JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/15/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002244 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 08/15/08 Index: WWII anniversary: 1) Japan marks 63rd war-end anniversary (Nikkei) 2) Ruling, opposition parties release comments (Nikkei) 3) Yasukuni Shrine visit difficult for Prime Minister Fukuda and his future successors (Mainichi) North Korea problem: 4) Gov't to probe abductions from scratch (Nikkei) 5) Abductees' kin express hopes for progress (Asahi) 6) Abductions Minister Nakayama says Tokyo will keep an eye on Pyongyang's reinvestigation (Tokyo Shimbun) Political topics: 7) Prime Minister Fukuda in action to boost popularity (Tokyo Shimbun) 8) Yomiuri poll shows LDP's Aso tops all others in popularity rating for premiership, Prime Minister Fukuda ranks 4th (Yomiuri) 9) DPJ bloc members, supporters total over 260,000 (Yomiuri) Japan-China ties: 10) Food poisoning from frozen Chinese-made 'gyoza' dumplings likely to rekindle in extra Diet session (Mainichi) 11) Foreign Minister Koumura off to China tomorrow (Nikkei) South Ossetia: 12) Japan welcomes Russia-Georgia peace plan (Yomiuri) Articles: 1) 63rd anniversary of end of WWII today NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) August 15, 2008 The government will hold the annual Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead at the Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) today, the day marking the 63rd anniversary of the end of WWII. The ceremony will be attended by about 5,500 people, including the Emperor, the Empress, and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. The participants will pay tribute to the memory of about 2.3 million servicemen and civilians in the military service, as well as about 800,000 civilians who sacrificed their lives for the country. At the ceremony, after Fukuda gives an address, all participants will pay one minute's silent tribute to the war dead at noon, followed by memorial addresses by the Emperor, the head of both houses of the Diet, bereaved family members, and others. 2) Ruling, opposition parties issue statements commemorating end of war 
 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 15, 2008 Ruling and opposition parties issued the following statements, commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the end of the war. Liberal Democratic Party: We are determined to positively advance discussion on the issue of extending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. In order also to reward the feelings of the war dead, TOKYO 00002244 002 OF 007 we aim at building peace in the international community. Democratic Party of Japan: Squarely facing past history, we will continue to make steady efforts to make use of the lessons of history for peace in the future. New Komeito: Japan as the victim of atomic bombing should demonstrate strong leadership in the drive to eradicate nuclear weapons. We aim at abolishing nuclear weapons, based on the idea that their use is an absolute evil. Japanese Communist Party: We will make efforts to turn Japan into a nation that contributes to the world, based on the principles of peace and democracy in the Constitution. Social Democratic Party: There are still a lot of problems left even though the war is over. We will continue to oppose the introduction of a permanent law pertaining to the dispatch of Self-Defense Force troops overseas. People's New Party: We are now resolved that we should never opt for the path to war again. New Party Nippon: We will fulfill a mission to bring about a world without nuclear weapons. 3) 63rd anniversary of end of war today: Prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni becoming difficult MAINICHI (Page 2) (Nearly full) August 15, 2008 Today is the 63rd anniversary of the end of the war. The situation has significantly changed from the situation under then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi two years ago, and the issue of Yasukuni Shrine now has a low profile. Prime Minister Fukuda has said even from before assuming office that he would not visit Yasukuni Shrine. Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Taro Aso, who is aiming to become Fukuda's successor, also intends to forgo a shrine visit. The friction caused inside and outside the nation by prime ministerial visits to the shrine has made it difficult for an incumbent prime minister to pay official homage at Yasukuni Shrine. The Japan War-Bereaved Association has long asked for official Yasukuni visits by the prime minister and cabinet ministers, but it is also being pressed to make a historic policy switch. Koizumi and SHINZO Abe, both of whom served as prime minister, are scheduled to visit Yasukuni Shrine today. ABE had to forgo a visit during his term of office, saddled with the task of improving diplomatic relations with China, though he had insisted that the prime minister should visit the shrine on Aug. 15. In an effort to resolve the Yasukuni issue, Aso announced his personal plan in 2006 to change Yasukuni Shrine into a nonreligious corporation, although he takes a conservative stance. 4) Government briefs abductees' families: Investigation of abductions will start over with clean slate NIKKEI (Page 34) (Slightly abridged) August 15, 2008 TOKYO 00002244 003 OF 007 The government last evening held a briefing for the families of victims of kidnapped by North Korea on such matters as the method of the reinvestigation, which had been agreed on in recent working-level talks between Japan and North Korea. Akitaka Saiki, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, told them that North Korea would set up an investigation panel to carry out reinvestigation. He then sought their understanding, saying: "I would like you to think that the (result of the past investigation) will be returned to the drawing board and investigation will start again from scratch." Kyoko Nakayama, state minister for abduction issue, underscored: "We would like to bring about a situation under which North Korea will be able to decide to have the victims return home. We must not put an end to the investigation (without their return home)." Shigeo Iizuka, 70, representative of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, voiced hope, saying: "Different from the situation up until now, we can now see movement toward a solution." Regarding the effectiveness of North Korea's reinvestigation, Iizuka said: "Japan should take a strong position and push the investigation, and I want Japan not to forget to verify the outcome." 5) Families of abductees looking forward to North Korea's investigation of abductions, as agreement includes specific date for conclusion ASAHI (Page 26) (Slightly abridged) August 15, 2008 Following the agreement between Japan and North Korea on Aug. 13 on the specific method of the North's reinvestigation into its abductions of Japanese nationals, the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea was briefed yesterday by the Foreign Ministry. Since the accord stipulates that the investigation will be completed by this fall to the extent possible, Shigeo Iizuka, 70, representative of the association, expressed hope in a press conference yesterday. In the briefing session, Akitaka Saiki, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, explained the contents of the agreement to 11 association members and other persons concerned. Saiki told them that people who have not been recognized by the government as abduction victims will also be included as subjects of the investigation. Referring to the fact that Japan will lift sanctions against North Korea following the establishment of Pyongyang's reinvestigation panel, Iizuka said: "We will watch the situation." Teuraki Masumoto, chief of secretariat of the association, expressed his concern, noting: "The talks seem to have been conducted at the pace of North Korea, because Japan is making new concessions in order to get the DPRK to implement the reinvestigation it promised in 2004." After the briefing, Kyoko Nakayama, state minister for the abduction issue, stated: "I wonder whether North Korea will seriously deal TOKYO 00002244 004 OF 007 with the issue. Tough negotiations will begin." 6) Minister Nakayama: Japan will strictly check North Korea's investigation into abductions of Japanese nationals TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) August 15, 2008 Asked by reporters about the recent talks between Japan and North Korea, in which the two countries agreed that North Korea would complete the reinvestigation into its abductions of Japanese nationals by this fall to the extent possible, Kyoko Nakayama, state minister for the abduction issue, yesterday stated: "The question is whether North Korea will seriously deal with the matter as it promised. Tough negotiations will take place. Future negotiations are important." She then indicated that Japan would strictly check the progress of the North's investigation so that missing abductees will be found and can return home. 7) Prime minister calling ministers into his office even during Bon holidays TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) August 15, 2008 Since August 13 Prime Minister Fukuda has been spending his days at the official residence adjacent to the Kantei, where he is usually at work. He is supposedly taking summer holidays. However, he is actually working hard, calling in ministers to his office and giving orders to them in an attempt to put the cabinet's approval ratings, which have picked up following the cabinet shuffle, on a recovery track. The prime minister took a six-day summer vacation starting on July ¶16. He spent most of the time at a Tokyo hotel. His second vacation is five days starting from August 17. However, he will attend the Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead on August 15. He will also attend a cabinet meeting. He also needs to coordinate views with senior ruling party officials on an economic stimulus package and the timing of convening the next extraordinary Diet session. It appears impossible for him to completely rest. Asked by reporters about how he is going to spend his vacation, the prime minister on the evening of August 12 stressed, "I will work as usual." He separately called in Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito and State Minister for Financial Services and Administrative Reform Toshimitsu Motegi to the official residence on the 13th and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai and State Minister for Consumer Administration Seiko Noda on the 14th and discussed policy issues in areas of their responsibility. Emerging from the meeting with Fukuda at the official residence, Nikai stressed the prime minister's enthusiasm, "We discussed issues for two hours without a break." 8) Poll: Aso ranks top in popularity rating for premiership, Fukuda in 4th place YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 15, 2008 TOKYO 00002244 005 OF 007 The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Secretary General Aso ranked top at 25 PERCENT in popularity rating for premiership, the Yomiuri Shimbun found from its recent face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey conducted Aug. 9-10. Prime Minister Fukuda was in fourth place at 3 PERCENT . Fukuda aimed to maintain his initiative with his installation of Aso to the post of LDP secretary general when he shuffled his cabinet and appointed a new lineup of LDP executives. However, Fukuda fell far behind Aso in the popularity ranking. Former Prime Minister Koizumi ranked second at 13 PERCENT , and the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan's President Ozawa ranked third at 10 PERCENT . Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Masuzoe and DPJ Vice President Kan also ranked fourth at 3 PERCENT , as well as Fukuda. A similar question was asked in a survey conducted this March. In that survey as well, Aso topped all others at 21 PERCENT . This time, however, Aso rose in popularity with the effect of his LDP secretary general post. Aso scored 43 PERCENT among LDP supporters, and he ranked top among those with no particular party affiliation. Meanwhile, Fukuda further dropped from the 4 PERCENT rating (4th place) in this March's survey. Among LDP supporters Fukuda ranked third at 9 PERCENT . Among those unaffiliated, however, Fukuda ranked seventh at 1.4 PERCENT , as well as former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike. Meanwhile, Ozawa markedly rose from the 5 PERCENT rating (3rd place) in the March survey. In the latest survey, respondents were further asked which one between Fukuda and Ozawa they would support when it comes to their efforts to tackle recent political issues. To this question, however, Fukuda stood at 41 PERCENT , with Ozawa at 34 PERCENT . 9) Number of DPJ members, supporters reaches record high of over 260,000 YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) August 15, 2008 The number of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) members and supporters in fiscal 2008 reached a record high of 266,747. In the party presidential election in September (official announcement on the 8th, election on the 21st),269,124 people, with 224 lawmakers and 2,153 local assembly members who belong to the DPJ added to members and supporters, will be eligible voters. The DPJ confirms the number of its members and supporters every fiscal year, closing registration at the end of May. The numbers of members and supporters in fiscal 2008 are 44,340 and 222,407, respectively, 67,489 more than the previous fiscal year and the highest figure since the current registration system was introduced in fiscal 2004. According to prefecture (including lawmakers and local assembly members),Tokyo is the largest at 22,090, followed by 16,039 in Hokkaido and 15,706 in Aichi. Iwate, from which President Ozawa hails, is fifth with 14,668. Shimane has the smallest number at 608. 10) Chinese-made tainted gyoza dumpling incident likely to become source of contention in extraordinary Diet session; Government TOKYO 00002244 006 OF 007 defending decision to withhold information provided by China MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) August 15, 2008 It has been found that Chinese who ate tainted gyoza dumplings made in China also were poisoned. Though the Chinese government informed the Japanese government of this incident, the Japanese government did not reveal the information. The government still stands firm about its having withheld information provided by the Chinese side. The incident will likely spark controversy in the extraordinary Diet session to be convened in the fall, intertwined with Agriculture Minister Seiichi Ota's remark that consumers are "noisy." The Foreign Ministry noted that the information provided by China was specific, covering the number of victims, and the time and locations of poisoning. However, when it for the first time disclosed the information on August 6, it just revealed that there were poisoning cases caused by tainted gyoza dumplings in China in June. It steered clear of revealing the number of victims and the cause of the poisoning. Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura later during a TV program revealed that the number of victims is four and the cause of the poisoning is attributable to methamidophos. Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Counsellor Masahiro Kohara on August 12 disclosed further information that there is a possibility that people connected to Tianyang Food Plant, the manufacturer of the dumplings in question, ate those dumplings. The Foreign Ministry had to disclose information piecemeal, while monitoring the public response, because criticism of the government for having stopped short of disclosing the information mounted, sparked by the agriculture minister's remark. The ministry's move has nothing to do with the official reason provided by the government that Japan is cooperating with China because the investigation is still underway, as Prime Minister Fukuda said. The DPJ and other opposition parties are strengthening their criticism of the government, as can be seen in the fact that they are seeking an investigation into the matter, though the Diet is in recess. There may be an impact on Diet deliberations on bills related to the establishment of a consumer agency, which the Fukuda cabinet plans to submit to the extraordinary Diet session in the fall, playing up its stance of attaching importance to consumers. 11) Foreign minister to visit China starting tomorrow: To ask cooperation for investigation into tainted gyoza incident NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 15, 2008 Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura will visit China for three days starting on August 16. He is expected to meet with key Chinese officials, including his counterpart Yang Jiechi. He will call on China to expedite cooperation for an investigation into the tainted Chinese-made gyoza dumpling incident so that the issue can be settled at an early date. He will also likely explain to the Chinese side that Japan and North Korea during the recent bilateral talks reached an agreement that North Korea will conduct a reinvestigation into the abductions of Japanese nationals. He will ask for China's cooperation so that the matter will make progress. TOKYO 00002244 007 OF 007 Regarding the tainted gyoza incident, it has been found that Chinese who ate frozen dumplings manufactured by the same plant that caused poisonings in Japan suffered were also poisoned in June. There is a strong possibility of dumplings having been tainted with pesticide in China. Such being the circumstance, Koumura also intends to ask the Chinese side to provide more information on the matter. Prime Minister Fukuda, who visited China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, on August 8 met with President Hu Jintao and discussed the matter with him. They agreed to make efforts for an early settlement of the incident. 12) Foreign Minister Koumura welcomes acceptance of peace plan by Russia, Georgia YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 15, 2008 Concerning the acceptance of a peace plan by Russia and Georgia to settle the South Ossetia dispute, Foreign Minister Koumura on August 14 released a statement, which went: "Japan welcomes their acceptance of the peace plan, taking it as the result of urgings by the international community. It expects that the agreement will be steadily implemented on the ground." SCHIEFFER