, but the party itself is
confused. They don't understand what is the problem."

17) Police raids last year net a record 47,874 crimes involving
foreigners; Organized crimes also increase with 72% rate of joint
criminal activities

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Full)
February 24, 2006

The National Police Agency yesterday released crime statistics
for 2005 revealing that the number of crimes committed by
foreigners (not permanent residents) as netted in nationwide
crackdowns reached 47,877 incidents, up 1.6% from the previous
year. This is the highest figure since such statistics have been
kept starting in 1980. The number of criminals rounded up was
down 3.0% to 22,179 persons.

The portion of jointly committed crimes rose 6 points last year
to 72.6%, the highest since such statistics were started in 1990.
This is much higher than the percentage of joint crimes by
Japanese (16.9% last year),indicating clearly that foreigners
tended to be involved in organized crimes.

Raids for special legal crimes such as violations of immigration
law were down 1.4% last year to 14,833. Such felony crimes as
murder or armed robbery were down 9.0% to 314, but burglaries,
such as breaking into residences, were up 16.3% to 8,145 cases,
and auto thefts were up 23.0% to 1,078.

Chinese made up the largest number, 41.0%, of those arrested,
based on nationality, or a total of 8,689. South Koreans made up
9.6%; Philippinos, 8.4%, and Brazilians, 6.1%;

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