DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 08/07/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TOKYO 002176 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 08/07/08 INDEX: (1) Foreign Ministry orally asks U.S. deputy chief of mission for participation of U.S. forces in nuclear disaster prevention drill; Director-general directly afterward stresses that it was an "unusual measure" (Nishinippon Shimbun) (2) Interview with Minister of State for Okinawa Motoo Hayashi: The pollution left on returned base land is the central government's responsibility (Okinawa Times) (3) Yomiuri survey of LDP prefectural chapters find 16 that would prefer to go into the next election under Prime Minister Fukuda, 10 that want the election under Aso (Yomiuri) (4) TOP HEADLINES (5) EDITORIALS (6) Prime Minister's schedule, August 6 ARTICLES: (1) Foreign Ministry orally asks U.S. deputy chief of mission for participation of U.S. forces in nuclear disaster prevention drill; Director-general directly afterward stresses that it was an "unusual measure" NISHINIPPON SHIMBUN (Internet edition) (Full) August 7, 2008 In connection with the release of radiation by the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine Houston, the prefecture and Sasebo City have been repeatedly urging the U.S. forces to participate in a nuclear disaster prevention drill. On that issue, the Foreign Ministry today revealed that North America Bureau Director General Shinichi Nishimiya orally transmitted the local governments' request to James Zumwalt, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Japan. The ministry, which has been sharply criticized by the cabinet for ignoring the information from the U.S. about the radiation leak, stressed, "This was a rare high-level step." Deputy Chief of Mission Zumwalt is the American representative next to Ambassador Schieffer. According to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement Office of the Foreign Ministry, after Governor Genjiro Kaneko met Vice Minister Yabunaka, Director General Nishimiya on the afternoon of Aug. 5 reportedly transmitted to Deputy Chief of Mission Zumwalt the following as a request from the local governments: 1) to present information quickly that clears up the cause of the radiation leak and that shows the steps to prevent a recurrence; 2) to have the U.S. forces participate in a nuclear disaster prevention drill that will take place in Sasebo City; and 3) lift the embargo on prior announcements of port calls by nuclear-powered submarines. A responsible official at the same office stated: "The U.S. and we, too, are accountable for such matters as clearing up the cause (of the leak). It would not do if this were carried out lackadaisically; we are looking to the U.S. to take a strong stance." (2) Interview with Minister of State for Okinawa Motoo Hayashi: The pollution left on returned base land is the central government's TOKYO 00002176 002 OF 005 responsibility OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Excerpts) August 7, 2008 -- On the relocation of Futenma Air Station, two working teams from the central and local governments have been launched. How will they tackle this issue? "Our role is to serve as a bridge between the central government and local government. We will take the views of the local communities seriously and our desire is to transmit them to the government and put them into shape. We will efforts toward that end." -- What about moving the site into the ocean as Governor Nakaima is seeking? "I would like to listen to the voices of the local communities. Whether it will be carried out as is will be subject to discussion next." -- On the use of the land being returned south of Kadena, the local governments have requested the central government for fiscal backing. "Since the use of the returned land must move ahead smoothly, I think it probably should be the responsibility of the central government for a survey to see if there is polluted materials and cleaning them up." (3) Yomiuri survey of LDP prefectural chapters find 16 that would prefer to go into the next election under Prime Minister Fukuda, 10 that want the election under Aso YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 7, 2008 With the shuffling of the Fukuda Cabinet, the Yomiuri Shimbun has carried out a survey targeting ONE executive each in Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) 47 prefectural chapters, with Diet members being excluded. The question was asked, "Do you think it desirable to go into the next Lower House election under Prime Minister Fukuda (LDP president)?" In response, the executives in 16 prefectural chapters chose Fukuda as "desirable," while another 20 executives chose the answer, "I can't say which." The executives in 10 prefectures, however, found him "undesirable." Those 10 prefectures instead supported Aso, stating, "He would be an appropriate prime minister for facing the next Lower House election," The survey was carried out Aug. 2-6 in a questionnaire form, with responses coming from every prefectural chapter. The Shizuoka chapter, however, replied that the members had not yet finalized their thinking so it could not answer the questions. Among the executives who replied that it was not desirable to carry out the election under Prime Minister Fukuda there were such comments as: "We can't win (the election) with Prime Minister Fukuda, for there have been no accomplishments, including the bad handling of the issue of the system of medical care for the elderly" (Haruto Oda, policy research chair at the Okayama Prefectural Chapter); "There is a problem with his leadership" (Akashi Nekoda, secretary general of the Gifu Prefectural Chapter),and. "The TOKYO 00002176 003 OF 005 impression is that he lacks leadership, and his support ratings are low" (Toshihiko Takeishi, secretary general of the Kochi Prefectural Chapter). All wanted a change in the prime minister before the next election. Den Chiba, the secretary general of the Iwate Prefectural Chapter brought up this reason for promoting Aso for the prime minister's post: "He is popular across the nation, and there are high expectations of him." Among those executives who chose the answer, "Can't say who," Minoru Kasahara, secretary general of the Ehime Prefectural Chapter said this about changing prime minister's before a general election, "It depends now on the efforts of the current prime minister." On the cabinet shuffle, 44 of the prefectural chapters gave it high marks, while 33 indicated that with the shuffle, their evaluation of the prime minister had risen. Another question was, "What would be a good time to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election?" In response, 25 chapters, the highest number, chose the answer "after the fiscal 2009 budget is passed." Another 14 preferred the election be at the end of the members' term, while four chapters chose the end of the year or the beginning of the next year. (4) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Hiroshima, Nagasaki urge major nuclear powers to eliminate nuclear weapons Mainichi: Key gauge in June shows economy worsening Yomiuri: China confirms dumplings poisoning case Nikkei: China eases lending restrictions, indicating greater emphasis on economy Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun Beijing Olympics to open tomorrow, with gloomy predictions for weather, mood Akahata: 63rd anniversary of atomic bombing: Joint international action starts to create nuclear weapons-free world (5) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Publicize actual facts about Chinese dumpling poisoning case (2) Shut off lure of "debts" as means to buoy up economy Mainichi: (1) China should make Beijing Olympics as step toward an open nation Yomiuri: (1) In dumpling poisoning case in Japan, products found contaminated in China, as expected (2) Hammer out measures to ease shock of economic deterioration Nikkei: TOKYO 00002176 004 OF 005 (1) China urged to pin down cause of dumpling poisoning case (2) Panel decides on minimum wage rise Sankei: (1) Opening of peaceful festival, Beijing Olympics Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Olympics and terrorism: China's excessive guard concerned (2) Guerrilla downpour shows tremendousness of flood damage in cities Akahata: (1) Significantly raise minimum wage, reflecting actual situation (6) Prime Minister's schedule, August 6 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 7, 2008 07:47 Left Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima where he stayed overnight. 07:55 Attended the Peace Memorial Service for the Atomic Bomb Victims and Peace Memorial 08:54 Inspected the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, accompanied by Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Masuzoe. 09:37 Press conference at Rihga Royal Hotel in Hiroshima. Then attended a meeting to hear requests from a representative of atomic bomb victims 11:07 Inspected the Nursing Home Kurakake Nozomi for atomic bomb victims. Met with Hiroshima Mayor AKiba and Kamata, chief of the nursing home. Masuzoe was present. 13:42 Left Hiroshima Airport on JAL 1608. 14:49 Arrived at Haneda Airport. 15:48 Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura at the Kantei. 16:30 Attended a special cabinet meeting. State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Yosano remained. 17:18 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 17:38 Issued a letter of appointment to parliamentary secretaries. Then photo session, followed by parliamentary secretaries' meeting. 18:02 Met with Machimura and Futahashi. TOKYO 00002176 005 OF 005 18:40 Arrived at the official residence. SCHIEFFER