JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/08/07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000985 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/08/07 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 4) Embassy's The American Center formally reopens in new Akasaka location US-Japan comfort-women row: 5) Foreign Ministry plans to rebut in op-ed stinging New York Times editorial critical of Prime Minister Abe for unapologetic view of comfort-women issue 6) Government reportedly plans to reinvestigate the comfort-women issue, possibly replace Kono Statement with revised view Japan-North Korea talks: 7) DPRK delegation to bilateral working group rejects discussion of abduction issue, making today's continued talks more difficult to pursue 8) North Korea may be deliberately trying to isolate Japan in six-party talks framework 9) Japan at pledging conference ready to provide Africa with 2 billion yen in new aid Defense issues: 10) Cabinet adopts new guidelines for MD-related urgent-response guidelines 11) Prime Minister Abe in meeting with panel calls for speedy research on whether Japan can use right of collective self-defense Abe on the move: 12) With gulf widening between Kantei, party, Abe meets former Prime Minister Koizumi, LDP Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa to seek advice 13) Abe's replies in the Diet faulted as too long-winded 14) Abe pushing for speedy passage of national referendum bill on constitutional reform but opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) in the way 15) Abe's policy imprint is all over the national constitutional referendum bill but coalition partner New Komeito balking at early passage School for scandal: 16) Opposition in Diet attacks Abe, education and defense ministers for "taking political contributions from banned organizations" 17) Farm Minister Matsuoka refuses to explain to Diet details of his office's high utilities bills, even though such payments are free 18) Japanese kids in poll have little interest in studying, compared to kids in China, ROK 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Abduction issue halts Japan-DPRK talks on day one; North Korea rejects afternoon session Mainichi: Cherry blossoms likely to open early Yomiuri: Government plan outlines amakudari ban TOKYO 00000985 002 OF 012 Nihon Keizai: Aeon, Daiei reach final agreement on capital, operational tie-up Sankei: Government to review civil servant "career system" to shift it to merit system Tokyo Shimbun: National referendum bill likely to clear Diet in current session Akahata: Ruling coalition to forcibly hold committee session today to get national referendum bill pass through Lower House in March 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Nikko-Citigroup deal signifies a fresh start (2) Terminal care guidelines essential Mainichi: (1) Adhering to Kono Statement on "comfort women" natural (2) Long way for Nikko Cordial to restore trust Yomiuri: (1) Nikko-Citigroup deal a lesson for all (2) US-DPRK working group: Removing North Korea from the terrorist-sponsor list depends on Pyongyang Nihon Keizai: (1) US-DPRK talks need substance (2) Georgia expected to pursue reform policy Sankei: (1) Citi-Nikko deal: Healthy markets essential (2) Upgrading part-time workers to fulltime status: Workplace needs more flexibility Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Nikko-Citigroup deal a first step (2) Keeping good local scenery essential Akahata: (1) The rich do not need tax cuts 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, March 7 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 8, 2007 09:58 Met at Kantei with Education Minister Ibuki. 10:45 Met with Vice Foreign Minister Yachi. 12:00 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka. Had lunch with LDP Lower House TOKYO 00000985 003 OF 012 members now serving in their first-term in the Diet. 14:25 Met with LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Nakagawa. 15:01 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba, followed by Special Advisor Seko and Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Hasegawa. 16:07 Met with LDP Secretary General Nakagawa. Responded to interview by reporters attached to the cabinet. 18:07 Met with former Finance Minister Shiokawa and International University President Mineo Nakajima, later joined by Ibuki and Special Advisor Yamatani, at the Union Club in Tokyo Kaikan. 19:00 Dined with former Prime Minister Koizumi and Secretary General Nakagawa at the French restaurant in Imperial Hotel. 20:43 Returned to his official residence. 4) Opening ceremony of Tokyo American Center TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) March 8, 2007 The opening ceremony of the Tokyo American Center, which provides a variety of US information, including US government-issued publications, was held yesterday at the new office (in Akasaka, Minato Ward, Tokyo). In the ceremony, Ambassador Thomas Schieffer stated: "I hope the (new office) will help the US and Japan deepen mutual understanding." Kuniko Inoguchi, former state minister in charge of the declining birthrate, and Heizo Takenaka, former internal affairs and communications minister, attended the ceremony. 5) Foreign Ministry plans to ask New York Times for space to rebut its stinging editorial on comfort-women issue ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) March 8, 2007 The foreign media have been escalating their criticism of Prime Minister Abe in connection with the wartime comfort-women issue. In response, the Japanese government yesterday firmed up a decision to transmit to the foreign press and other parts of the media that the prime minister's true intention is to continue the stance in the Kono Statement, while asking the foreign press for space to insert a rebuttal toward the reports that are notQa C