DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/24/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 002045 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 07/24/08 INDEX: (1) Mayor points to Futenma airfield's danger (Okinawa Times) (2) Fukuda-style politics (Part 2): Diplomatic concept overwhelming (Nikkei) (3) Probe into Fukuda-style politics: Priority on reaching consensus; His devotion to his job has yet to reach the public's attention (Nikkei) (4) Young DPJ lawmakers rising to confront bureaucracy (Tokyo Shimbun) (5) Japan's national foundation in danger (Sankei) (6) Sluggish economy casting pall over fiscal reconstruction: Cabinet Office revises down its outlook for growth in its economic projection; Pressure for increased spending mounting with eye on next Lower House election (Nikkei) (7) TOP HEADLINES (8) EDITORIALS (9) Prime Minister's schedule, July 23 (Nikkei) (Corrected copy) Interview with U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer: Ten months to go until introduction of citizen-judge system in Japan; More impartiality of trial with involvement of citizens (Tokyo Shimbun) ARTICLES: (1) Mayor points to Futenma airfield's danger OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full) July 24, 2008 Ginowan City's Mayor Yoichi Iha yesterday called on the Okinawa prefectural government office and met with Akira Uehara, chief of the governor's office. In the meeting, Iha, basing his remarks on the "clear zones" described in a U.S. military masterplan for Futenma Air Station, which is located in his city, pointed out the airfield's danger. Iha called on the prefectural government to share a common view of Futenma airfield's danger and to discuss such in a joint working team that would be set up with the central government. Uehara said: "Last August, Japan and the United States agreed on a package of measures to improve the present situation. It's important now to take further measures as quickly as possible to reduce the danger." Although Uehara indicated this was the prefectural government's standpoint, he did not refer to the clear zones. He continued: "In the last consultative meeting (with the central government),we agreed to create a working team. We will discuss various matters there and work hard on this matter." Iha will visit U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) headquarters in Hawaii on July 27. "Futenma airfield's flight operations are not based on the U.S. military's safety standards," Iha said, indicating that he will call on PACOM to suspend not only heliborne but also fixed-wing TOKYO 00002045 002 OF 012 aircraft training flights. (2) Fukuda-style politics (Part 2): Diplomatic concept overwhelming NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) July 18, 2008 In April, there was an event symbolizing the way Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda carries out his diplomacy. It occurred when Japan extended by six months the economic sanctions it has independently imposed on North Korea. Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura released a statement that went: "Once North Korea takes specific action to resolve such pending issues as the abduction cases and the nuclear and missile programs, Japan will be able to partially or completely remove the sanctions." The phrase that can be taken as that Japan would consider lifting sanctions was inserted in the statement. An individual connected with the government explained that that was a message to Pyongyang seeking a dialogue. Two months later, Tokyo and Pyongyang agreed in working-level talks that North Korea would reinvestigate the fate of Japanese nationals abducted to that country. Accepting the reality that the United States and North Korea are now moving closer, Fukuda's strategy of seeking ways to resolve the abduction issue through dialogue has achieved some progress. Immediately after that, Fukuda told reporters in a strong tone: "If we do not hold negotiations, the issue will never be resolved. Don't you agree?" Fukuda has adopted a diplomatic approach of attaching priority to dialogue, which is completely different from the "pressure approach" taken by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Fukuda's diplomatic principle aims at resolving in turn such issues as the North Korean problem, gas exploration in the East China Sea, the Takeshima isles and northern territories disputes. He has adopted a so-called "resonance diplomacy," taking over from his father Takeo Fukuda's omnidirectional peace diplomacy. Fukuda appears to have believed that if relations with other countries are improved through dialogue, his "resonance diplomacy" backed by the alliance with the U.S. would speed up the resolution of the various issues. His diplomatic method has begun to produce achievements in Japan's relations with China. Talks between Tokyo and Beijing have paved the way for the two countries to jointly develop gas fields in the East China Sea. Fukuda announced in his summit meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush, which occurred prior to his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, his intention to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. In tandem with the United States, he dispatched a message in which he stated that he places importance on relations with China. The intrinsic value of a dialogue approach will now be tested. The U.S. government has informed Congress of its intention to remove North Korea from the list of states that sponsor terrorism. If Washington removes related sanctions on Pyongyang, Tokyo will lose an important card to press for progress on the abduction front. A senior Foreign Ministry official, very frustrated, said: "North Korea will continue to maintain a low profile until August 11 when it will be delisted. We will have to find our own breakthrough in the deadlocked situation." TOKYO 00002045 003 OF 012 Another challenge for the Fukuda administration is to improve ties with South Korea, now strained over the Takeshima isles (Dokdo in South Korea) (that both countries claim). The Japanese government's decision to specify Japan's claim to sovereignty over the islets in a teachers' manual for junior high schools has sparked a backlash in South Korea. Since relations between Washington and Seoul also having worsened, it is difficult for Japan to expect "resonance" to have much of an effect. One senior LDP member expressed concern, saying: "In terms of boosting the Fukuda administration's popularity, there has been no positive effect. He cannot run ahead only on diplomatic principles." Of course, it takes a fair amount of time to resolve diplomatic issues. Still, unless Fukuda steadily produces visible results, he could be tripped up by diplomacy, his forte. (3) Probe into Fukuda-style politics: Priority on reaching consensus; His devotion to his job has yet to reach the public's attention NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) July 19, 2008 Following the closing of the regular Diet session, Prime Minister Yasuo on June 23 held a press conference in which he suddenly decided not to announce one policy. He omitted to say he was changing part of the government pledge on the pension record issue and asking for further cooperation from the public to determine accurate premium contribution records. Suspends decision to backtrack on government pledge The government had been busy dealing with the issue of massive pension record errors, a problem that broke out during the previous Abe administration. In the process of addressing the issue, it was found that it would be difficult to meet the pledge to make a database of original paper work and cross-check pension records due to numerous related problems cropping up. Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Tatsuya Ito in June proposed that the government should make a fresh start, by offering an apology to the public. The prime minister accepted his proposal. However, the prime minister changed his decision right before a press conference. Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe, who had been exposed to harsh criticism, told the prime minister to change the contents of the announcement, alarmed that if the government rescinded its commitment even partially, it could face collapse. Following his advice, the prime minister stopped short of announcing the government decision to backtrack on portions of the government pledge. The prime minister's sales point is that he attaches importance to building consensus. That gave a sense of reassurance to those within and outside the party. However, it can also be said that Fukuda can be easily swayed by the opinions of experts in areas other than his bailiwick. As a result, since he has been unable to make drastic policy changes when it could have affected the whole course of his administration, his presence has become even less visible. A similar incident occurred over the environmental issue. After the early May Golden Week holidays, aides close to the prime minister started writing the "Fukuda Vision," which contained measures to TOKYO 00002045 004 OF 012 address the global warming issue. They asked relevant government agencies to submit numerical targets and policy measures for inclusion in the vision. The Fukuda Vision, when announced, however, turned out to be a mere introduction of estimates for a mid-term goal. Specific measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions were in effect put on the backburner. Regarding an emissions trading system, the report simply included a plan to conduct a demonstration experiment. This is due to the fact that the prime minister listened to the views of business circles and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which are against the adoption of a goal that would be strongly enforced. Absence of message sender Drastic reform of special-purpose road construction tax revenues is a major issue that even the Abe administration could not touch. The issue was supposed to be a good material in buoying up the administration. However, the prime minister gave consideration to the wishes of road policy experts in the ruling camp, noting that the construction of necessary roads would be secure. This stance gave the impression that his resolve to tackle the road issue was insincere. One aide to the prime minister said, "That is because he has no one to deliver messages for the prime minister like former State Minister for Postal Privatization Heizo Takenaka (during the Koizumi administration)." Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura flattered the prime minister, "He appears aloof from the world, but he is in fact a very passionate person." However, since the prime minister's political style is to attach importance to building consensus and because he has no one to deliver policy messages for him, he seems to be losing the chance to turn a crisis into an opportunity. (4) Young DPJ lawmakers rising to confront bureaucracy TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) July 23, 2008 In a Lower House Budget Committee session in May 2007, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Policy Research Committee Deputy Chair Akira Nagatsuma questioned then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's response to the question of a large number of unidentified pension accounts. In response, Abe said in a strong tone: "We must not create anxiety among the public." Nagatsuma thought that he had heard a similar phrase somewhere in the past. In 1993 when Nagatsuma was a business reporter, he wrote an article sounding an alarm against nonperforming loans held by housing loan companies. A Finance Ministry official who had read the article told him, "Don't inflame the public." Nagatsuma was surprised that the government's weak crisis mentality had not changed. Nagatsuma's dogged pursuit of the pension problems has earned him the nickname "Mr. Pension." He has also uncovered a series of scandals involving bureaucrats, such as gifts to key ministry officials from taxi drivers. Nagatsuma's attention has been focused on the corrupt system allowing bureaucrats and specific industries to waste taxpayers' money. TOKYO 00002045 005 OF 012 What bothers Nagatsuma, who continued to take on the bureaucracy, is that only about 20 PERCENT of the DPJ lawmakers have served in the administration. He does not want to see DPJ lawmakers dance to the music provided by bureaucrats after taking the reins of government. Nagatsuma has been preparing a meticulous blueprint to control government officials. Sumio Mabuchi, who played a major role in the Lower House Budget Committee in the previous Diet session, is also eager to confront bureaucrats after taking power. Mabuchi noted: "What to do after winning a race is as important as winning the race itself. We must be able to take control of the bureaucrats instantaneously." Mabuchi, who was first elected to the Diet at the age of 43, has made his name by pursuing the falsification of earthquake-resistance data on buildings. He also uncovered the fact that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had produced the road demand estimates based on old data. Mabuchi is aware that when a party is not in power, it can take an account-settlement perspective, but once in power, it must consider how to allocate budgets and tax revenues. The DPJ is often criticized as single-mindedly focused on pursuing scandals. Mabuchi thinks now that the DPJ has moved closer to taking the helm of government, the party should present its national vision. Overshadowed by the images of Deputy President Naoto Kan and Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, the presence of young members was weak in the DPJ. There is no doubt that skilled debaters like Nagatsuma and Mabuchi have helped increase the DPJ's overall reputation. Goshi Hosono has also made his name by pursuing the collection of hefty retirement allowances by successive Social Insurance Agency directors generals, who take lucrative sinecures after retirement. Hosono said: "People used to say that they would support me but not the DPJ. Recently, people say they support me because I'm a member of the DPJ. The DPJ is being well received by the public." Hosono took this view about the DPJ leadership race in September: "Individuals with eagerness and talents should come forward voluntarily rather than waiting for being recommended by others. Moves seeking challenge and change will improve the party." He did not conceal his concern about those junior members who have been quiet. With always the same individuals monopolizing the spotlight in the Diet, a mid-level DPJ lawmaker complained that not all the junior members were taking part in the game. Further, although Nagatsuma and others seem confident in bringing the bureaucrats under control after taking the reins of government, their ability to achieve that goal is untested. If they can drive their visions home to voters, a DPJ administration would become a real possibility. (5) Japan's national foundation in danger SANKEI (Page 13) (Abridged slightly) July 24, 2008 By Kanji Nishio, critic Moral betrayal by United States TOKYO 00002045 006 OF 012 The abduction issue is Japan's only patriotic theme transcending party lines. Persons concerned experienced great difficulty in order to convince the U.S. government to declare abduction an act of terrorism. The existence of North Korea's nuclear programs also is a matter of life or death to Japan. The U.S. government's notification on a 45-day period before taking North Korea off its list of terrorism-sponsoring nations is a declaration, if not a bad joke, to say that it will no longer help Japan with diplomatic and military affairs. The U.S. government has irresponsibly slapped Japan with such a crucial decision. To begin with, it was President George W. Bush who made Northeast Asia unstable at one stroke by branding North Korea part of an "axis of evil." Pyongyang has been pushing Washington around since the former realized before the U.S. went to war with Iraq that Washington has no intention of using force against the North in defusing its nuclear threat. Washington's about-face was expected, so I was aware that the real problem lay in the Japanese government's lack of measures and its dependence on the United States. Even so, there is something I must say to the United States. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) regime is based on the responsibility and the moral principle of nuclear powers. If the United States has no intention of defending Japan, there is no reason for it to possess bases in Japan. The North Korea delisting announcement is first time for America to morally betray Japan. Second, it will make Japan's observance of the NPT regime meaningless. Third, it will effectively annul the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. U.S. noncommittal toward Korean Peninsula Japan must keep firmly in mind that it can no longer rely on the United States in rescuing Japanese abductees. The United States also made it clear that for self-defense, Japan has no other option but to march toward military independence, including going nuclear. The government strangely has kept its silence regarding such a change in the situation. The problem is clear to anyone's eye: there has been a shift in America's foreign policy. America's policy toward China has shifted from confrontation of the Cold War era to a two-pronged strategy to cooperation. Giving up on Japan, which has never shown any wish to assume hegemony in Asia, the United States has begun winking at China's policy toward Taiwan and South Korea, regarding it as the hegemonic state in the region. China has established an advantageous foothold over the Taiwan Straits and Korean Peninsula without fighting with them. Views are split on whether the recent rapprochement between the United States and North Korea resulted from the reported discord between China and North Korea or from America's decision to totally leave the management of the Korean Peninsula to China. In either case, it is undeniable that America's involvement in the Korean TOKYO 00002045 007 OF 012 Peninsula is evasive. Depending on how the Middle East situation and the U.S. economy shift, it might be a matter of time before the U.S. military will withdraw from Asia. If such occurs, Taiwan would fall in the hands of China, the sea lanes would be cut off by China, and Japan would be placed under the control of China. That means the deprivation of Japan's technology and capital by China. Japan's nuclear option sealed off The future seems so dangerous, yet the Japanese political community has done nothing. It simply keeps silence without even setting off discussion. The silence obviously comes from the absence of authority from the center of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The Japanese political community is keeping its silence, feeling helpless because authority in Washington suddenly has begun showing a baffling, suspicious, and fearful look. Delisting the North as a state sponsor of terrorism means to allow funds to flow back to Pyongyang through the World Bank and other international financial institutions. If the government's nerve center still has authority, Japan must prepare to withdraw its massive funds kept in those institutions and make an announcement 45 days in advance. I have insisted from long before that the six-party talks are a council to seal off Japan's nuclear option. The North Korean issue has the possibility of turning the Korean Peninsula into a nuclear power on par with the United States, China and Russia. Surrounded by all those nuclear powers, should Japan alone in the Pacific region look on with folded arms? If Japan still keeps silence about it, the country must be suffering from dementia totally devoid of political intelligence. The foot of a sand mound on the beach has been collapsed by the waves. Today's Japan resembles a collapsing sand mound with state power and the state nerve center falling apart. Incidentally, the LDP has presented a plan to accept 10 million immigrants with the aim of turning Japan into an immigration nation. There will always be residents in Japan, but the Japanese race would disappear because the LDP has abandoned the state. Washed away by waves, the sand mound will eventually disappear. (6) Sluggish economy casting pall over fiscal reconstruction: Cabinet Office revises down its outlook for growth in its economic projection; Pressure for increased spending mounting with eye on next Lower House election NIKKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) July 23, 2008 The slowdown of the U.S. economy and the steep rise in crude oil prices have begun casting a pall over the government's fiscal reconstruction scenario. The Cabinet Office has revised down its outlook for economic growth in the economic and fiscal projection TOKYO 00002045 008 OF 012 for up to fiscal 2009 and presented it to the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP) on July 22. It is now unclear whether the government can achieve the goal of moving the primary balance of the central and local governments into the black. Some in the government and ruling parties are calling for revising the target. The government's fiscal reconstruction scenario is now at a crucial juncture. Fiscal reconstruction scenario upset The primary balance is an index indicating whether expenditures are balanced by tax revenues. Moving the primary balance into the black by fiscal 2011 is the showcase of the package reform of expenditures and spending stipulated in the basic policy guidelines on economic and fiscal management and structural reforms for the fiscal 2004 national budget. State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Hiroko Ota said during a press briefing after the CEFP meeting, "The downward revision of the outlook for economic growth does not mean that it has become difficult to move the primary balance into the black. We will achieve the target." However, the government's fiscal reconstruction scenario has been upset. According to the latest estimate, the primary balance will remain in the red to the extent of 3.9 trillion yen, even if the economy sustains a certain level of growth and expenditures worth 14.3 trillion yen are slashed over five years. If the economy slows even further and spending cuts remain at 11.4 trillion yen, the deficit would expand to 7.9 trillion yen. This would necessitate a hike in the consumption tax by more than 3 PERCENT . Decline in corporate profits An unexpectedly severe decline in the economic environment has contributed to the miscalculation by the government, according to the Cabinet Office. The Japanese economy has continued its growth with exports serving as a driving force in the recovery phase, which started in 2002. However, exports have become sluggish following the financial uncertainty in the U.S. since last summer and concern about a U.S. economic recession. Corporate earnings have deteriorated in one sweep, compounded by the steep rise in crude oil and raw material prices. There is a strong possibility of pressure for more spending mounting further. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and industry groups, including the Japan Medical Association, as well as the ruling parties, which are increasingly becoming aware of the next Lower House election, are acting in unity in calling on the government to withdraw its policy of constraining social expenditures. Calls for the compilation of a supplementary budget to finance assistance to the fishing industry as part of measures to address the soaring crude oil prices are also deep-seated. Some in the government and the ruling camp have begun indicating their view that the government should not adhere to the goal of moving the primary balance into the black by fiscal 2011. Demand for reinstatement of pork-barrel largesse budget checked Aware of those calls, one private-sector member of the CEFP at a meeting on July 22 checked a recent call for the reinstatement of a pork-barrel larges budget compilation, noting, "If the fiscal reconstruction principle is ignored, expenditures would increase endlessly." TOKYO 00002045 009 OF 012 The situation is so difficult that the government is struggling to maintain the goal of cutting expenditures to the maximum as originally planned, including a 3 PERCENT cut in public works and a constraint on social expenditures worth 220 billion yen a year. In order to achieve the goal, it is also facing a challenge of cutting more expenditures, including reducing wasteful spending by the government. It should also aim at boosting tax revenues, combining those efforts with measures designed to strengthen growth by such means as deregulation. The shortfall after all those efforts then should be covered with a tax hike. This is the principle of fiscal reform. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at a CEFP meeting stressed, "The government will make efforts to strengthen growth potential and fiscal reconstruction compatible. However, it is a difficult path to follow. (7) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: Earthquake hits Iwate Prefecture, measuring a strong 6 on Japanese scale of 7 or 6.8 on the Richter scale Nikkei: Toray, Nissan, Honda to co-develop carbon fiber cars Akahata: National Confederation of Trade Unions comes up with policy of eliminating poverty and protecting the Constitution (8) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) State budget for FY2009: Prime Minister Fukuda must show grand plan (2) U.S.-India nuclear cooperation could render null and void the nonproliferation regime Mainichi: (1) Worsening fiscal primary balance: Government must come up with policy measures to move the situation into the black (2) Hachioji stabbing incident: Poor interpersonal relations may be one reason Yomiuri: (1) New pension organization must implement its duties in good faith (2) No excuses for the increase in the nation's murder rate Nikkei: (1) Top priority should be on accurate verification of North Korea's declaration of its nuclear programs (2) Legal professionals should be increased Sankei: (1) Hachioji stabbing incident: Eliminate meaningless murders (2) Osaka assembly approves Hashimoto budget plan that will become model for fiscal reconstruction Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Fiscal reconstruction: Government must keep its pledge TOKYO 00002045 010 OF 012 (2) Increase of random stabbing incidents Akahata: (1) Consumption tax hike unacceptable (9) Prime Minister's schedule, July 23 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) July 24, 2008 10:01 Met former Defense Agency Director-General Tamazawa at the Kantei, followed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. Machimura stayed on. 11:07 Met Iwate proprietress association chairperson Osawa, Miyagi association chairperson Isoda and others, followed by MLIT Housing Bureau Director-General Izumi. 12:21 Met Futahashi. 14:25 Met Declining Childbirth Minister Kamikawa. 15:05 Attended a meeting of the Council for Promoting Consumer Policy. 15:57 Met former prime ministerial advisor Okamoto. 16:49 Met Urban Renaissance Agency Chief Director Ogawa. 17:17 Met Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka. 18:43 Met Futahashi, former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Furukawa, former Vice-Cabinet Office Minister Uchida and others at his official residence. (Corrected copy) Interview with U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer: Ten months to go until introduction of citizen-judge system in Japan; More impartiality of trial with involvement of citizens TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) July 23, 2008 Preparations for the introduction of a lay judge system next May are under way, as can be seen in the holding of a mock trial involving lay judges at the Tokyo District Court, which started on July 22. The Tokyo Shimbun asked U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer (69),now visiting Japan, about the meaning and impact of citizens being involved in trials. The U.S. jury system, which allows citizens to be involved in the judicial process, has a history of 200 years. Even a judge can serve as jury TOKYO 00002045 011 OF 012 -- Is it difficult to realize the involvement of citizens in the judicial process? "No, it isn't. Citizens are expected to take part in the judicial process in the U.S. They actually participate in the process and are satisfied with the results. I incidentally was also satisfied when I served on a jury. When I was a judge of the federal appeals court, which is equivalent to Japan's high court, I served on a jury at a district court in my native state. Though it may be prohibited in Japan (under the Japanese lay judge system),it is possible for judges to serve on a jury in Massachusetts. Juries have their own views. They handed down a guilty verdict to a defendant who was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The judge then sentenced the person to attend a driving school and suspended his driver's license. (U.S. juries just decide whether defendants are guilty or not.) They do not determine appropriate judgments. I am very interested how Japan's lay judge system, under which lay judges also determine appropriate punishments, will work." -- What impact has the jury system had on the American society? In my view, the jury system has had a positive impact on the American society. Courts are a venue for judges to meet defendants with troubles and listen to whatever they say. Lay juries' involvement in such a setting helps the system work more impartially. Furthermore, trials by juries are a good venue to teach citizens the way justice should be carried out. Impossible to silence juries -- In Japan, lay judges have a duty to keep deliberating (discussions held between judges and lay judges during a trial process) about their cases. However, juries in the U.S. are allowed to speak about the details of their deliberations after they completed their duty. Why is that? "It is difficult to silence juries. We know from our experience that there would be no major problems even if they speak about their concerns. In addition, attorneys sometimes learn from juries. In my view, it is better for juries not to reveal confidential discussions. However, there is no way to silence them." -- You handled the Watergate case in 1972, which forced former President Nixon to step down. "I worked as an assistant to a special prosecutor (independent of the government) for several months. He was loyal to his job. It is difficult to investigate cases that could bring a serious political result. However, I learned from that prosecutor that cases like that require cool-headedness and sincerity. We must not protect or hurt someone availing ourselves of our position. It is important to pursue the facts." -- What do you value as a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice? "Judgments we have made or will make will have an impact on the U.S. as a whole, where various ethnic groups with different values live together, based on the consensus that they abide by the law. As such, we must not make rigid judgments. Our judgments must be such TOKYO 00002045 012 OF 012 that help the state stay united. ZUMWALT