DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 06/10/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001583 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 06/10/08 INDEX: (1) No room for N. Korea's nuclear possession: Schieffer (Sankei) (2) Interview with Kent Calder -- New U.S. administration will deal with Futenma flexibly (Ryukyu Shimpo) (3) Government, ruling coalition may extend current Diet session for a week; DPJ to submit censure motion against Fukuda to Upper House tomorrow (Nikkei) (4) Ruling parties lose majority in Okinawa assembly: Calls for forgoing Lower House dissolution gain ground due to setback from new health care plan for elderly; DPJ looking to submit censure motion against prime minister (Tokyo Shimbun) (5) Civil service reform law: Skepticism about feasibility of abolishing career bureaucrat system, disclosure of contacts between politicians and bureaucrats; Unified job referral center for retiring bureaucrats (Mainichi) (6) Fukuda's Kantei and Sichuan earthquake (Part B): Inside story on aid to China after quake; Prime minister: "China accepted Japanese relief teams because of the bilateral summit"; Top leaders close, administrative-level immature; Government fixated on human assistance (Mainichi) (7) Fukuda's Kantei and Sichuan earthquake (Part C): Inside story on aid to China after quake; Confusion resulted from shift in Japan's request from in or near a hospital before deployment to field hospital-style activities after arriving in Sichuan (Mainichi) (8) TOP HEADLINES (9) EDITORIALS (10) Prime Minister's schedule, June 8 & 9 (Nikkei) ARTICLES: (1) No room for N. Korea's nuclear possession: Schieffer SANKEI (Page 7) (Full) June 10, 2008 U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer met yesterday for a session with Japanese reporters, during which he referred to the issue of North Korea's nuclear declaration. "The U.S. government cannot accept a partial solution that would leave room for North Korea's nuclear possession," Schieffer said. "President Bush takes the position that North Korea will have to scrap all its nuclear programs to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula," he added. On this issue, there are reports that the U.S. government is prepared to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism in return for that country's ambiguous nuclear declaration. However, Schieffer denied such a conjecture. Meanwhile, Japan and the United States have agreed to realign U.S. forces in Japan. In this regard, Schieffer touched on the fact that the planned relocation of Futenma airfield has been substantially falling behind schedule. "If the momentum for the U.S. military's realignment is lost," he said, "that's a matter of concern." He TOKYO 00001583 002 OF 011 urged Japan to "push ahead with the realignment process immediately" from a broader perspective in order to modernize the Japan-U.S. alliance for the 21st century and alleviate Okinawa's base-hosting burden. Ambassador Schieffer also referred to the U.S. presidential election campaign, in which the two major political parties have now decided on their candidates. "International order is now being redefined around the world," Schieffer said, noting that the philosophical difference between the center left and the center right will be important. "I think it will be a very close race," he added. (2) Interview with Kent Calder -- New U.S. administration will deal with Futenma flexibly RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) June 10, 2008 Tokyo Kent Calder, who is director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies and a well-known Japan expert, gave an interview to the Ryukyu Shimpo in Tokyo on June 9. In the interview, Calder discussed his analysis of the current situation and outlook on the relocation of Futenma Air Station. -- An effort to iron out differences in views between Tokyo, Washington, and Okinawa over the relocation of Futenma Air Station has bogged down. "If the United States is convinced by the terms and conditions presented by Okinawa and if the whole matter begins to move forward as a result, that would be more rational." -- The United States seems to adamantly refusing Okinawa's call for moving the relocation site into the ocean. "The United States will soon have a new administration. Truly resolving the Futenma issue under a new administration would be extremely important for U.S.-Japan relations." -- Will (the United States) remain interested in the Futenma relocation issue even if a Democratic administration replaces the Republican administration? "It is about time that the Democratic Party begins considering Okinawa policy. In my impression, (the Democratic Party) does not have a strong vision yet. Nevertheless, (former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense) Curt Campbell knows the progress well because he is ONE of the members who drew up the 1996 Futenma relocation plan." "The United States has said that it would not allow the relocation site (to be moved into the sea) even by an inch. Probably those who held talks (with Japan) personally do not want to see the plan altered. The standpoints of the consul general and the Foreign Ministry are understandable. But the new administration would not feel responsibility there. -- Can (the new administration) overturn what was decided by its predecessor? TOKYO 00001583 003 OF 011 "In view of the credibility of the United States, (the new administration) will probably not make major changes, but if changes are necessary in order to realize the plan, it would implement (the plan) flexibly." "The Japanese political scene is also fluid nationally. If (Japanese politics) is thrown into turbulence as a result of the next general election, the government would not be able to advance the relocation plan proactively. Nothing would move forward until the United States has a new President." -- It has been 12 years since the reversion (of Futenma Air Station) was decided in 1996. What are the main factors that prevented the matter from moving forward? "I am really surprised that nothing has moved forward. I wonder what the U.S.-Japan alliance is all about. Basically, enhancing functions at the same place would draw less opposition than relocation. But in the case of Futenma, it has to be closed down and that would cause some problems. The relocation plan must be the choice that benefits Okinawa. The fact that the 1996 plan is not designed to benefit Okinawa fully is a point of reflection. It is favorable to major Japanese shipbuilders. Consideration for the environment is another point. An environmental impact assessment must be conducted fully." -- What would unfold after the new administration is established (in the United States)? "The 2009 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum will be held in Singapore. The new U.S. President will attend it. Chances are high that the new President will stop over in Japan (on his Singapore tour). That will be a good sign for U.S.-Japan relations. It would be very good to make administrative moves ahead of the visit to Japan by the new U.S. President." "The national political scene does not often show a new development, so it can be called a (the chance) in decades. The new U.S. administration should make its pragmatic choice of the Futenma issue a first step to U.S.-Japan relations." (3) Government, ruling coalition may extend current Diet session for a week; DPJ to submit censure motion against Fukuda to Upper House tomorrow NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) June 10, 2008 With the June 15 closing of the current Diet session just around the corner, there is surge in a mood of confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. The ruling coalition intends to extend the ongoing session for about a week should the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) fail to agree to the handling of treaty-related bills, deliberations on which have been bogged down in the House of Councillors. The DPJ has taken a position of submitting to the Upper House on June 11 a censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. The opposition therefore will unlikely respond to deliberations after the motion is approved in the upper chamber. There is a strong mood in the largest opposition party that any easy concession would put it at a disadvantage. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima and his DPJ counterpart Kenji Yamaoka faced each TOKYO 00001583 004 OF 011 other in a Diet building room last evening. The two gathered to deliberate on the handling of such treaty-related bills as ONE on an economic partnership agreement (EPA) between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As a condition for responding to the handling of the treaty-related bills before the end of the current regular session, Yamaoka demanded that Naoki Akiyama be summoned to testify as a witness before the Diet over a bribery scandal involving former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya. Oshima, however, rejected the demand, saying: "(Are you all right if) the session is extended?" Toshimi Kitazawa of the DPJ chairs the Upper House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, which deliberates on the treaty-related bills. In opposition to the absence of ruling coalition members in a testimony session on May 22 by Motonobu Miyazaki, the committee has not begun deliberations even on the EPA bill. Yesterday, Oshima and Yamaoka held four meetings, but they failed to reach an agreement. They forwent today's discussion. LDP Upper House Chairman Hidehisa Otsuji told the press last night: "If the session is not extended, it will be difficult" to get Diet approval of the treaty bills that the government and ruling camp wish to enact during the current session. The reason is that since the DPJ has now assumed a stance of confronting the ruling camp, it is indispensable for the ruling bloc to lay the groundwork for enacting necessary bills and treaty-related bills. DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama yesterday told the press corps: "Even if the session is extended, we have no intention to change our action." Last evening, Deputy President Naoto Kan, Upper House Chairman Azuma Koshiishi, and Yamaoka reaffirmed in a meeting that their party would submit a censure motion on June 11 to the Upper House. The DPJ, however, intends to forgo submitting a no-confidence motion against the cabinet to the Lower House. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa told reporters in Niigata: "A censure motion (against the prime minister) is the same as a no-confidence motion against the cabinet." Hatoyama clearly stated: "We will not respond at all to any deliberations at least in the Upper House" if the censure motion is adopted (in the upper chamber). Last night, a senior DPJ member also took a stance of not responding to deliberations on a bill abolishing the new HEALTH insurance system for those aged 75 and older, which has been forwarded to the Lower House, unless the ruling coalition pledges passage of the bill. The DPJ has judged that the wind appears to be blowing favorably for it as seen in the fact that the ruling camp lost its majority in the June 8 Okinawa prefectural assembly election due to opposition against the new HEALTH insurance scheme for the elderly. The view is gaining ground in the ruling parties that the legislation to scrap the new medical insurance system should be left on the shelf so that the Lower House can continue deliberations. As it stands, the ruling and opposition camps have now assumed the stance of facing down each other. The outlook is that the handling of such bills as ONE to provide relief to the victims of the Tokyo subway sarin gas incident caused by Aum Shinrikyo cult will be pushed ahead with. The Diet affairs committee chairmen of the ruling and opposition parties, in a meeting yesterday, reached an agreement on a policy of enacting as early as possible bills that are needed for the daily lives of people, as well as for humanitarian purposes. (4) Ruling parties lose majority in Okinawa assembly: Calls for TOKYO 00001583 005 OF 011 forgoing Lower House dissolution gain ground due to setback from new health care plan for elderly; DPJ looking to submit censure motion against prime minister TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) June 10, 2008 The ruling parties in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, which support Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, lost their majority in the prefectural assembly election on June 8. Opinions in favor of forgoing a dissolution of the Lower House for a snap election have gained ground in the ruling camp, with many acutely feeling a backlash from the newly adopted public HEALTH insurance scheme for elderly people aged 75 or older. On the other hand, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) is receiving a boost for its plan to submit a censure motion against Prime Minister Fukuda. Of 48 assembly seats up for grabs, the opposition bloc garnered 26, while the ruling camp secured 22. Incumbent Lower House members' terms of office expire in September next year. With public support ratings for the Fukuda cabinet remaining sluggish, many ruling party members had been of the opinion that a dissolution of the Lower House should be put off as long as possible. Then the ruling parties were defeated in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly election. It is believed that the negative reaction of the elderly, the LDP's support base, to the new HEALTH care scheme was the major reason for the defeat. It is now clear that there is no chance of the ruling parties winning a Lower House election under the present circumstances. Many ruling party lawmakers on June 9, the day after the election, said that Prime Minister Fukuda would not be able to dissolve the Lower House for the time being. The government and the ruling parties plan to map out a plan to improve the management of the public HEALTH insurance system before the end of the week. However, as LDP Election Committee Chairman Makoto Koga told reporters, "Elderly people are angry that the government does not care about them. The issue has become a matter of feelings instead of the specifics of the policy." There is no prospect of the ruling camp regaining support from the elderly. Four opposition parties have in a sense obtained an endorsement from voters on their scenario of using a bill to abolish the system to corner the Fukuda administration. In particular, the DPJ is moving toward the submission of a censure motion against the prime minister. Some opposition party members had worried that the government and ruling parties might press ahead with efforts to look into reducing premiums under the said system. However, the opposition camp won a sweeping victory, appealing to the public with their policy of abolishing the HEALTH care plan in the election campaign. DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka at a meeting of diet affairs committee chairmen of both the ruling and opposition parties pressed the ruling parties, "People supported us. The ruling parties should decide to abolish the system." The DPJ intends to submit a censure motion against the prime minister on June 11 as planned, even if the government and the ruling parties extend the Diet session. It is now confident because it has increased its seats from ONE to four in the election for the TOKYO 00001583 006 OF 011 Okinawa prefectural assembly, where its political base is weak. Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama underscored to reporters, "Okinawa residents expressed their determination to see the ruling and opposition camps trade places at the national level as well." (5) Civil service reform law: Skepticism about feasibility of abolishing career bureaucrat system, disclosure of contacts between politicians and bureaucrats; Unified job referral center for retiring bureaucrats MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) June 7, 2008 The Upper House in a plenary session on June 6 passed and thereby enacted legislation to reform the civil service system, following agreement reached among the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),the New Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) to revise the bill. The Mainichi Shimbun has worked out what will change under the new system that will be introduced within five years after the law goes into effect. Personnel affairs system The Basic Law for Reform of the Civil Service System provides for the establishment of a cabinet personnel bureau for the uniform management of senior personnel affairs and makes the chief cabinet secretary responsible for drawing up the lists of nominees. In reality, however, it is difficult for the chief cabinet secretary to know in detail all about the nominees. A DPJ lawmaker who took the floor to answer questions, acknowledged the fact that government agencies would be involved in the process: "Each government agency will recommend appropriate persons to the chief cabinet secretary, who will then make a list of nominees after screening their suitability. The current carrier bureaucrat system under which those who passed examinations for first-class civil servants become candidates for senior government officials will be abolished. Under the new system, any bureaucrat can be appointed to a senior position, according to their ability and performance record. However, the point has been made that there is a possibility of super-elite bureaucrats being created, depending on the application of a new course to train senior government officials that has yet to be created. Basic labor rights The basic law includes a regulation that an autonomous management-labor relations system should be created and that a right to conclude a collective labor agreement should be granted to national government employees in the future. If realized, working conditions, such as civil servants' salaries, which are currently laid down in compliance with the recommendations of the National Personnel Authority, will become subject to labor-management negotiations. State Minister for Administrative Reform Yoshimi Watanabe during a meeting of the Upper House Cabinet Committee replied, "The government will set up a review organ, involving trade unions, within a month after the passage of the law. However, the coverage of public servants to whom the collective labor agreement right is granted and the range of items covered by the agreement have yet to be set. TOKYO 00001583 007 OF 011 Contacts between politicians and bureaucrats A provision limiting contacts between politicians and bureaucrats has been deleted. However, the law stipulates the documentation of contacts between bureaucrats and politicians for the disclosure of information. The aim is to avoid politicians from applying pressure on bureaucrats or bureaucrats from excessively lobbing politicians. However, some have voiced skepticism about the efficacy of such a regulation, noting that complete information disclosure would be difficult, because it is viewed that bureaucrats may want to avoid trouble with politicians. Restriction on amakudari practices The basic law does not directly regulate amakudari (golden parachute) practices. However, it envisages the correction of the current early retirement recommendation practice, the background of the rampant amakudari practices, noting that consideration should be given to the raising of the mandatory retirement age to 65 in stages. A Government-Private Sector Personnel Exchange Center to render job referral service to retiring bureaucrats will be set up before the end of the year. However, proposals for the nominations of a chairman and members of an outplacement monitoring committee to be established to check job referral services provided by each government agency until the envisaged Center takes off was disapproved in the Upper House on June 6. There is a possibility of the Government-Private Sector Personnel Exchange Center itself becoming dysfunctional. (6) Fukuda's Kantei and Sichuan earthquake (Part B): Inside story on aid to China after quake; Prime minister: "China accepted Japanese relief teams because of the bilateral summit"; Top leaders close, administrative-level immature; Government fixated on human assistance MAINICHI (Pages 1 and 3) (Abridged slightly) June 8, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masahiro Futahashi received a first report on the Sichuan earthquake via a secretary from the Cabinet Crisis Management Center a little before 4:00 p.m. May 12. The report said that China was hit by a magnitude-7.8 (later corrected to 8) earthquake at a depth of 10 kilometers. To Japan, a quake-prone country, it was easy to imagine the extensive damage. Some l0 responsible officials from the foreign and defense ministries were immediately assembled at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). Futahashi ordered them to assemble personnel so that the Japan Disaster Relief Team would be able to be sent to China as soon as there was a request from Beijing. The government began preparations for human assistance in tandem with financial aid. Although the government waited for a request for personnel assistance from China until nightfall, there was no request. "China perhaps could not afford to think of requesting foreign relief teams," a government source said. The Japan Disaster Relief Team was standing by at Haneda Airport, but the government had to recall it temporarily on May 13. TOKYO 00001583 008 OF 011 Another government source noted: "As long as China has expressed its intention to respond to the situation independently, chances are slim that the country would accept foreign relief teams later on." The expiration of the optimum rescue timeframe -- the first 72 hours after an earthquake -- was approaching. Prime Minister Fukuda was still telling reporters on May 14: "We should recall what happened after the Great Hanshin Earthquake (in 1995). Japan's lack of preparedness to accept (foreign relief teams) caused confusion. I think China will request our assistance when it is ready." Beijing abruptly informed Tokyo that it would accept the Japanese relief team around noon May 15, shortly before the expiration of the 72-hour rule. Machimura had just said an hour earlier: "We have received a reply from China that it would not ask for assistance." Japan was the first case in which China announced to accept human assistance from abroad. The government readily dispatched relief teams composed of some 60 firefighters, police officers and others to China from the night of May 15 through May 16. Around the time the rescue team started activities in China, Prime Minister Fukuda told his aide: "In carryout out diplomacy, it is my principle to think of the circumstances of the other side. China accepted Japan's team because of the May 7 Japan-China summit. I think matters will move forward favorably for Japan." In the wake of the Sichuan quake, the prime minister conveyed his willingness to provide aid to China by quietly sending personal letters rather than playing up the government's steps before the media. The prime minister also used his personal letters to transmit his severe view on the Tibet issue instead of making formal statements. Before his meeting with President Hu in May, Fukuda sent three letters to China. They can be taken to reflect Fukuda's consideration to the pride of China, a major power. In turn, China has responded to such thinking of Japan. China accepted the Japanese relief team ahead of other countries seemingly with the aim of deepening the general public's understanding of President Hu's visit to Japan. A Japan-China diplomatic source noted: "State-run television cameras covered the (Japanese) relief teams from the beginning. I sensed the government's intention there." (7) Fukuda's Kantei and Sichuan earthquake (Part C): Inside story on aid to China after quake; Confusion resulted from shift in Japan's request from in or near a hospital before deployment to field hospital-style activities after arriving in Sichuan MAINICHI (Pages 1 and 3) (Abridged) June 8, 2008 Turmoil over the planned dispatch of SDF aircraft partly resulted from Tokyo's excessive consideration to relations with China following the visit to Japan by President Hu. Coordination on the number of personnel joining the Japan Disaster Relief Team was undertaken by the Foreign Ministry. There were no inquiries of or requests from China about medical equipment, so the Japanese team took with it what was generally necessary, according to a person connected with the Internal Affairs and Communications TOKYO 00001583 009 OF 011 Ministry Fire and Disaster Management Agency. A rescue team that was sent first to China procured devices to detect electromagnetic rays and carbon dioxide to find survivors under the rubble, but mudslides in Qingchuan County were so massive that the team was not able to find any survivors. A person concerned said: "Local residents thought that we were able to do anything. If there had been residential areas and places to utilize our equipment fully, we might have been able to find some survivors." Difficulty in communicating with the Chinese also delayed the start of activities by a medical team that followed the rescue team. Previously it was explained that China had requested that the Japanese team conduct secondary medical activities in a large urban hospital, contrary to Japan's supposition of emergency treatment in quake-hit areas with no doctors. But it has become clear that the delay in the start of activities by the Japanese team resulted from difficulty in working things out with the Chinese because the Japanese authorities had made changes to the plan that was conveyed to the Chinese side in advance. The medical team arrived in Chengdu late at night on May 20, eight days after the earthquake occurred, and it was decided it would carry out activities based at Sichuan University's West China Hospital. The team finally began medical activities on the afternoon of May 22 and returned to Japan on June 2. According to a person concerned, Tokyo presented the following "official requests" to Beijing: (1) allow all the Japanese medical members to carry out activities at ONE place because of the 5 tons of equipment, and (2) allow the team to treat outpatients in tents in or near a hospital. The Chinese government selected a number of hospitals based on Japan's request and informally decided on the First People's Hospital in Sichuan. The Japanese team after arriving in Sichuan conveyed its desire to the Chinese side to provide field hospital-style assistance. This forced China to reconsider the candidate hospital. China eventually came up with West China Hospital and the Japanese team gave a nod to it. The Japanese team's abrupt change to its plan could be ascribable to a wide range of requests from team members who met with each other for the first time at Haneda Airport, as well as to activities by the Russian and German teams that were in China ahead of the Japanese term. An official of the Foreign Ministry Overseas Disaster Assistance Division explained to the Mainichi Shimbun: "Before the deployment of the medical team, we did not especially ask the Chinese side to let them work in or near a hospital." The new trend of strategically reciprocal relations between Japan and China contrasts sharply with the issue of national sentiment and immature administrative-level cooperation between the two countries. And how should Japan extend disaster assistance as a country prone to earthquakes? The Sichuan earthquake still continues to present challenges to the Japanese government. TOKYO 00001583 010 OF 011 (8) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Sankei, and Tokyo Shimbun Suspect in Sunday's Akihabara rampage said to have bought five knives two days earlier in Fukui Yomiuri: FTC to investigate suspected resumption of bid-rigging by Hitachi, eight other companies over sewerage Nikkei: Prime minister announces emissions trading trial run in fall to reduce amount up to 80 PERCENT Akahata: JCP wins five Okinawa prefectural assembly seats (9) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Fukuda Vision: Combating global warming requires specific steps (2) Akihabara stabbing spree: What was the cause? Mainichi: (1) Akihabara stabbing rampage: Determining causes of incidents essential (2) Fukuda Vision: Means to achieve targets more important Yomiuri: (1) Will Fukuda's anti-global warming guidelines be able to become global standards? (2) Society's notion of safety shaken to its core Nikkei: (1) Fukuda Vision specifies emissions trading (2) Put an end to tragedies Sankei: (1) Fukuda Vision: Participation by U.S. and China essential (2) Akihabara stabbing rampage: Make effort to create safe society Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Akihabara tragedy: Killer's motive eerie (2) Fukuda administration loses Okinawa prefectural assembly race Akahata: (1) National rally against deployment of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be held on July 13 (10) Prime Minister's schedule, June 8 & 9 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) June 10, 2008 June 8 07:35 Met at National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation with Education Minister Tokai, JAXA President Tachikawa, and U.S. Ambassador Schieffer. TOKYO 00001583 011 OF 011 08:02 Talked with Astronaut Hoshide, who is on the International Space station. 08:56 Photo shoot at LDP headquarters for public relations. 09:10 Returned to his official residence. 14:50 Met with Special Advisor Ito. 17:45 Arrived at his private residence in Nozawa. 21:12 Returned to his official residence. June 9 09:25 Met at Kantei with METI Minister Amari, METI Vice Minister Kitabata, METI Trade Policy Bureau Director General Suzuki, followed by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwaki. 11:10 Met with Ito, followed by National Public Safety Commission Chairman Izumi. 12:00 Attended meeting of government and ruling coalition. 13:00 Attended Upper House Audit Committee session. 16:26 Met at Diet building with New Komeito leader Ota and Youth Bureau chief Taniai. 17:01 Attended LDP board meeting. 17:58 Met at Japan National Press Center with Japan National Press Club President Takuo Takihana. Delivered speech at the press center. 18:59 Met with Columbia University Professor Gerald Curtis. 19:19 Dine with Lower House member Yasufumi Tanahashi and others at a Chinese restaurant in Nihi-Azabu. 21:04 Returned to his official residence. SCHIEFFER