JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/29/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001725

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TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA

SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/29/09

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

Defense and security affairs:
4) USFJ Commander Lt. Gen. Rice rebuts Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) manifesto (campaign pledges) (Asahi)
5) DPJ will withdraw Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) from Indian
Ocean refueling mission in January (Sankei)
6) MSDF begins to escort foreign ships in anti-piracy operation off
the coast of Somalia (Yomiuri)
7) GSDF to receive massive reorganization under the new National
Defense Program Guidelines out in December (Sankei)

8) Uighur leader arrives in Japan; China protests (Sankei)

9) U.S.-China strategic dialogue: Concern in Japan that U.S. paying
too much attention to China at Japan alliance expense, fears that
U.S. tries to assuage (Sankei)

10) U.S. experts analyze the DPJ's foreign policy (Nikkei)

Election campaign:
11) Sankei estimates in own survey that DPJ will likely take the
majority of seats in the single seat districts (Sankei)
12) Prime Minister Aso finally starts to make outdoor campaign
speeches (Mainichi)
13) Gist of LDP's manifesto or collection of election campaign
pledges (Yomiuri)
14) Social Democratic Party trying to plot own election strategy
while forming joint struggle with DPJ and other opposition parties
(Mainichi)

15) Government panel wraps up proposal for a food-security
initiative (Yomiuri)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
Health Ministry to revise nursing care criteria again after six
months; too many overly strict assessments

Mainichi:
Health Ministry to relax criteria for assessing nursing care need on
"paralysis" and 42 other categories

Yomiuri:
LDP manifesto to include free pre-school education, preparation for
consumption tax increase

Nikkei:
Yen loans for infrastructure construction aid in mining areas in
Africa, South AMERICA to be offered to secure rare metal

Sankei:
GSDF embarks on first major reorganization in 50 years:
Counterterrorism unit for the defense of the capital to be created;
unified command under Ground Defense Command


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Tokyo Shimbun:
Tokyo District Court orders compensation for rejecting assembly:
Payment of 290 million yen to be made to Teachers' Union; Prince
Hotel loses case

Akahata:
JCP presents policies for general election: Create a new Japan where
the people are the masters

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Peace of mind and cost: Step up investments on young people
(2) Rejection of Japan Teachers' Union gathering: Hotel pays a high
price

Mainichi:
(1) 2009 Lower House election: The people's financial burden -
Concerns about funding for policies
(2) Ai Miyazato's first victory: Take up the challenge for another
triumph, by commentary writer Akitaka Nakajima

Yomiuri:
(1) 2009 Lower House election: What to do with the worst fiscal
deficit among industrialized countries?
(2) English education in elementary schools: Hire high quality
foreign teaching assistants

Nikkei:
(1) Examining policies for 2009 Lower House election: DPJ's foreign,
security policies too vague
(2) Continue efforts to increase minimum wage

Sankei:
(1) DPJ should add restoration of fiscal health to manifesto
(2) Tornado damages: Protect yourself from rampaging weather

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Lifting of freeze on building national highways: Unacceptable ex
post facto setting of standards
(2) Prince Hotel: Serious crime of squashing an assembly

Akahata:
(1) Demands from the business sector: When will we be rid of this
"straitjacket"?

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, July 28

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
July 29, 2009

07:09 Took a walk around his official residence.
09:19 Met Disaster Management Minister Hayashi at Kantei. Afterward
visited the emergency employment and economic measures
implementation headquarters, followed by a cabinet meeting. Health
and Welfare Minister Masuzoe stayed on.
13:34 Met Japan Medical Association President Yoshihito Karasawa at
the JMA Kaikan in Hon-komagome.
14:29 Met Japan Pharmaceutical Association President Takashi Kodama
in the Fuji-Kokuhoren Bldg. In Yotsuya.

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15:06 Met Japanese Nursing Association (JNA) President Setsuko
Hisatsune and Japan Nursing Federation President Kayoko Shimizu in
the JNA Bldg. in Jingu-mae.
16:02 Met Real Estate Companies Association of Japan President
Hiromichi Iwasa in the Kasumigaseki Bldg.
16:40 Met Japan Dental Association (JDA) President Mitsuo Okubo in
the JDA Bldg. in Kudan-kita.
17:44 Met LDP Fukuoka assemblymen head Isao Kurauchi at Kantei,
followed by Upper House member Ichiro Tsukada.
18:22 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura.
19:14 Returned to his official residential quarters.

4) USFJ commander rebuts DPJ manifesto

ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
July 29, 2009

The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),in its manifesto or
campaign pledges recently released ahead of the forthcoming general
election for the now-dissolved House of Representatives, advocates
reviewing the roadmap of realigning U.S. forces in Japan. In this
regard, U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) Commander Lt. Gen. Edward Rice,
meeting the press yesterday at the Japan National Press Club,
expressed his intention to oppose the idea of modifying an
intergovernmental agreement reached between Japan and the United
States. "The Japanese and U.S. governments reached the agreement
after holding talks for a long period of time," Rice said.

The DPJ has been calling for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air
Station in Japan's southernmost island prefecture of Okinawa to be
relocated outside the prefecture. On this issue, Rice stressed: "The
agreement (on the U.S. force realignment) has many elements that
benefit both countries. Once we change individual elements, the
whole would be weakened." Meanwhile, the DPJ also states in its
manifesto that it will propose revising the Japan-U.S. Status of
Forces Agreement (SOFA). Asked about this, Rice said there was no
need to review the SOFA, indicating that the United States would
respond to issues with improvements in the operations of SOFA
provisions.

5) DPJ to recall MSDF from Indian Ocean next January

SANKEI (Page 1) (Full)
July 29, 2009

The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),if it takes the reins of
government after the forthcoming general election for the
now-dissolved House of Representatives, will end the Maritime
Self-Defense Force's current refueling activities in the Indian
Ocean and withdraw the MSDF squadron next January when the new
antiterror special measures law is due to expire, party sources said
yesterday.

On the MSDF's refueling mission, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama has
clarified that the DPJ, after taking office, would consider Japan's
contributions to stabilizing Afghanistan. The DPJ is expected to
enter into consultations with the United States before the law
expires to explore alternative measures.

According to DPJ officials, the DPJ has been critical about engaging
the MSDF in refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. "The special
measures law is unlikely to be extended," one of them said.

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The DPJ released its manifesto or campaign pledges on July 27 ahead
of the forthcoming general election for the now-dissolved House of
Representatives. The DPJ, in its manifesto, does not touch on its
objection to the MSDF's refueling mission, thereby indicating that
it would allow the refueling mission for the time being. The ruling
parties hit the DPJ on this point, claiming that that is different
from what the DPJ used to say. Hatoyama and other DPJ leaders have
made a countercharge, saying: "We're not saying anything different
than what we've said. We are evolving."

6) MSDF starts escorting foreign ships

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
July 29, 2009

A second squadron of Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels, currently
on an antipiracy mission in Indian Ocean waters off the eastern
African coast of Somalia, started its first escort activities under
a newly enacted antipiracy law yesterday evening (yesterday
afternoon, local time). The new law allows the MSDF to escort
foreign ships as well. In its first task under the new law, the MSDF
squadron convoyed five commercial ships, including two
foreign-registered ships.

The second MSDF squadron is made up of two destroyers the Harusame
and the Amagiri, which have replaced the first squadron there for
maritime security operations under the Self-Defense Forces Law.

The new law prescribes relaxed guidelines for the SDF to use weapons
or Japan's own rules of engagement (ROE). The MSDF is now allowed
under the new law to fire on pirate ships in order to stop their
acts of piracy.

7) GSDF embarks in first major reorganization in 50 years: Capital
Defense Unit for counterterrorism to be created; unified command
under Ground Defense Command

SANKEI (Top play) (Slightly abridged)
July 29, 2009

Details of the proposal for the reorganization of the Ground
Self-Defense Force (GSDF) intended for inclusion in the "National
Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG)" to be revised by the end of 2009
were revealed on July 28. Of the five army corps nationwide, the
Eastern Army responsible for the defense and security of the Kanto
region will be abolished, while the First Division under it will be
reorganized into the "Capital Defense Unit" with reinforced
capability to deal with terrorist and guerilla attacks on the nerve
center of Japan. A new Ground Defense Command will also be created
for the unified control of the four other army corps to improve
efficiency in coordination and operations. This will be the first
major reorganization of the GSDF in 50 years. In addition to the
Capital Defense Unit, the Ground Defense Command will also have the
elite Central Readiness Force under its direct command to enhance
maneuverability both at home and abroad.

When the current NDPG was drawn up in 2004, the maintenance or
abolition of the army corps and the creation of the Ground Defense
Command had also been debated. The GSDF has drafted its proposal for
the first major reorganization in 50 years, since the five army
corps were created in 1959, partly due to the recommendation of the

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subcommittee on defense policy of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
National Defense Division last month.

Under the reorganization proposal, along with the abolition of the
Eastern Army, the First Division will be reorganized into the
Capital Defense Unit, tasked specifically for the defense of the
Tokyo metropolitan area. This step is being taken with the
realization of the vulnerability of the capital to bombing and other
terrorist threats after the terrorist bombings in London in 2005.
The new unit will constantly gather the necessary information for
the security of the Imperial Palace, the Prime Minister's Official
Residence, and other critical locations, fill any security
loopholes, and enhance its readiness. The 12th Brigade, another
basic combat unit under the East Army, will be moved to the
Northeastern Army.

The Capital Defense Unit will be under the direct control of the
Ground Defense Command. The command of the Special Operations Group
and the Central Readiness Force, including the Central Readiness
Regiment which is sent as an advanced party for international
peacekeeping cooperation missions, will be moved from the defense
minister to the Ground Defense Command. With the above changes, the
Ground Defense Command will have unified control over the
specialized forces and will be able to move troops effectively
during an emergency and dispatch troops for international missions
promptly and continuously.

8) Uighur leader arrives in Japan

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged)

Rebiya Kadeer, chair of the World Uighur Congress (WUC),an
organization of Uighur refugees, arrived yesterday at Narita Airport
from the United States where she has been residing. Kadeer will stay
in Tokyo until tomorrow morning and hold a press conference today,
according to informed sources. She is also scheduled to meet Diet
members, the sources said.

9) Attaching importance to China an indication of concern? What is
true intention behind President Obama's statement at Strategic and
Economic Dialogue?

SANKEI (Page 9) (Full)
July 29, 2009

Hideya Yamamoto, Washington

At the outset of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in
Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama indicated that the
relationship between the United States and China is "more important
than any bilateral relationship in the world." ASTERISK This
statement reflects the Obama administration's foreign policy that
attaches importance to China, which has growing presence in the
political and economic fields. The G-2 argument, in which the two
major powers determine the world order, is looming behind the
statement. But U.S. experts well-versed in East Asian affairs do not
think the President's tilt toward China will have an immediate
impact on the Japan-U.S. alliance.

G-2 theory

At the opening ceremony of the strategic and economic dialogue,

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President Obama repeatedly announced his policy of placing high
priority on China. With respect to regional security, which has
become an agenda item starting this round, the President also called
for China's cooperation for the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula by suggesting the need to restrain Japan and South Korea
from going nuclear, while pointing out the danger of North Korea's
nuclear development triggering a nuclear arms race in East Asia.

Japan and South Korea, two U.S. allies in East Asia, have memories
of President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 that was carried out
behind the backs of Tokyo and Seoul. Partly because former senior
Democratic administration officials, including former presidential
assistant Zbingniew Brzezinski, have talked about a G-2 composed of
the U.S. and China since immediately after the launching of the
Obama administration, the U.S.-China dialogue has been drawing
attention as a testing ground for the Obama administration's China
policy.

Vanderbilt University Prof. James Auer, who is knowledgably about
Japan-U.S. relations, took this view about President Obama's stance
toward China: "During the Cold War, the Soviet Union was a major
concern for U.S. diplomatic and defense policies. Likewise,
President Obama might have concerns about China in the economic,
foreign, and defense policy areas, as well." Auer's view is that
attaching importance to China does not equal having an intimate
relationship.

Denuclearization of Korean Peninsula

With respect to growing relations between the United States and
China, as seen in the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue,
Professor Auer also indicated that the Japan-U.S. alliance will
become even more important even if China's importance increases.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Vice President Douglas
Paal, a China expert, too, indicated by touching on Japan's
international contributions in the past, "The Obama administration
will not reduce the importance of Japan."

But the two experts have differing views about the possibility of
Japan going nuclear, triggered by North Korea's development of
nuclear weapons.

Paal noted: "As long as the United States continues giving Japan a
complete assurance about its nuclear umbrella, a nuclear arms race
will not break out in neighboring areas." Meanwhile, Auer took this
view: "If North Korea is continued to be allowed to possess nuclear
weapons, South Korea, Taiwan, and even Japan will move to possess
nuclear weapons. This is the nuclear arms race pointed out by the
President, and this is why North Korea must not be allowed to
possess nuclear weapons."

ASTERISK (Translator's note: What the President actually said was:
"The relationship between the United States and China will shape the
21st Century, which makes it as important as any bilateral
relationship in the world.")

10) U.S. experts analyze DPJ manifesto, find it acting like the
ruling party in its foreign policy

SANKEI (Page 8) (Abridged)
July 29, 2009


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By Takashi Arimoto in Washington

"Speaking of its foreign policy, I would say that the Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ) is trying to show it is acting like a ruling
party." CSIS Japan Chair Deputy Director Nicholas Szechenyi gave
this observation after reading the Lower House election manifesto
(campaign pledges) that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) issued
on July 27.

Szechenyi noted the differences between the manifesto and the one
the party issued for the Upper House campaign in 2007. In the
earlier manifesto, there were a series of strong criticisms of the
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) administration for its policy toward
the United States, with such expressions as "at the U.S.' beck and
call," and "blindly following the U.S." In the 2009 manifesto,
although the basic policy line has been maintained, with such
expressions as "equal alliance relationship between Japan and the
United States," and a call for the revision of the Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA),there was no mention of the Maritime Self-Defense
Force's oil refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, an extension of
which the party had opposed. Even on the realignment of the
U.S.forces in Japan, about which the party has stated it would
"thoroughly pursue the problem areas," the wording has been toned
down since 20007 to "looking in the direction of making a review."

Szechenyi took the view that the DPJ was moving along a "centrist
line." He gave these reasons in his analysis: 1) there has not been
confrontation welling up in the party over foreign and security
policies; and 2) since issues in the current general election are
concentrated on economic problems, the party has avoided making
security policy a central issue.

Moreover, he pointed out expressions regarding the Japan-U.S.
relationship had changed, which he thought was done to draw out U.S.
interest. CSIS Japan Director Michael Green, who is Szechenyi's
boss, took a harsh view during testimony before the House Foreign
Affairs Committee on July 25, saying, "The DPJ has no plan for
transferring power, and since there is confrontation inside the
party on security policy, it is unclear how long the party will last
even if it assumes power."

11) DPJ likely to win majority of single-seat constituencies

SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
July 29, 2009

The Sankei Shimbun has learned through its survey on the Aug. 30
House of Representatives election that the Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) will likely become the largest party in the Lower House, while
the adverse wind is blowing strongly against the coalition
government of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito. It
is expected that the DPJ will win a majority of the (300) electoral
districts; and in the (180) proportional representation seats, it
will secure more seats than the LDP, indicating the possibility of a
change in government. A sense of alarm has risen in the LDP because
whether even incumbent cabinet ministers and senior party member
will win or lose their Diet seats is uncertain. However, since more
than one moth is left before the election, there still remain
uncertainties.

In recent major local elections, the DPJ has won six victories,
including the July 4 Nagoya mayoral election.

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According to a poll conducted on July 18-19 by FNN (Fuji News
Network),46.0 percent of respondents said they would vote for the
DPJ in the proportional representation race, while 23.7 percent
would vote for the LDP. Toward a question which framework of a
coalition government they would prefer, 38.7 PERCENT preferred a
DPJ-led administration, while 14.2 percent hoped for a LDP-led
administration.

However, some have contended that DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama has
not fulfilled his accountability for his fund management
organization's false report issue. Depending on the LDP's election
campaigning, there is a possibility that the DPJ's momentum will
weaken.

12) Prime Minister Aso finally to go out on stumping tour

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full)
July 29, 2009

Prime Minister Taro Aso will start on Aug. 1 to give speeches during
a stumping tour. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio
Hatoyama has taken to the streets to stump for the Lower House
election after the House of Representatives was dissolved, but Aso
has yet to do so. Some say that no candidates have asked the
unpopular Aso for such support. In order to erase such a rumor, Aso
is also taking to the streets to campaign.

The number of stumping speeches and the travel distance form a
barometer for gauging the popularity of a prime minister. In the
2005 Lower House election, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
visited 19 prefectures in ten days after the start of the official
campaign, and he traveled about 10,000 kilometers.

Aso plans to arrive in Niigata Prefecture on Aug. 1. After meeting
the abductees who have returned from North Korea and visiting the
scene where they were taken by North Korean agents, he is expected
to give campaign speeches in the prefecture. On Aug. 2, he plans to
take to the streets in Aichi Prefecture, including Nagoya City.

Aso apparently has received no requests for stumping speeches,
according to a high government official. The Aichi prefectural
chapter, however, reportedly asked Aso to come.

13) Gist of set of LDP campaign pledges

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
July 29, 2009

The following is a gist of the Liberal Democratic Party's policy
platform for the upcoming House of Representatives election:

(Decentralization)

Q Produce a new package bill on decentralization measures, including
those to disband regional offices of the central government and
review the subsidy and tax-distribution systems.
Q Make efforts to implement the party's campaign pledges in response
to requests from the National Governors' Association and other
groups.
Q Quickly enact legislation on the doshusei system (regional bloc
system).

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Q Introduce the doshusei system by 2017.

(Diet reform)

Q Reduce the number of Lower House members by more than 10 PERCENT ,
which comes into effect in the general election that eventually
follows the next one this fall, and the number of lawmakers by more
than 30 PERCENT in 10 years.
Q Restrict so-called hereditary candidates, preventing relatives
with up to a third degree relationship with a retiring Diet member
from running for the same constituency, which comes into effect in
the general election that follows the next one.

(Civil service reform)

Q Totally ban retired government officials' amakudari (golden
parachuting) and watari (assuming posts multiple times) practices.
Q Prohibit former government officials aged 65 or over from serving
as regular executive.
Q Reduce the number of civil servants by more than 80,000 by 2015.

(Child-rearing support, education)

Q Introduce free education for preschool children aged between three
and five over the next four years.
Q Eliminate school fees for students from low-income households.
Q Create a school expense-subsidy system.
Q Create a new scholarship

(Employment)

Q Help young job-seekers find regular works.
Q Ban personnel dispatch as day laborers.
Q Review the Worker Dispatch Law to improve the working conditions

(Medical service, pension)

Q Review the medical fee scheme
Q Improve and increase nursing facilities in three years
Q Strengthen measures for those who receive few pension benefits.
Q Review the pension scheme for elderly persons holding jobs.
Q Establish a suprapartisan legally-endorsed consultative body on
bold pension system reform.
Q Resolve the pension record-keeping fiasco at an early date by
establishing a Japan pension institute.

(Foreign, security policies)

Q Maintain the Japan-U.S. alliance as the foundation of the nation's
foreign policy.
Q Prepare necessary laws related to national security, including the
review of the government's interpretation of the right to collective
self-defense.
Q Take a resolute manner over the territorial disputes over the
Northern Territories and Takeshima.
Q Refrain from offering assistance to North Korea before the
abduction issue is resolved.
Q Enact legislation to enable the SDF to swiftly participate in UN
peacekeeping operations.

(Constitutional revision)


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Q Prompt the constitution examination commission and enable the
Constitution to be revised at an early date.

(Tax system)

Q Put the primary balance of the central and local governments in
the black in 10 years.
Q Promote preparations to review the tax system, including a
consumption tax hike, after the economy turns around.
Q Use consumption tax revenues predominantly for implementing
measures to ensure social security and tackle the falling
birthrate.
Q Introduce a social security numbering system.

(Education)

Q Improve students' scholastic ability.
Q Improve moral and traditional culture education.
Q Enact a basis sports law and create a sports agency.

(Agriculture, forestry and fisheries matters)

Q Help enthusiastic farming households increase income by supporting
their management in pursuit of attaining the goal of the nation's 50
PERCENT food self-sufficiency rate.
Q Expand the use of domestic lumber.
Q Help more people work in the fisheries industry.

(Environment)

Q Enact a basic law to promote a low-carbon society.
Q Take the initiative in reducing the world' greenhouse

(Economic policy)

Q Raise the national income per capita to the world's top in 10years
as part of the nation's economic growth strategy.
Q Increase the nation's economic growth rate to 2 PERCENT in the
latter half of 2010.

14) JCP to decide whether to support DPJ on issue-by-issue basis;
SDP aims to join a DPJ administration

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly)
July 29, 2009

Nariyuki Tanaka, Shinichiro Nishida

With an eye on the start of official campaign for the Aug. 30 House
of Representatives election, the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and
Social Democratic Party (SDP) are now playing up their own policies
premised on the inauguration of a Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
government. Although the two small opposition parties have made
efforts to survive in the form of opposing the Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) and the DPJ, the number of seats they obtain in national
elections has been declining. In the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly
election, as well, they were pushed into the background of the two
major parties. For this reason, the JCP and SDP appear to be aiming
at regaining their vote-gathering capabilities by taking advantage
of the favorable wind blowing for the DPJ and shifting their methods
of approaching voters.


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The JCP declared that it would aim at becoming a "constructive
opposition party," which would decide whether to support each policy
through discussions with the DPJ. In the Tokyo assembly election,
the party's seats decreased from 13 to 8. After that, JCP Chairman
Kazuo Shii stated at a press conference on July 16 that his party
would become a constructive opposition party.

At a press meeting on July 28, Shii announced the JCP's policies for
the upcoming general election and analyzed the DPJ's manifesto
(campaign pledges). He said that although the DPJ vows to eliminate
bureaucratic control, it is not in a position to break away from the
control of the business community or the U.S. Meanwhile, Shii
pointed out that his party agrees with the DPJ's pledges to abolish
the health insurance system for people aged 75 and the Services and
Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act, and to implement free
high-school education. He sent a message to the DPJ, saying:

"If a DPJ-led administration is inaugurated, the JCP as a
constructive opposition party will cooperate with the government if
a policy is good but it a policy is wrong, we will oppose it."

The DPJ welcomes the JCP's policy switch. The DPJ has decreased the
number of its candidates for electoral districts from the 275 - the
number it filed in the previous poll - to 152. The DPJ calculates
that the possibility has become stronger that votes cast for the JCP
will go to it.

The SDP expects to form a coalition government with the DPJ. Since
the DPJ does not hold a majority of the House of Councillors, the
SDP's cooperation is indispensable even after it takes over the
reins of government.

SDP Chairperson Mizuho Fukushima said at a press conference
yesterday: "The SDP will continue to call on the DPJ to drastically
revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). In that
sense, the SDP's existence is significant." Fukushima made this
candid statement about the DPJ's policy shift on the SOFA.

The SDP intends to call for concessions on foreign and security
policy and labor regulations in return for cooperation. However, the
party is cautious about finalizing its conditions for cooperation at
an early stage. At a press conference on July 22 soon after the
Lower House was dissolved, Fukushima stated: "Consultations on a
coalition administration should be held after the election. I cannot
comment on that now."

15) Government outlines plan for overseas investment for food
security

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
July 29, 2009

The government's council on promotion of investment in agriculture
overseas held a meeting in Tokyo yesterday, in which the panel put
together key points for the nation's overseas investment strategy
for food security into a draft report to ensure the stable
procurement of agricultural products. As measures to steadily supply
beans and corn, the draft proposes: (1) Improvement in the
environment for Japanese firms' investment by reaching accords with
countries in Latin America, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and other
regions; and (2) promotion of cooperation between the public and
private sectors in offering loans to Japanese companies and on other

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matters. The panel also pledges to introduce action principles on
investment, with the aim of preventing Japan's investment from
having negative effect on developing countries' food-supply
efforts.

ZUMWALT