DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/23/08

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/23/08 INDEX: AMERICAN EMBASSY, TOKYO PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION OFFICE OF TRANSLATION AND MEDIA ANALYSIS INQUIRIES: 03-3224-5360 INTERNET E-MAIL ADDRESS: otmatokyo@state.gov DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS April 23, 2008 INDEX: (1) TOP HEADLINES (2) EDITORIALS (3) Prime Minister's schedule, April 22 (Nikkei) (4) Rush of bills clear Lower House before revote on bill amending Special Taxation Measures Law; Ruling, opposition blocs make concessions on uncontroversial bills (Nikkei) (5) Koike suddenly emerges as likely post-Fukuda prime ministerial candidate: Making strategic-move without hesitation, checking Aso (Sankei) (6) Japan-South Korea summit: Fukuda, Lee agree to cooperate for settlement of North Korea's abduction, nuclear program issue (Nikkei) (7) U.S. military may deploy VTOL aircraft to Okinawa: Koumura (Ryukyu Shimpo) ARTICLES: (1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: Three Chinese including ONE Nomura Securities employee arrested for insider trading Nikkei: Fuji Film, Daiichi Sankyo to domestic-manufacture anti-influenza drugs Akahata: House of Councilors member Koike of JCP claims that insurance premiums for the medical system for the elderly will indefinitely increase, be doubled in fiscal 2025, when baby boomers join the system (2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Death sentence for man who killed mother and child: If you are a citizen judge.... (2) Nomura employee's insider trading outrageous Mainichi: (1) Death sentence for killing mother, child likely to enhance tendency for strict punishment (2) Arrest of Nomura employee: Not seen as a mere crime committed by individual employee TOKYO 00001122 002 OF 007 Yomiuri: (1) Death sentence for killing mother, child as appropriate ruling (2) Insider trading by Nomura employee outrageous Nikkei: (1) Death sentence for killing mother, child: Heavier responsibility for crime handed down (2) Nomura employee's illegal act: Company needs to review its information management system from every angle Sankei: (1) Insider trading by employee in charge of M&As at Nomura a serious issue (2) Public's feelings reflected in death sentence Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Death sentence for killing mother, child leaves heavy task (2) Is it necessary to continue the nationwide achievement test for five years? Akahata: (1) Railroading the bill on "Host Nation Support (sympathy) agreement" through Diet is unacceptable (3) Prime Minister's schedule, April 22 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 23, 2008 09:01 Attended a cabinet meeting. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Masuda stayed on. 09:56 Make an informal representation at the Imperial Palace about decoration. 10:55 Met at the Kantei Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae, Economic Affairs Bureau Director-General Otabe, Environmental Ministry Global Environment Bureau Director-General Minamikawa, Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ando and others. 12:15 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 13:58 Met Lower House member Yasufumi Tanahashi, joined in by LDP Administrative Reform Headquarters chief Chuma. Tanahashi stayed on. 15:00 Met LDP Secretary General Ibuki and Machimura. Machimura stayed on. Afterward attended a global warming council meeting. 17:04 Met cabinet special adviser Okuda, followed by Deputy Foreign Minister Kohno, followed by Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Ota. 18:14 TOKYO 00001122 003 OF 007 Visited the IT Strategic Headquarters. 19:03 Returned to his official residence. (4) Rush of bills clear Lower House before revote on bill amending Special Taxation Measures Law; Ruling, opposition blocs make concessions on uncontroversial bills NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) April 23, 2008 Under the divided Diet where deliberations on legislations have been stalled, the ruling parties have begun hurriedly sending bills from the House of Representatives to the House of Councillors. For the sake of smooth enactment, ruling and opposition parties have agreed to make changes to some uncontroversial bills, such as the ONE for measures against the possible outbreak of a new strain of influenza. Such a scene is rare at a time when the closure of the Diet is less than two months away. The aim is to obtain prospects for the bills' passage before the Diet is thrown into turmoil by an override revote in the Lower House, possibly on April 30, on a bill amending the Special Taxation Measures Law. Since April 15, the Lower House has approved 13 bills in its plenary sessions and sent them to the upper chamber. An additional six bills are expected to clear the Lower House on April 24-25. As of April 14, 51 bills were still in the Lower House. The lower chamber has approved a little less than 40 PERCENT of the bills, including the ones projected to clear the chamber, in just ten days. The lower chamber's swift passages of bills reflect the ruling bloc's desire to ensure sufficient time for deliberations in the opposition controlled-Upper House. In anticipation of boycotts of deliberations by the Democratic Party of Japan following its submission of a censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on April 30 or later, the ruling camp apparently also wants to expose the Upper House's inability by sending as many bills as possible to the chamber. April 16 was the deadline for the ruling parties to resort to a two-thirds majority override vote by using the constitutional 60-day rule in the ongoing Diet session, which closes on June 15. With the G-8 Summit coming up on July 7, a plan has also cropped up in the ruling bloc to extend the session for about 10 days until late June to make every effort, including the option of a revote, for the enactment of key bills At the same time, both the ruling and opposition blocs have made concessions on many pressing subjects. For instance, the LDP and DPJ have reached a broad agreement to enact a bill amending the Infection Prevention Law and the Quarantine Law including measures against a new strain of influenza after making some changes to the legislation. This was followed by the Upper House Health, Labor, and Welfare Committee's decision on April 22 to get the bill amending the two laws approved by the Lower House and the Upper House on April 24 and 25, respectively. The two parties have also basically agreed to make changes to a basic space bill for promoting the development and use of space and a special measures bill to ensure caregivers. Both parties have TOKYO 00001122 004 OF 007 begun intra-party procedures on April 22. Such steps reflect the shared desire by the ruling and opposition blocs to enact pressing and uncontroversial bills before the Diet stalls later this month due to a pitched battle. They also apparently want to dodge the public criticism that by putting high priority on a political battle, political parties have been neglecting key policy issues. (5) Koike suddenly emerges as likely post-Fukuda prime ministerial candidate: Making strategic-move without hesitation, checking Aso SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) April 23, 2008 With public support rates for the Yasuo Fukuda cabinet plummeting, former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike has surfaced as a potential post-Fukuda prime ministerial candidate. Koike nonchalantly said: "I am honored to hear that, but it is nothing but a joke." Fielding Koike as a candidate for the post of prime minister is becoming a far more realistic prospect than ever before, intertwined with the motives of those in the party wanting to check former Secretary General Taro Aso, a prime candidate for the premiership. If a pattern of contest similar to the Hillary Clinton vs. Obama race in the U.S. presidential election appears in the next Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, there is a strong possibility of the LDP regaining impetus. If a"Koike fever" flares up, a Lower House dissolution mood would also emerge. Koike on the 22nd delivered a one-hour speech at a party of mid-ranking LDP lawmakers. She stated: "My initials (in Japanese order) are KY - which some are reading as "Kankyo o Yokusuru (meaning "improve the environment"). Since I once belonged to the New Party Japan, I have many peers in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto). Though we belong to different parties, we share the same perception that we must change Japan. I hope I can serve as a coordinator for an adult-like approach." After she started speaking, she suddenly changed the venue and shut out the media. An aide to her explained, "Since it is a delicate time, ..." However, telltale signs were reportedly spotted in her behavior indicating that she was aware of her position as a possible candidate to replace Fukuda. She has come under the spotlight as a candidate for the premiership since she visited China along with former Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa on March 23-24. Nakagawa introduced her to the Chinese side by saying, "She is a new leader who will forge the future of Japan." In mid-May, she visited Russia along with former DPJ President Seiji Maehara and took part in an international conference. She also launched the Parliamentarian League to Achieve the Kyoto Protocol Goal (Mokutatsu Parliamentarian League) on April 9. On April 9, she dined with former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who had assumed the title of honorary advisor to the parliamentarian league, and Seiji Maehara. Koizumi during the meal said, "We have here two prime ministerial candidates. An interesting thing might happen." Koike explained, "I was invited to dinner. That's why I went. It's as simple as that." However, it appears that she has begun planning TOKYO 00001122 005 OF 007 her next move with an eye on the political situation becoming unstable in the future. The April edition of "Domani," a fashion magazine for women, featured a gravure article titled "Dreaming Japan of Tomorrow -- the Other Side of Manliness -- Friendly Career-Track Politician." She is expected to publish a new work in June titled "Wasteful Japan," which focuses on environmental issues. She started a career as a politician after working as a newscaster. Since then, she has flexibly sided with the leaders of the hour, such as former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa and Koizumi. Many observers are of the opinion that she is quick to catch the political situation, like Koizumi, as ONE lawmaker who once served as a cabinet minister put it. Koike said, "I am just behaving with a natural stance." However, no doubt she is sensitive to skirmishes in political circles. When will she make the next move with an eye on Aso, who remains committed to a strategy of waiting until the time is ripe. (6) Japan-South Korea summit: Fukuda, Lee agree to cooperate for settlement of North Korea's abduction, nuclear program issue NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) April 22, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda during the summit with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak on April 21 reconfirmed his determination to strengthen cooperation among Japan, the U.S. and South Korea on North Korea's nuclear program issue. Lee expressed his support for a settlement of the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea. He also supported Fukuda's proposal for holding a Japan-China and South Korea summit in Japan within this year. His pledge will likely be of help for Fukuda, whose policy slogan is to focus on Asia diplomacy. However, the challenge is to what extent both countries can build a full-fledged partnership. Fukuda during a joint press conference after the meeting stressed the close cooperation between the two countries over North Korea policy. He noted, "The president declared his understanding of and support for Japan's position." Six-Party Talks recently has settled into a pattern of other members confirming the outcome of direct talks between the U.S. and North Korea. Japan's position is that it is essential for the abduction issue to move forward in the talks and not just the nuclear and missile issues. However, it cannot be said that this position has obtained across-the-board sympathy from other countries. After a long absence, South Korea has a conservative administration with the election of President Lee. To Fukuda, this appears to be a good opportunity to rebuild Japan's North Korea diplomacy. According to an account given by South Korea, Prime Minister Fukuda, having the resumption of a dialogue between Seoul and Pyongyang in mind, twice during the summit told Lee, "When you work to persuade Pyongyang, please tell them that once ties between Japan and North Korea are normalized, Japan would proved North Korea with a bonus." However, to what extent Japan and South Korea can cooperate on specific measures remains unclear. Though President Lee has said he will attach importance to the human rights issue, it appears that he does not think it is wise for the abduction issue to hold back TOKYO 00001122 006 OF 007 progress on the nuclear front. Although the president indicated his understanding of Japan's North Korea policy, he underscored, "I will extend close cooperation so that the nuclear issue can be peacefully settled during the six-party talks." He took a stance of pushing forward Japan-South Korea cooperation, while placing the highest priority on progress on the nuclear front. Both leaders also confirmed that they would strengthen cooperation among Japan, the U.S. and South Korea. However, there is a possibility of the U.S. accelerating direct talks with North Korea and of South Korea shifting focus to a dialogue with North Korea, if Pyongyang agrees. Cooperation between Japan and South Korea over China policy is another touchstone. Fukuda and Lee during the summit agreed to hold a summit among Japan, China and South Korea later this year. However, relations between Japan and China remain somewhat strained due to the Tibet issue and the incident of tainted Chinese-made gyoza dumplings. In order to produce results, the prime minister will have to display strong leadership. (7) U.S. military may deploy VTOL aircraft to Okinawa: Koumura RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) April 23, 2008 TOKYO-Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, attending a meeting of the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday afternoon, implied that the U.S. Marine Corps may deploy the MV-22 Osprey, a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, to a facility to be built as an alternative (in a coastal area of Camp Schwab in Okinawa Prefecture's Nago City) for Futenma airfield. "Generally speaking," Koumura stated before the committee, "it is true that they are planning to replace the (Futenma-based) CH-46 and CH-53 helicopters with the Osprey." He added, "In the future, they may deploy the Osprey in Okinawa." Koumura also stated, "This month, we asked the U.S. military about this matter. They explained that they have yet to decide on the Osprey's deployment to Okinawa." He was replying a question asked by Tokushin Yamauchi from the Social Democratic Party. Former Foreign Minister Aso also referred to the Osprey's possible deployment to Okinawa in a meeting of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on Apr. 12, 2007, saying the currently-deployed helicopters may be replaced with the Osprey if the United States does not develop a new helicopter. The government is apparently ready to accept the Osprey's deployment to Okinawa. In addition, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba did not rule out the possibility of constructing a military port within the newly planned alternative facility for Futenma airfield. Ishiba stated: "It is normally conceivable that they would need to use ships for transportation if and when their helicopters get out of order. We must consider what is needed to maintain the alternative facility's functionality. I'm not implying a possibility. I can say it's inconceivable for the present. However, I cannot definitely say that is totally inconceivable." Ishiba was replying a question asked by Yamauchi. TOKYO 00001122 007 OF 007 Meanwhile, the Japanese government has now made a total payment of about 12.2 billion yen as court-determined damages to the plaintiffs who instituted class action lawsuits against U.S. military aircraft noise in localities hosting U.S. military bases. In this regard, Kimito Nakae, chief of the Defense Minister's Secretariat, revealed that the U.S. government has yet to pay its share of the damages. This was in reply to a question asked by Satoshi Inoue from the Japanese Communist Party. SCHIEFFER