JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 05/18/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001109

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DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA;
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TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA

SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 05/18/09

Index:
1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule (Nikkei)

DPJ election:
4) Democratic Party of Japan picks Yukio Hatoyama as new president,
edging out Katsuya Okada, but can he shake off the influence of
Ichiro Ozawa? (Asahi)
5) Okada to be DPJ secretary general and Ozawa will be acting
president in charge of elections (Nikkei)
6) Concern that there might be a dual structure of power in the DPJ
(Tokyo Shimbun)
7) Accusations already that Hatoyama may be Ozawa's "puppet" (Tokyo
Shimbun)
8) Opposition camp with Hatoyama's election expects to tighten its
united front against the ruling camp (Tokyo Shimbun)
9) Profile of Yukio Hatoyama (Tokyo Shimbun)

Opinion polls:
10) Yomiuri poll: 53 PERCENT of public have no expectations of
Hatoyama as new DPJ president, but support for the DPJ rises to
exceed that for LDP (Yomiuri)
11) Asahi poll: 47 PERCENT have expectations for Hatoyama and his
new team in the DPJ, while 38 PERCENT will vote for DPJ in election
(Asahi)

12) Nikkei poll: Public split in expectations about Hatoyama as DPJ
president, but DPJ now exceeds LDP in support, 38 PERCENT vs. 33
PERCENT (Nikkei)
13) Kyodo poll: Hatoyama has an 11point lead over Aso on question of
who is more appropriate to be prime minister (Tokyo Shimbun)
14) Mainichi poll: 34 PERCENT of public favor Hatoyama compared to
21 PERCENT for Aso (Mainichi)
15) Jiji poll: Aso cabinet support rate inches up to 26.3 PERCENT
(Tokyo Shimbun)

Defense and security affairs:
16) Defense Ministry report estimates the range of North Korea's
long-range missile at over 3,000 kilometers (Nikkei)
17) Defense Minister Hamada issues order for P-3c patrol aircraft to
be sent for anti-piracy duty over waters off Somalia (Tokyo
Shimbun)
18) Justice Ministry data: 80 PERCENT of incidents involving U.S.
forces in Japan are never indicted (Akahata)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi and Mainichi:
New flu infection spreads to 96 people in Hyogo, Osaka prefectures,
including primary and middle school students and teachers; Schools
and facilities closed

Yomiuri:
92 infected with new flu in Osaka, Hyogo, over 1,400 schools closed

Nikkei:
Listed firms likely to report 8 PERCENT drop in pretax profit in FY
2009


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Sankei:
DPJ President Hatoyama appoints Ozawa as deputy president and Okada
as secretary general

Tokyo Shimbun:
New flu infection spreads to 100 people; 1,000 schools in Osaka,
Hyogo closed

Akahata:
Lack of daycare centers ascribable to local governments with powers
to authorize centers; MHLW's assertion raises questions

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Measures necessary to prevent widespread of new influenza
(2) New lay judge system: Experience must be shared by judges

Mainichi:
(1) Aso vs. Hatoyama: Strong expectations for change
(2) Indictment of Suu Kyi a case of excessive political suppression

Yomiuri:
(1) Kyoto Protocol overreach must not be repeated
(2) Fukuoka High Court decides Imabayashi should face charge of
dangerous driving

Nikkei:
(1) Intel fined by EU for anti-competitive practices
(2) Will reform be implemented after ruling coalition's victory in
India?

Sankei:
(1) Schools must take thorough measures to prevent spread of new
influenza
(2) Corporate account settlements: Market-sensitive management
strategy essentials

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Thought at beginning of week: What is happening at school

Akahata:
(1) Dispatch of P-3Cs: Overseas dispatch of SDF enters a new phase

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, May 16

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
May 17, 2009

10:00
Took a walk around his official residence.

14:59
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management Ito at
his official residence.

Prime Minister's schedule, May 17

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
May 18, 2009

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10:07
Took a walk around his official residence.
16:54
Had a haircut at "Barber Sato" in Hotel Pacific in Takanawa.
18:25
Met at his official residence with Finance Minister Yosano, BOJ Gov.
Yamaguchi, Vice Finance Minister Sugimoto, Financial Services Agency
Director General Sato, and Vice METI Minister Mochizuki.

4) Hatoyama elected as new DPJ president

ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
May 17, 2009

The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on May 16 held
its presidential election at a Tokyo hotel and chose Secretary
General Yukio Hatoyama, 62, as its new president. In the election by
DPJ members of the two Diet chambers, Hatoyama defeated Vice
President Katsuya Okada by a vote of 124 to 95. At a press
conference after the election, Hatoyama revealed that he would give
Okada and his predecessor Ichiro Ozawa important party posts.

In order to bring about a change in government in the next House of
Representatives election, Hatoyama will now move quickly to regain
party strength. The term of the new DPJ leader will run until
September next year, which is the time left to serve out by Ozawa.
Hatoyama has again assumed the presidential post, having resigned in
the past to take responsibility for causing turmoil over his plan to
form a new party with the former Liberal Party.

Can Hatoyama break away from depending on Ozawa?

Commentary

With the sudden resignation of its President Ichiro Ozawa over the
indictment of his chief secretary for accepting illegal donations
from Nishimatsu Construction Co, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
had to hold a presidential election unexpectedly. The key question
in the leadership race was whether a new party leader would be able
to break away from the party's nature of relying on Ozawa.

The leadership race was rough going from the beginning. The DPJ
leadership decided to take a vote five days after Ozawa's
announcement of his resignation on May 11. DPJ lawmakers estranged
from Ozawa opposed the leadership's decision, citing the early
election was aimed at having Hatoyama succeed to Ozawa as party
leader. With this, the pattern of confrontation between the pro- and
non-Ozawa groups was made clear.

Hatoyama had supported Ozawa when he was secretary general and had
been deeply involved in Ozawa's resignation. He was elected,
defeating Katsuya Okada, who called for leaving the Ozawa policy
line. Hatoyama must first clearly wipe away the suspicion that the
new DPJ leadership will be "a puppet regime of Ozawa."

Actually, Ozawa rendered distinguished service to the DPJ. After
assuming the DPJ presidency in 2006, Ozawa, who accumulated his
political experiences through power struggles in the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP),urged the DPJ members to carry out
grassroots door-to-door election, citing their daily political
activities lacked such. He united the party, which was seen as

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disorganized. He was like a Spartan who strengthened the weak DPJ.
As a result, the DPJ's base has become strong.

In return for this, however, the DPJ has lost its freshness. Okada,
therefore, played up his determination to regain that freshness,
using the words, "a new DPJ" and "opening the DPJ." Although Okada
does not have his own group, he secured 95 votes. Taking this
seriously, the new DPJ president's challenge is to graduate from the
"Ozawa school."

5) New DPJ President Hatoyama picks Okada as secretary general

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full)
May 18, 2009

Yukio Hatoyama, the new president of the main opposition Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ),announced the lineup of the DPJ new
leadership. He picked former Vice President Katsuya Okada, who
competed with Hatoyama in Saturday's presidential election, to be
secretary general, a key post in the party. Former President Ichiro
Ozawa, meanwhile, was appointed DPJ acting president in charge of
election strategy. There is a strong possibility that Ozawa will
hold the real power. Naoto Kan and Azuma Koshiishi will be retained
in their current deputy president posts. The Hatoyama-led DPJ
leadership will get started soon, after it is approved in a meeting
of the party lawmakers from the two Diet chambers, which will be
held in a day or two.

Hatoyama met yesterday with Okada and others at party headquarters
and decided the new leadership lineup. Other senior party executive
members will likely be retained. Asked about the appointment of
Ozawa by reporters, Hatoyama said: "He nurtured the DPJ into a party
that is strong in elections. I highly value his achievements." He
then added: "Although I will manage election funds, I want Mr. Ozawa
to take charge of election affairs. I want Mr. Okada to understand
this."

Asked about his aim of picking Okada as secretary general, Hatoyama
said in a strong tone: "There are many DPJ lawmakers supporting Mr.
Okada. So, it is important to quickly form party unity with them. He
stated: "I want them (to cooperate with me) to make the DPJ a party
that will be able to bring about a change in government."

6) New DPJ leadership: Okada as key person in election; Ozawa for
actual work involved in election; Concern about double power
structure remaining

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts)
May 18, 2009

In selecting the line-up of party executives, Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama placed top priority on party
unity and measures to deal with the next Lower House election. In
doing so, he focused on role-sharing between Ozawa and Okada by
leaving the actual work involved in the upcoming election to
newly-appointed Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa and characterizing new
Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who is more popular than Hatoyama
among the public, as the key person in the election. There is
concern that criticism saying this system is a double power
structure will mount, depending on to what extent Ozawa will seize
power in dealing with the election campaign.


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Referring to the appointment of Ozawa as the person responsible for
the upcoming election, Hatoyama on the 17th stressed to reporters,
"I will control everything. However, I will basically ask Mr. Ozawa
to be in charge of the upcoming election."

Hatoyama expects Ozawa to display his ability to deal with
elections, as he did in realizing the switch between the ruling and
opposition parties in the 2007 Upper House election.

Hatoyama paid special attention to the treatment of Ozawa. There is
still deep-rooted dissatisfaction with Ozawa, who did not lay the
groundwork properly or provide full explanations to party members
when he was president. There is a sense of wariness, mainly among
lawmakers who distance themselves from Ozawa, that if he is in
charge of the election campaign, he might seize control of power and
money.

7) Ruling camp start criticizing new DPJ leader Hatoyama as "puppet
of Ozawa," fearing recovery of public support for DPJ

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
May 17, 2009

Following Yukio Hatoyama's election as president of the Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ),members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
and the New Komeito yesterday voiced criticism of the new DPJ
leadership as a "puppet" in the hands of former president Ichiro
Ozawa, who has been dogged by the fallout of a fund-raising scandal
involving Nishimatsu Construction Co. By underscoring the image that
Ozawa is stage-managing Hatoyama, they expect to deal a blow to the
main opposition party, eyeing the next general election.

Ruling coalition members did not want to see Okada elected in the
presidential race, because he has given a clean image and has
distanced himself from Ozawa. Their judgment was that if Hatoyama,
who supported Ozawa as the party's secretary general, became his
successor, they would be able to keep the tactics of criticizing
Ozawa.

Immediately after Hatoyama won the election, the ruling camp
launched an offensive against Hatoyama. LDP Election Strategy
Council Chairman Makoto Koga said about Hatoyama: "Mr. Ozawa's
influence will be kept as is." Election Strategy Council Vice
Chairman Yoshihide Suga also stressed: "The DPJ will have a dual
structure."

Such an offensive strategy is also intended to contain moves by
Ozawa, in addition to the aim of swaying the DPJ under Hatoyama.
Concern is rising in the ruling parties that Ozawa might actively
move behind the scenes in preparation for the next general election.
A senior LDP member said: "Mr. Ozawa is expected to pour all his
energy into election strategy. We are scared." Former Prime Minister
Yoshiro Mori commented: "The question is to what extent Mr. Hatoyama
will be able to act based on his own judgment." This remark sounds
like advice to Hatoyama that he should be independent but probably
is aimed to undermine relations between Ozawa and Hatoyama.

The ruling coalition has not changed its initial plan to dissolve
the Lower House for a snap election after having the fiscal 2009
extra budget and related bills pass the Diet. Coalition members take
the view that the key to the outcome of the election lies in how to
boost public support by effectively attacking the Hatoyama DPJ.

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But a senior ruling party member takes the view that the resignation
of Ozawa as party president will undoubtedly contribute to buoying
up public support temporarily. Some members urged Prime Minister Aso
to rouse himself. Former LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa
commented: "We will not be able to win the election as long as we
rely on the enemy's errors." New Komeito President Akihiro Ota also
said: "It is most important for us to brace ourselves."

8) Opposition bloc expects strengthened joint-struggle structure

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Slightly abridged)
May 17, 2009

In response to the election of Yukio Hatoyama as Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ) president, Social Democratic Party President Mizuho
Fukushima said: "(Hatoyama) is very approachable. I would like to
proactively hold talks with him and strengthen the joint-struggle
structure among the opposition parties." But she added: "It is
strange that a person who had to step down continues to have an
influence. I hope that the new leadership will settle the 'politics
and money' issue and take action under the new structure." She asked
Hatoyama to eliminate the "Ozawa color."

People's New Party Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei welcome
Hatoyama's election, saying: "His has been responsible for
maintaining cooperative relations with us on Diet affairs, policies,
and election, so there will be no concern." New Party Nippon
President Yasuo Tanaka commented: "I hope we will reinforce the
joint-struggle structure and win a victory as the face of regime
change."

Meanwhile, Japanese Communist Party Secretary General Ichida said
cynically: "I was surprised by the fact that neither of the
candidates referred to Nishimatsu Construction.

9) Profile of the new DPJ President Hatoyama: Lived through such
fiascos as the fake e-mail and grand coalition scheme but hardships
enabled him to outgrow himself

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts)
May 17, 2009

A number of politicians say that Hatoyama is mild and gentle but is
not so powerful. Focusing on his advocacy of "fellowship" as his
political principle, former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone once
said, "He is like soft ice cream."

In a press conference held just after he was elected to head the
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),Hatoyama emphasized: "Over the past
several years, the DPJ faced a number of problems, such as the fake
e-mail and grand-coalition fiascos, but we overcame them one after
another. I do not easily lose energy and give up." He thus indicated
that he has outgrown his old self through overcoming a number of
hardships in supporting the DPJ under the lead of presidents Maehara
and Ozawa, for whom he has served as secretary general for nearly
four years.

He was first elected to the House of Representatives on the Liberal
Democratic Party's ticket in 1986 and is now in his seventh term.
Battling for political reform, he left the LDP and joined the New
Party Sakigake in 1993. In 1996, he established the DPJ with Naoto

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Kan. After the party was reorganized in 1998, Hatoyama served as
president for three years starting in 1999.

Prime Minister Aso's grandfather Shigeru Yoshida was a prime
minister, while Hatoyama's grandfather Ichiro Hatoyama, was also a
prime minister. The grandsons are likely to face off in the next
Lower House election.

10) Poll: 53 PERCENT don't have expectations for Hatoyama

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged)
May 18, 2009

In the wake of the election of Yukio Hatoyama as new Democratic
Party of Japan (Minshuto) president, the Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a
telephone-based spot nationwide public opinion survey from the
evening of May 16 through May 17. In the spot poll, respondents were
asked if they had expectations for Hatoyama. To this question, "yes"
accounted for only 40 PERCENT , with "no" reaching 53 PERCENT . In
the breakdown of public support for political parties, however, the
DPJ outstripped the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, with the DPJ
sharply rising from 23.4 PERCENT in the last poll taken a week ago
to 30.8 PERCENT and the LDP at 28.4 PERCENT (26.8 PERCENT in the
last poll). In the popularity ranking of political parties for
proportional representation in the next House of Representatives
election as well, the DPJ outdistanced the LDP, with the DPJ
tallying 41 PERCENT (30 PERCENT in the last poll) and the LDP
remaining flat at 27 PERCENT (27 PERCENT in the last poll).
Hatoyama's popularity is not high, but the public's expectations for
the DPJ are now back with an end put to the Ozawa problem. In the
poll, respondents were also asked to choose between Prime Minister
Aso and Hatoyama as more appropriate for premiership. To this
question, 42 PERCENT preferred Hatoyama, with 32 PERCENT picking
Aso.

11) Poll: DPJ rebounds to 38 PERCENT in popularity ranking for
proportional representation; 47 PERCENT attaching expectations on
new DPJ President Hatoyama

ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged)
May 18, 2009

In the wake of the election of Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto)
President Hatoyama, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based
spot nationwide public opinion survey on May 16-17. In the poll,
respondents were asked which political party they would vote for in
their proportional representation blocs if they were to vote now for
the House of Representatives. To this question, 38 PERCENT chose
the DPJ, up from 32 PERCENT in the last poll taken April 18-19. The
ruling Liberal Democratic Party was at 25 PERCENT , down from 27
PERCENT .

In the breakdown of public support for political parties as well,
the DPJ rose to 26 PERCENT (21 PERCENT in the last poll). The LDP
was at 25 PERCENT (25 PERCENT in the last poll). Asked about the
desirable form of government, 45 PERCENT picked a "DPJ-led
coalition" (41 PERCENT in the last poll),with 28 PERCENT choosing
an "LDP-led coalition" (29 PERCENT in the last poll).

In the poll, respondents were also asked if they had expectations
for the DPJ led by Hatoyama. In response to this question, public
opinion was split, with 47 PERCENT answering "yes" and 43 PERCENT

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saying "no."

The Aso cabinet's support rate was 27 PERCENT (26 PERCENT in the
last poll). The nonsupport rate was 56 PERCENT (57 PERCENT in the
last poll). As seen from these figures, the approval and disapproval
ratings leveled off from the last poll.

12) Poll: Public split over new DPJ President Hatoyama

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full)
May 18, 2009

Public opinion was split over newly elected Democratic Party of
Japan (Minshuto) President Yukio Hatoyama in a spot public opinion
survey conducted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun with TV Tokyo on May
16-17. When respondents were asked if they had expectations for
Hatoyama, 47 PERCENT answered "yes," with 49 PERCENT saying "no."
The DPJ's support rate was 38 PERCENT , up 10 points from the last
poll taken in late April. The DPJ outstripped the LDP, which dropped
3 points to 33 PERCENT .

The rate of public support for Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet
dropped 2 points to 30 PERCENT . The nonsupport rate rose 3 points
to 62 PERCENT .

In the poll, respondents were also asked who they thought would be
more appropriate for prime minister after the next House of
Representatives election. In response to this question, 16 PERCENT
chose Aso, with 29 PERCENT preferring Hatoyama. "Neither" accounted
for 52 PERCENT .

The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. by telephone on a
random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, samples were
chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across the nation.
A total of 1,395 households with one or more eligible voters were
sampled, and answers were obtained from 880 persons (63.1 PERCENT ).
When the poll was conducted, little was known about how Hatoyama
would treat his predecessor, Ichiro Ozawa, and Katsuya Okada, who
also ran in the DPJ race.

13) Poll: Hatoyama leads Aso by 11 points as one most suitable for
premiership; But 50 PERCENT have no expectations of Hatoyama

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full)
May 18, 2009

In a nationwide telephone survey that Kyodo News Agency carried out
on May 16-17, following the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
presidential election, newly-elected President Yukio Hatoyama
secured 43.6 PERCENT of the support of respondents as being more
appropriate for the premiership, topping by 11.6 points the 32
PERCENT level secured by Prime Minister Taro Aso. In the survey
conducted in late April, Aso had the lead over then DPJ President
Ichiro Ozawa by 13.7 points. The outcome of the latest poll reflects
the effect of replacing the president.

The number of respondents who had expectations of Hatoyama,
combining those who had great expectations and those who had a
certain amount of expectations, stood at 47.5 PERCENT , less than
the 50.6 PERCENT who had no expectations of him. The portion of
respondents who thought Ozawa's influence over the DPJ would either
"remain to some extent" or "still be considerable," reached 82.4

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PERCENT . This figure indicates a deep-rooted suspicion that the DPJ
would have a dual-power structure.

The support rate for the Aso cabinet stood at 26.2 PERCENT , down
1.8 points from the previous survey carried out on the 11th and
12th. The non-support rate reached 60.2 PERCENT , up 5.1 PERCENT .
Asked whether the replacement of the president would work favorably
for the DPJ or not, 49 PERCENT replied, "There will be no change,"
followed by 31.9 PERCENT , who replied, "It will work favorably,"
and 16.2 PERCENT , who said, "It will work negatively." Asked which
party they would vote for in the election, 37.3 PERCENT said that
they would back the DPJ, while 25.8 PERCENT said that they would
vote for the LDP. The DPJ also secured the support of 30 PERCENT of
respondents as a party they support, topping the LDP, which was
supported by 25.2 PERCENT .

14) MAINICHI Poll: 56 PERCENT hope to see DPJ win Lower House
election; 34 PERCENT see Hatoyama as suitable for premiership,
topping 21 PERCENT who chose Aso

MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full)
May 18, 2009

Mainichi Shimbun on May 16-17 conducted a nationwide poll following
the election of Yukio Hatoyama as president of the Democratic Party
of Japan (DPJ) on the 16th. The poll asked respondents if they think
incumbent Prime Minister Taro Aso or Hatoyama would be more
appropriate to serve as the next prime minister. Hatoyama secured
the support of 34 PERCENT , topping 21 PERCENT who chose Aso. To
the question of which party pollees want to see win the election, 56
PERCENT chose the DPJ, up 11 points from the previous poll
conducted on May 12-13 before the presidential election, reaching
nearly double the number of pollees who chose the Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP). It seems as if the DPJ has restored the image of the
party, which was tarnished by the arrest of former President Ichiro
Ozawa, through the resignation of Ozawa and the presidential
election.

When Mainichi Shimbun asked in April whether Prime Minister Aso or
Ozawa is more suitable for the premiership, 21 PERCENT selected Aso
and 12 PERCENT selected Ozawa.

In the February survey conducted before the arrest of the secretary,
Ozawa secured support from 25 PERCENT of respondents, outnumbering
Aso, who secured 8 PERCENT . The number of respondents who supported
Hatoyama - 34 PERCENT -- in the poll this time topped those who
supported Ozawa in that poll. However, 42 PERCENT , the largest
ratio of respondents, replied, "Neither of them is appropriate."

To a question about which party respondents want to see win - the
LDP or the DPJ - the percentage of those who supported the DPJ
exceeded 51 PERCENT in the February poll.

Respondents who supported the DPJ reached 30 PERCENT (24 PERCENT
in the previous survey),surpassing 23 PERCENT (27 PERCENT in the
previous survey),who supported the LDP. The support rate for the
DPJ recovered to almost the same level as the February survey, which
logged 29 PERCENT . The ratio of pollees without any party
affiliation stood at 37 PERCENT .

Cabinet support rating drops to 24 PERCENT after hiatus of three
months

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The support rating for the Aso cabinet stood at 24 PERCENT , down 3
points from the previous survey. After hitting 11 PERCENT in the
February survey, cabinet support ratings had been on the rise since
the March survey, carried out after the arrest of Ozawa's secretary.
However, the rating has taken a downward turn for the first time in
three months. The non-support rating reached 58 PERCENT , up six
points from the previous survey.

15) Poll: Aso cabinet's support rate inches up to 26.3 PERCENT

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
May 16, 2009

The public approval rating for Prime Minister Taro Aso and his
cabinet increased 1.1 points from last month to 26.3 PERCENT ,
according to an opinion poll conducted by Jiji Press on May 8-11.
The disapproval rating decreased 1.8 points to 52.0 PERCENT .

The survey was conducted across the nation on a face-to-face basis
with a total of 2,000 persons chosen from among men and women aged
20 and over. The response rate was 67.8 PERCENT .

In the popularity ranking of political parties for proportional
representation in the forthcoming election for the House of
Representatives, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party tallied 25.2
PERCENT , down 3.7 points from last month, and the leading
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) was at 28.9 PERCENT
, up 0.3 points. The DPJ outstripped the LDP again.

In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP
stood at 19.9 PERCENT , down 1.5 points from last month, and the DPJ
at 14.2 PERCENT , up 0.2 points. The New Komeito, the LDP's
coalition partner, was at 3.3 PERCENT . The Japanese Communist Party
was at 1.7 PERCENT and the Social Democratic Party at 0.4 PERCENT .
"None" accounted for 58.5 PERCENT .

16) Defense Ministry report concludes that North Korean missile flew
over 3,000 km; Government highly alarmed at the missile's improved
performance

NIKKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts)
May 16, 2009

The release of the Defense Ministry's report pointing out progress
in North Korea's long-range ballistic missile technology has set off
alarms in the government and the ruling parties. With the progress
likely to result in an increased performance of the Rodong mid-range
ballistic missile, which has all of Japan in its range, it is likely
to have an impact on the security of Japan, as well. Calls for
reinforcing a missile defense (MD) system are expected to grow
stronger.

Calls for enhanced MD system in ruling bloc

"(North Korea) has succeeded in prolonging the range (of its
long-range ballistic missile). It is critical that (the missile's)
performance has been increased," Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet
Secretary Kyoji Yanagisawa said on April 15.

Rodong a greater threat


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Denying North Korea's claim that it launched a satellite on April 5,
the report says that either a Taepodong-2 long-range missile or its
improved version dropped its boosters into two oceanic areas, as was
reported in advance, after flying over 3,000 km.

A Taepodong-1 missile launched in 1998 flew about 1,600 km. A
Taepodong-2 missile, fired in 2006 to extend its range, fell into
waters immediately after its launch. The missile launched on April 5
clearly made progress.

Former director-general Ryojiro Akiba of the Education and Science
Ministry's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science assessed the
launch this way: "The ability to put a missile into orbit and
control its position has reached a certain level. Its technology is
magnificent (rippa)." National Institute for Defense Studies former
director Minoru Shibata expressed concern, saying, "The latest test
is of great significance in that it would eventually increase the
accuracy rate of the Rodong missile."

17) Even GSDF ordered to be dispatched for "maritime security
mission"; stretching legal interpretation without Diet involvement

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
May 16, 2009

Koki Miura

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada issued an order on May 15 for two
Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) P-3C reconnaissance planes to
proceed to Djibouti, the operational base for pirate surveillance,
under the anti-piracy measures for the Gulf of Aden off Somalia.
Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) troops will also be deployed to
guard the reconnaissance planes. By stretching the legal
interpretation of "maritime security mission" under the SDF Law,
GSDF troops will be sent overseas without being checked by the
Diet.

Some 50 GSDF officers armed with pistols and rifles will be sent on
this mission. GSDF troops had not been deployed when Air
Self-Defense Force (ASDF) aircraft were engaged in air transport
operations for Iraq reconstruction aid in Kuwait, but the Ministry
of Defense (MOD) says that, "Since civilian airports will be used
this time, we need our own security measures."

However, the legal basis for this is ambiguous. When the GSDF was
sent overseas in the past for Japan's participation in UN
peacekeeping operations (PKO) in 1992 and for the Iraq mission in
2004, the laws constituting the legal basis of the dispatch were
debated in the Diet and such deployment had required the approval of
and reporting to the Diet.

On the other hand, the basis for the current mission is the
provision on maritime security mission under the SDF Law. This
provision is originally meant for missions in sea areas close to
Japan and does not require Diet approval and reporting.

When this legal provision on maritime security missions was used as
the basis for sending escort ships to waters off Somalia recently,
there was criticism that this was a case of stretching the legal
interpretation. Now, this provision is being applied to the GSDF
dispatch. Although the SDF Law authorizes only "(providing
assistance to) missions at sea," the MOD is twisting this to

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"providing assistance to maritime missions." The loophole in
civilian control is widening steadily.

18) Proof of "secret agreement" on waiver of legal jurisdiction:
Over 80 PERCENT of USFJ offenders not indicted from 2001-2008

AKAHATA (Top play) (Full)
May 16, 2009

Ministry of Justice (MOJ) documents show that of the 3,829 members
of U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and others who committed crimes off duty
from 2001-2008, 3,184, or about 83 PERCENT , were not indicted. This
information was obtained by the Nihon Heiwa Iinkai (NHI; Japan Peace
Committee).from the MOJ through information disclosure procedures
and was revealed at a gathering held in the Diet on May 15.

NHI obtains documents

The Japanese government reached a "secret agreement" with the United
States in October 1953 that except for "extremely serious cases,"
Japan would waive its right to primary jurisdiction over crimes
committed by USFJ members, civilian employees, and their dependents.
The MOJ documents show that this "secret agreement" still restrains
Japanese judicial authorities and that crimes committed by U.S.
soldiers and others are being left unpunished.

According to calculations made by the NHI based on MOJ documents,
while the prosecution rate for murder, robbery and other
unmistakable vicious crimes is at the 70 PERCENT level, offenses
such as obstruction of the performance of official duties, fraud,
and embezzlement have not been prosecuted at all.

Furthermore, while the prosecution rate for indecent assault and
rape (including those resulting in death or injury) in Japan during
the period in question is about 59 PERCENT , the figures are only
about 11 PERCENT for indecent assault and about 26 PERCENT for
rape among USFJ offenders.

In addition, prosecution rates for theft, about 7 PERCENT , and
trespassing, about 18 PERCENT , are also low.

Although the Japanese government claims that "indictment decisions
are made in the same manner for Japanese citizens and U.S.
soldiers," prosecutors' statistics of the MOJ (2001-2008) show that
while there is zero indictment of USFJ-related personnel, the
prosecution rate for Japanese offenders is about 65 PERCENT for
obstruction of the performance of official duties, about 76 PERCENT
for fraud, and about 58 PERCENT for indecent assault (sic).

Outcome of criminal cases by U.S. soldiers, others

Year No. of persons prosecuted No. of persons not prosecuted
Non-prosecution rate ( PERCENT )
2001 53 317 85.6
2002 76 414 84.4
2003 99 472 82.6
2004 116 473 80.3
2005 77 448 85.3
2006 132 339 71.9
2007 53 349 86.8
2008 39 372 90.5
Total 645 3,184 83.1

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Statistics compiled by NHI based on MOJ documents

ZUMWALT