JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 02/05/08

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 02/05/08 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Child pornography issue: 4) Prime Minister Fukuda vows to toughen restrictions on child pornography in Japan (Nikkei) 5) Justice Minister Hatoyama wants to make possession of child pornography a crime (Yomiuri) Defense and security affairs: 6) Iwakuni mayoralty race marks the third time that city voters have been asked to make their judgment on the relocation of U.S. jets from Atsugi (Yomiuri) 7) Yomiuri poll shows mayoralty race in Iwakuni is a dead heat (Yomiuri) Political agenda: 8) Asahi poll finds 55 PERCENT of public favor compromise between ruling and opposition camps in the Diet over tax issue instead of head-on clashes (Asahi) 9) LDP in disarray over revision of gasoline tax bill with road-policy clique dead set against placing gasoline tax revenues into general account budget (Yomiuri) 10) With Upper House controlled by opposition camp, if key budget-related bills are not passed on time, nation's broadcast system, NHK, could stop operating July 1 (Sankei) 11) Poisoned dumpling panic could lead to strict system of labeling imported foods (Yomiuri) 12) Proposed restriction of foreign investments in airports may be motivated by desire to protect jobs of retired bureaucrats (Tokyo Shimbun) 13) Japanese flag-carrying ships to double in five years under new plan linked to resource development and acquisition of rare metals and other resources (Yomiuri) 14) Kyoto prefecture introduces new carbon gas bank scheme in which household reductions are purchased by companies (Mainichi) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, & Tokyo Shimbun: Pesticide detected inside unopened package of Chinese gyoza dumplings Nikkei: Companies offering better pay, hours to attract retired workers Sankei: Tianyang Foods frozen foods used in lunches in 606 schools Akahata: DPJ lawmaker Yamashita pursues shortage of doctors and financial difficulties in hospitals TOKYO 00000291 002 OF 012 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Poisoned Chinese gyoza dumplings: Settlement is touchstone for Japan and China (2) New Thai government: Relapse not allowed Mainichi: (1) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport needs to provide convincing explanations on introduction of restrictions on foreign investment in airport management companies (2) Let us support system to protect rights of elderly with dementia Yomiuri: (1) Information disclosure: Measures to exclude fabrication urgently needed (2) Terrestrial digital broadcasting: Copyright protection and user-friendliness important Nikkei: (1) Can Japanese banks find means of survival? (2) Hotel ignored justice Sankei: (1) Poisonous Chinese gyoza dumplings: Close cooperation is important to resolve the issue (2) Albatross: We pray for success of relocation plan Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Microsoft's bid for Yahoo creating stir (2) What does Prime Minister Fukuda want to do with Social Security Council? Akahata: (1) Kyoto mayoral race: Best chance to refresh municipal administration 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, February 4 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) February 5, 2008 09:24 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi at the Kantei. 10:00 Upper House Budget Committee meeting. 12:32 Met with Futahashi at the Kantei. 13:00 Upper House Budget Committee meeting. 15:22 Met with Futahashi and Assistance Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka, followed by Public Security Intelligence Agency Director General Yanagi. 17:00 TOKYO 00000291 003 OF 012 LDP executive meeting in the Diet building. 17:40 Met with Afghan Foreign Minister Spanta. Deputy Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Ando was present. 18:07 Met with National Police Agency Director General Yoshimura and Security Bureau Director General Ikeda. Then met with Saka and Cabinet Secretariat Director General Yamamoto and General Affairs Ministry Administrative Management Bureau Director General Muraki. Saka remained. 19:26 Arrived at the official residence. 4) Restrictions on child pornography to be tightened NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) February 5, 2008 At a meeting yesterday of the Upper House Budget Committee, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda referred to measures to address child pornography and noted, "We must take some action." He thus indicated he is positive about strengthening restrictions on child pornography. At present, simple possession of child pornography is not subject to regulation, but Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama emphasized, "Moving to punish it would be desirable." Hatoyama was replying to a question raised by Haruko Arimura of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. 5) Justice minister mulling punishment for possession of child pornography YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) February 5, 2008 At a session yesterday of the Upper House Budget Committee, Justice Minister Hatoyama revealed his intention to consider revising the Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography by setting punishments even for simple possession of child pornography without any intention of selling or distributing it. Hatoyama noted: "Child pornography is closely intertwined with sexual abuse. Stricter punishment will be desirable. I think there is no problem about setting a punishment (for simple possession)." Prime Minister Fukuda, as well, pointed out: "A society that is tolerant of child pornography is not at all a society that we can be proud of." They were replying to a question posed by Haruko Arimura of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. When the law drafted by a cross-party group of lawmakers was enacted in 1999, whether to set a stipulation banning simple possession of child pornography was discussed, but because many were opposed to such a stipulation as a violation of privacy, that stipulation was not included in the law. 6) Iwakuni citizens to make decision for third time on relocation of U.S. air wing YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) TOKYO 00000291 004 OF 012 February 5, 2008 A fierce battle is underway for the Feb. 10 mayoral election of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, between former LDP House of Representatives member Yoshihiko Fukuda, who supports the government's plan to relocate a carrier-based air wing to the U.S. Marine air station in the city, and former Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, who opposes the plan. The outcome of the race in Iwakuni, a city of 150,000, is a matter of great concern to the government and ruling parties, for it might affect the overall issue of U.S. force realignment. The governments of Japan and the United States are in an agreement to relocate 59 aircraft, including FA-18s, to the Iwakuni base from the U.S. Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture by 2014. The Iwakuni base, along with Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, is a symbol of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. Although a mayor has no legal authority to refuse relocation, the government is alarmed, with one person saying, "A victory by Ihara might give the impression that the realignment issue is not proceeding smoothly." Fukuda's resignation as a Lower House member will also result in a by-election in the Yamaguchi No. 2 constituency for April 27, the first national election under the Fukuda administration. The mayoral race is a prelude to the by-election. The LDP effectively backs Fukuda, and the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan supports Ihara. The two camps, referring to themselves as citizens' parties, plan to refrain from eye-catching activities, such as stumping for the candidates by party executives. Yesterday, the day after the official campaign for the race kicked off, Fukuda raised his voice at a restaurant parking lot overlooking the Iwakuni base, saying: "This area has been suffering from noise. I'll promise you that once I'm elected, I will negotiate with the government on a review of the flight paths and shortening flight times." Fukuda's strategy is to focus on revitalizing the local economy and fiscal issues, putting many conditions regarding the base issue to the central government. Lined with shuttered shops and restaurants, shopping streets near JR Iwakuni Station are nearly deserted. The city has over 100 billion yen in debt that bears 7 million yen in interest a day. Mainly backed by municipal assemblymen and business circles tolerant of the relocation plan, the Fukuda camp has repeatedly held small rallies in an effort to translate economic issues into votes. LDP lawmakers have also visited corporations behind the scenes. A large portion of New Komeito supporters, believed to number 7,000 to 8,000, are also expected to vote for Fukuda. Iwakuni is going to the polls for the third time over the relocation issue. The anti-relocation group won a March 2006 municipal referendum and the April 2006 mayoral race. Ihara remained opposed to the relocation on the strength of those results. In reaction, the government has frozen 3.5 billion yen in subsidies in fiscal 2007 for the construction of a new city hall. The government has also removed Iwakuni from the list of subsidies to local governments with TOKYO 00000291 005 OF 012 greater base-hosting burdens. Ihara yesterday mainly campaigned in Iwakuni suburbs, arguing, "Whether the base will become bigger will be determined by this election. A bigger base will make your life harder." The Ihara camp, which is trying to rally together anti-relocation citizens, is alarmed at reports of a close contest, with one supporter saying: "The atmosphere is clearly different from the previous race, in which we achieved an overwhelming victory." Some are concerned about the division. An elderly man said with alarm, "While the two groups are locking horns, young people will leave the city, because the economy is in poor shape." 7) Iwakuni race a dead heat YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) February 5, 2008 The city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture will elect its new mayor on Feb. 10. Candidates are now campaigning, and the Yomiuri Shimbun polled the city's voting population and analyzed the race. Yoshihiko Fukuda, 37, a new face and a former member of the House of Representatives, and former Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, aiming for a second term, are running in a dead heat. One out of every four voters remains undecided, so the situation is fluid. The mayoral election has kicked off due to Ihara's resignation as mayor. Ihara is opposed to accepting the proposed redeployment of U.S. carrier-borne aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwakuni base along with the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. Meanwhile, Fukuda is flexible about accepting carrier-borne aircraft to the base. The election is a one-on-one duel between the two. In the survey, local respondents were asked if they supported the Japan-U.S. agreement on the planned redeployment of U.S. carrier-borne aircraft to Iwakuni. In response, 15 PERCENT answered "yes," and 31 PERCENT said "yes, if the government revises the plan to reflect the opinion of local communities." Meanwhile, "no" accounted for 47 PERCENT . The survey was conducted Feb. 3-4 on a random digit dialing basis after the election was officially announced. A total of 1,251 households were found to have one or more eligible voters, and answers were obtained from 815 persons (65 PERCENT ). 8) Poll: 55 PERCENT want ruling, opposition blocs to compromise on gas tax ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) February 5, 2008 The Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey on Feb. 2-3, in which respondents were asked if they thought the ruling and opposition parties should compromise on a bill revising the Special Taxation Measures Law to extend the current rate of temporary taxation on gasoline for another 10 years. In response to this question, 55 PERCENT answered "yes," with 33 PERCENT saying "no." As seen from these figures, those who want the ruling and opposition parties to give way to each other substantially outnumbered those who are negative about that. TOKYO 00000291 006 OF 012 Respondents were also asked if they thought road-related taxation should be continued. To this question, "yes" accounted for only 27 PERCENT , with "no" at 60 PERCENT . In the meantime, 54 PERCENT support the idea of using road-related tax revenues for other purposes. The cabinet support rate was 35 PERCENT , leveling off from the 34 PERCENT rating in the last survey conducted Jan. 11-12. In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 30 PERCENT (26 PERCENT in the January survey),with the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) at 24 PERCENT (25 PERCENT in the January survey). Respondents were further asked which political party they would vote for in their proportional representation blocs if a general election were held now. To this question, 30 PERCENT chose the LDP, with 32 PERCENT opting for the DPJ. 9) LDP in disarray over revision of gasoline tax bill, with LDP Upper House positive, road construction clique negative YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) February 5, 2008 The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership has run into trouble in dealing with the issue of modifying a bill to amend the Special Taxation Measures Law that would retain the current provisional tax for gasoline and other road-related taxes. The reason is that members of the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors are calling for consultations with the main Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) on revising the bill in order to make sure the legislation is enacted by the end of the current fiscal year. However, LDP lawmakers with ties to road construction interests are opposed to tinkering with the bill. Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki stated in a press conference Feb. 1: SIPDIS "We have obtained the party's approval of the present government's bill. We have no intention to seek a revision of the bill." The agreement between the ruling and opposition parties through the good offices of the leaders of the two Diet houses calls for: 1) reaching a certain conclusion by the end of the fiscal year; and 2) revising those provisions on which each party can agree. The DPJ, however, has asserted that the party did not agree to take a vote on the bill within the current fiscal year, and it is taking a stance of responding to revising the bill. The LDP Upper House caucus has sought a revision of the bill in the House of Representatives, citing that the DPJ considers a revision of the bill a precondition for it to respond to putting the bill to a vote before the end of March. Election Committee Chairman Makoto Koga, a leader of the road construction clique in the Diet, expressed displeasure with revising the bill, saying, "It is extremely regrettable that the issue of revising the bill is going ahead." The dominant view in the LDP is that the party will not be able to accept the idea of abolishing the tax revenue for road construction and reducing the provisional tax rates even if it agrees to revisions in the bill. The focus will be on whether to extend by a decade the provisional tax rates. TOKYO 00000291 007 OF 012 The largest opposition party is, however, trying to shift its strategy of abolishing the provisional tax for gasoline and cutting gasoline prices. The reason is that it does not appear likely that the party will force to abolish the provisional tax rates since it accepted the mediation by the Lower House speaker and Upper House president. Appearing on an NHK talk show on Feb. 3, Vice President Katsuya Okada underscored: "What we want to place top priority is to integrate the special account of road-related taxes into the general account. As a result, we want to reduce the provisional tax rates." He made this remark to shake up the LDP since there is a view in the party favoring the plan of shifting the revenues for road projects to the general budget. 10) NHK may suspend broadcasting on July 1 in aftermath of battle between ruling and opposition blocs in divided Diet if budget bill fails to get approval from opposition parties SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) February 5, 2008 Personnel selection for key positions requiring Diet approval, such as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) governor, is drawing attention in the divided Diet where the ruling bloc controls the Lower House but the Upper House is under the opposition bloc's control. Besides, what will happen to a 2008 budget bill for NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.),a pending problem, is also drawing attention. The NHK budget bill needs to be approved by both the chambers of the Diet, but because the provision stipulating the Lower House's decision overrides a bill rejected by the Upper House is not applied to this budget bill as well as personnel selection requiring Diet approval, a worst-case scenario is that if the NHK budget bill fails to be approved by the Upper House, NHK may be forced to stop broadcasting on July 1. Although such a worst-case scenario is expected to be somehow avoided, the NHK budget bill is unlikely to be approved so smoothly, given a series of scandals involving NHK personnel. Under the Broadcast Law, NHK is obligated to obtain Diet approval for its budget bill as well as its business plans by the end of March every year. Even if the NHK budget bill is not approved (by the end of March),a provisional budget for NHK will be implemented for three months until the end of June unlike annual revenue-related bills (that must be passed by a fixed date). But if that happens, NHK will be saddled with a number of restrictions. During the implementation of the provisional budget, NHK will have difficulty to implement new projects and it will also find it impossible to hike the television reception fee. Also, NHK will be forced to suspend its ongoing project for constructing terrestrial digital broadcasting relay stations; as a result, there will be a significant impact on a full transition to terrestrial digital broadcasting in the target year of 2011. Furthermore, NHK will find it difficult to produce grand-scale programs, such as "NHK special," and to conclude contracts on talent charges. If the NHK budget bill is not approved at the end of June, more serious effects would arise The Broadcast Law has no rules about budget compilation after the provisional budget expires, and NHK is highly likely to be unable to collect the television reception fees. TOKYO 00000291 008 OF 012 Although there is no law banning broadcasting if the budget bill is not approved, NHK may be forced to suspend broadcasting. According to a senior ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) member, the tide of opinion in the ruling bloc is that no opposition parties will drive NHK into suspending broadcasting. But in March 2005, the opposition parties, namely, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),the Japanese Communist Party (JCP),and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) were opposed to approving the 2005 NHK budget bill on the grounds of a former NHK chief producer having swindled money out of the program production budget and the problem of nonpayment of the television reception fees. NHK also has suffered internal dissension even now after its Chairman resigned in January 2005. In last December, some executive committee members "revolted" openly against Executive Committee Chairman Shigetaka Komori. In January, former NHK Chairman Genichi Hashimoto resigned to take the responsibility for the scandal that some NHK employees engaged in insider stock trading. Former Asahi Breweries Chairman Shigeo Fukuchi became new chairman and revamped the structures in the company, but some in the opposition bloc are still unhappy with the current NHK management. Depending on circumstances, NHK may be forced to drastically revise the initial budget bill. 11) New law regulating food labeling to be enacted: Government considering mandating labeling imported ingredients YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) February 5, 2008 The government yesterday decided to establish a food labeling law by unifying food labeling regulations stipulated under several laws, including the Food Hygiene Law. The aim is to adopt an easy-to-understand labeling system for expiry dates, country of origin and other information. The move is in response to a flurry of false food labeling incidents. The government wants to include in the envisaged law a unified expiry label, by unifying two different standards -- an eat-by freshness date and a use-by date, a stricter regulation on country-of-origin labels and the confiscating of illegally earned profits from companies that use false information. It plans to submit a bill to the next regular Diet session at the earliest. There are five laws regulating food-labeling -- the Food Hygiene Law, the Japan Agricultural Standards, the Unfair Competition Prevention Law, the Law against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations and the Measurement Law. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Fair Trade Commission have jurisdiction on those laws. Regarding this situation, some have noted that there is bureaucratic sectionalism and that cooperation among concerned government agencies is not smooth. The National Life Advisory Council, a panel reporting to Prime Minister Fukuda, who advocates attaching importance to consumers, is now looking into the possibility of enacting a new law. The government will enter a full-fledged legislative process, based on a report the panel will submit in late March. There are currently two labels to indicate expiration dates -- TOKYO 00000291 009 OF 012 use-by date for perishable food items, such as packed lunches and prepared foods, and eat-by freshness date for confectioneries, which have less possibility of causing food poisoning, though their taste deteriorates after the expiration date has passed. Consumers have complained that such a dual labeling system is difficult to understand. The panel is now discussing the issue with the possibility of unifying the two standards into a use-by date in order to give priority to safety. Concerning country-of-origin labeling, the panel will look into the possibility of mandating the labeling of country of origin of raw materials used for processed food products. JAS does not obligate country-of-origin labeling for raw materials, if they weigh less than half the total weight of the processed food product. In the food poisoning case from Chinese-made gyoza dumplings, it was found that pouch-packed-foods using materials produced by Tianyang Food Processing, the maker of the gyoza dumplings in question, had no label indicating that the products contain Chinese ingredients, indicating that key information has not been provided to consumers. The government will also consider introducing a regulation for confiscating profits from companies that use false information, by estimating profits the companies in question made unduly. 12) Transport Ministry eyes restrictions on foreign ownership of airports -- aiming to secure postretirement posts? TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 26) (Excerpts) February 25, 2008 The Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Ministry is studying the possibility of limiting foreign stakes in the operators of major facilities at Haneda and Narita airports. Some argue that it could hamper the Fukuda administration's policy of expediting outside investment in Japan. Under such a situation, the ministry hopes to have a bill amending the Airport Development Law approved by the cabinet on Feb. 8. The bill includes the proposed restrictions. Many in the government and the Liberal Democratic Party criticize the proposed rules as intended to help bureaucrats secure their interests. A government source grumbled: "What officials in the Transport Ministry want to protect by introducing restrictions are their lucrative postretirement positions, that is, executive posts at companies linked to both Haneda and Narita airports. The Koizumi administration decided in a cabinet meeting in 2002 to turn the predecessor of Narita International Airport Corp., which operates Narita Airport, into a special corporation in the process of privatizing it in the future. In 2004, the administration transformed the company into a special corporation financed 100 PERCENT by the government. The government is aiming to privatize it sometime after next fiscal year. But the ministry is concerned that it might lose its important retirement posts if foreign firms acquire large shares in airport operators. Three of the 13 executives in Narita International Airport Corp. came from the Transport Ministry. Among the remainder, there is also a former National Police Agency official and a former National Tax Administration official. The total amount of annual salary paid to the 13 executives is 286 million yen, an average of 22 million yen. TOKYO 00000291 010 OF 012 Among all government agencies, the Transport Ministry has secured the largest number of post-retirement jobs for its officials. A ministry official said: "Narita is a very lucrative company for retired ministry bureaucrats." Last summer, an Australian investment fund purchased nearly 20 PERCENT of the shares in Japan Airport Terminal Co. (JAT) and became the biggest shareholder. This move prompted the Transport Ministry to move to place restrictions on foreign firms. JAT operates Haneda Airport and is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. A ministry official commented: "Haneda and Narita are key infrastructure. To dispel concerns about the safety of airports, it is necessary to place certain restrictions on foreign ownership." The ministry is considering holding foreign ownership of four airports -- three firms linked to Haneda, including JAT, and Narita International Airport -- to less than one-third in terms of voting rights. However, LDP House of Representatives member Hiroshige Sekou has continued to oppose the proposed regulations, arguing: "The logic of the Transport Ministry, which brandishes the word 'safety', is irrational." Citing an incident in July 1999 in which an ANA airplane left Haneda for New Chitose was hijacked and its captain killed, Sekou emphasized in a meeting of the LDP Land and Transport Department: "The main cause for the incident was the lax security system at Haneda Airport. Ownership of foreign companies and air safety have nothing to do with each other." Sekou also pointed out that 75 PERCENT of total revenues earned by JAT are from sales of goods at Haneda, Kansai, and Chubu airports. He then assured: "I wonder why foreign-ownership regulations are necessary on sales of goods. After all, what the ministry wants to protect are postretirement jobs." Former Deputy Vice Transport Minister Katsuji Doi is now vice president at JAT. The restriction plan contradicts the Fukuda administration's goal of promoting foreign investment in Japan. Financial Services Minister Yoshimi Watanabe is also critical of the plan, arguing: "The proposed rules go against the national strategy of strengthening Japan's capital market and expediting foreign investment." According to a survey by the Transport Ministry, only Thailand has placed almost the same level of restrictions on foreign ownership of airports as the rules now under consideration in Japan. Thailand limits foreign ownership to less than 5 PERCENT . A government source commented: "Restricting foreign capital is indisputably a sort of discrimination toward foreigners. The Japanese government has called in trade negotiations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),including Thailand, for easing or abolishing all measures to protect their domestic firms. It is a bad joke for the government to introduce restrictions, following Thailand." 13) Japan to double ships in 5 yrs YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) February 5, 2008 The government's ocean policy task force, headed by Prime Minister TOKYO 00000291 011 OF 012 Fukuda, has worked out a draft of its basic oceanic plan for Japan's ocean policy. The draft basic plan, revealed yesterday, notes that the number of ships under the flag of Japan has been decreasing. As it stands, the draft plan sets numerical benchmarks to attain. In concrete terms, the draft plan suggests the need for Japan to double its holding of ships in five years. In addition, the draft plan proposes increasing the number of Japan's ocean line seafarers by 50 PERCENT in 10 years. The government will also work out a plan within fiscal 2008 for Japan's development of marine energy and mineral resources, including oil and natural gas. The draft plan is expected to be adopted in a cabinet meeting this month. The draft basic plan for Japan's ocean policy is based on the Basic Act on Ocean Policy, which was enforced in July last year. The basic plan is intended to unify the government's ocean policy measures that are currently in the hands of its ministries. The government will review its ocean policy in five years. Japan's holding of ocean liners is now below 1,000 as of 2006. The number of Japanese seamen is also below 3,000. "Japan depends largely on ocean shipping," the draft plan notes. "This situation is therefore problematical for Japan from the perspective of ensuring ocean shipping," it adds. The government will lighten or reduce taxes on Japanese shipping companies to increase their ships and seafarers. In addition, the draft basic plan stresses that it is "vital" for Japan to probe and exploit marine energy and mineral resources. In this regard, the basic plan suggests the need for government ministries and agencies to work together and formulate a "marine energy and mineral resources development plan" within fiscal 2008. This development plan is to prescribe a blueprint of projects for Japan's exploitation of marine resources as well as technology development needed for Japan to exploit marine resources. Furthermore, the draft basic plan says Japan, for the time being, will need to probe and exploit marine resources in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters, pinpointing: 1) petroleum; 2) natural gas; 3) methane hydrate; and 4) sea-floor hydrothermal deposits, including rare metals. The basic plan says the government should intensively invest its policy-based resources as necessary. It also sets a goal for Japan to head for its commercialization of methane hydrate and sea-floor hydrothermal deposits in about 10 years. 14) Kyoto Prefecture to launch CO2 reduction bank: Company to purchase emissions reduced by households MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) February 5, 2008 Kyoto Prefecture on February 4 released a plan to start a Kyoto CO2 Reduction Bank, an emissions quota transactions system allowing companies to purchase carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cut by households, staring this fiscal year. Under the system, each household registers with the bank and obtains points, according to the amount of CO2 it has cut. It can use the points at registered neighborhood stores. Companies that purchased emissions credits can count them as emissions cuts. The registered stores would receive the payment for goods they sold through the bank. Kyoto is the first area to adopt such a system, according to the prefecture. Kyoto Prefecture has adopted a regulation on measures to combat TOKYO 00000291 012 OF 012 climate change. It seeks to have leading companies cut CO2 emissions by 10 PERCENT by 2010, compared with 1990 levels. The envisaged system would benefit both companies and households and would stimulate local shopping areas. The prefecture will establish the bank in April and invite households and companies to register. Emissions trading will start this fall. It expects that about 3,000 households and 20-30 companies will take part, enabling the reduction of 1,200 tons of CO2 emissions a year. The amount of cuts achieved by households will be confirmed using the amount of electricity and gas they use compared with the previous year. The prefecture calculated that a company would purchase a 1 kg cut for 5 yen. An average household that emits 4 tons of CO2 a year could obtain points worth 2,000 yen if it cuts emissions by 10 PERCENT . A credit card will be used for shopping at registered stores. SCHIEFFER