EARLY PICKS FOR THE HATOYAMA CABINET

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 TOKYO 002068 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV JA PINR ECON SUBJECT: EARLY PICKS FOR THE HATOYAMA CABINET REF: TOKYO 2035 TOKYO 00002068 001.2 OF 004 Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The new Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) administration has started to take shape with the reported decisions on several important posts. DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama announced on Saturday his intention to nominate DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan as Minister of the planned National Strategy Bureau (NSB) and DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada as Minister of Foreign Affairs. These come following last week's appointment of DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa as the party's new Secretary General and Hatoyama aide Hirofumi Hirano as Chief Cabinet Secretary. In addition, there are strong indications that DPJ Supreme Advisor Hirohisa Fujii would become Hatoyama's Finance Minister. Other big names that may be in the Hatoyama Cabinet are the two leaders of the smaller parties with which the DPJ is currently in talks regarding a coalition arrangement, the Social Democratic Party's (SDP) Mizuho Fukushima and People's New Party's (PNP) Shizuka Kamei. Hatoyama is set to be voted in as Japan's next prime minister on September 16, and is likely to launch his Cabinet immediately thereafter. End Summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kan as NSB Minister, Okada as Foreign Minister - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (C) Naoto Kan, 62 -- who was Japan's most popular politician in the mid-90's when as Health Minister he battled bureaucrats to expose a scandal over HIV-tainted blood products -- is expected be instrumental in fulfilling the DPJ's pledge to reform Japan's political system to make it less susceptible to "bureaucratic control." As Hatoyama's presumptive Minister for a National Strategy Bureau that will set both policy goals and budgets, Kan will be at the forefront of implementing this campaign promise. A former grassroots activist and patent lawyer who entered politics through a small, leftist party, Kan is one of few DPJ leaders whose roots do not lie in the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Because of his reputation as a sharp debater with a short temper, one concern about Kan as a state minister is that his confrontational approach will cause some in the bureaucracy to hunker down and slow roll the administration, which would in turn halt progress on key government initiatives. For more biographic information see paragraph 10. Also see SEPTEL on the National Strategic Bureau. ¶3. (C) Katsuya Okada, 56, who is known as a no-nonsense policy wonk with a bit of a stubborn streak, is set to become Japan's next Foreign Minister. At a time when senior DPJ officials had made public statements calling for change to bilateral alliance management, Okada reassured Embassy Tokyo and visiting USG officials that there would be no major shift in bilateral ties if the DPJ took power. Okada also stressed the importance of building a relationship of trust between senior American and Japanese officials before discussing how to resolve issues of global concern such as climate change and poverty. That said, Okada has also made a number of provocative policy proposals, such as calling for a Northeast Asia nuclear free zone and suggesting that Japan end its Indian Ocean refueling mission. His appointment is likely to be welcomed by China and South Korea, given his stance on the controversial issue of wartime responsibility: "First, Japan must properly assess the fact that it embarked on that wretched, foolish war." Okada began his political career in the LDP but bolted along with other reformers in 1993 and became Democratic Party leader in 2004. In response to criticism that he tends to stick to principles at the cost of flexibility, Okada stated: "It is important to be flexible...but there are some things on which a politician can't compromise." The son of a supermarket magnate, Okada studied at Harvard University in the mid 1980s before joining TOKYO 00002068 002.2 OF 004 the Trade Ministry then embarking on a political career. For more biographic information see paragraph 11. ¶4. (C) The Kan and Okada appointments are expected to be confirmed at a DPJ executive meeting late September 8. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ozawa as Secretary General, Hirano as Chief Cabinet Secretary, Fujii as Foreign Minister - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (C) In his first big personnel announcement, Hatoyama named Ichiro Ozawa -- his predecessor as party president -- as his choice to succeed Okada as DPJ Secretary General. Ozawa, who is widely recognized as an electoral expert and given credit for single-handedly bringing in 150 new Diet members for the DPJ in the recent Lower House election, will be looked to deliver victory again for the DPJ in next summer's Upper House election. The idea of Ozawa as Secretary General drew mixed reactions from both inside and outside the DPJ. The most frequently raised concern had to do with the possibility of a dual leadership created by Ozawa's exercising political power behind the scenes, as he did during the governments of Prime Ministers Morihiro Hosokawa in 1993 and Toshiki Kaifu before that. As "shadow shogun," Ozawa eventually helped lead to a breakup of both fragile governments, and some are concerned he could do the same to the Hatoyama administration. Hatoyama, however, emphasized the division of labor between himself and Ozawa when he reportedly informed the Secretary General-to-be that, "I will take care of government matters. I would like the Secretary General to take care of party matters." Ozawa is well known for his political skills, so the question of who will exercise real power in the Hatoyama administration remains a legitimate cause for concern. For more biographic information see paragraph 12. ¶6. (C) Hirofumi Hirano, 60, a close Hatoyama aide and current head of the DPJ's Executive Secretariat, is likely to become the next Chief Cabinet Secretary (CCS). Although there have been indications that the role may be redefined under the new administration, a traditional CCS is in charge of making selections for key Cabinet posts and serves as the Prime Minister's chief spokesperson. Known as a man of few words who would rather work behind the scenes than be in the spotlight, Hirano worked for the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (now known as Panasonic) from 1971 to 1983 and served as head of their labor union. After joining the DPJ in 1998, he worked as the party's Deputy Secretary General and as Acting Secretary General under then Secretary General Hatoyama. Considered a die-hard Hatoyama loyalist and one of the future Prime Minister's "sidekicks" (the other two being Sakihito Ozawa and Yorihisa Matsuno),Hirano is well-versed on dealings within the DPJ. During the May election to decide Ozawa's successor as party president, Hirano is said to have worked behind the scenes to secure votes for Hatoyama, who ended up beating Okada by 124 to 95 votes. Hirano was the only Diet member to sit in on Ambassador Roos' call on Hatoyama (see REFTEL). For more biographic information see paragraph 13. ¶7. (C) Hirohisa Fujii, 77, is a veteran lawmaker with conservative roots who is likely to become Hatoyama's Finance Minister. A graduate of the prestigious University of Tokyo, Fujii worked for the Finance Ministry for more than twenty years before becoming an LDP lawmaker in 1977. He broke away from the LDP in 1993 with others to form the anti-LDP coalition government, and served as Finance Minister in the coalition from 1993 to 1994. Throughout much of his political career, Fujii has worked closely with DPJ Secretary General-designate Ichiro Ozawa. As an indication of how long Fujii has been around, he often refers warmly to his collegial relationship with former Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Bentsen. For more biographic information see paragraph ¶14. TOKYO 00002068 003.2 OF 004 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fukushima and Kamei as Cabinet Members - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (C) Several other big names in the political world are reportedly future members of the Hatoyama Cabinet. Two of them are the leaders of the DPJ's possible coalition partners, the SDP and PNP. Hatoyama himself indicated that in an effort to keep this possible coalition operating smoothly, he planned to ask Mizuho Fukushima of the SDP and Shizuka Kamei of the PNP to join his Cabinet. ¶9. (C) Each of the two smaller parties has areas of disagreement with the DPJ: the SDP disagrees with the overseas dispatch of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, while the PNP wants to reverse the postal privatization movement initiated by the LDP. Despite this and the fact that the DPJ does not need the help of the two parties in the Lower House, the same is not true in the Upper House, where the DPJ continues to rely on the SDP and PNP to pass legislation. Although it is not yet clear what Cabinet positions Fukushima and Kamei will be offered, an announcement is likely to be made after stalled coalition talks conclude this week. For more biographic information see paragraphs 15 and 16. - - - - - - - - - - - - Biographic Information - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶10. (U) NAOTO KAN Born in Yamaguchi prefecture on October 10, 1946 Graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Faculty of Sciences, in March 1970 1970-1974: Odajima Patent Attorney Office, established KAN Patent Attorney Office May 1977: President, United Social Citizen's Party March 1978: Vice-President, United Social Democratic Party June 1980: Elected as Member to National Diet Lower House (first time) from Tokyo #7 constituency August 1993: Chairperson of Committee on Foreign Affairs, Diet Lower House January 1994: Joined the New Party Sakigake January-October 1996: Minister for Health and Welfare September 1996: Co-founded the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),elected Co-Leader April 1998: President of the DPJ October 1999: Chair of the DPJ Policy Research Committee September 2000: Secretary General of the DPJ December 2002: President of the DPJ September 2004-September 2005: Next Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport April 2006: Acting President of the DPJ Married. ¶11. (U) KATSUYA OKADA Born in Mie prefecture on July 14, 1953 Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, in 1976 1976: Ministry of International Trade and Industry 1990: Elected to the National Diet Lower House April 1998: Participated in the founding of the DJP, Acting Chairman of the DPJ Policy Research Committee October 1999: Next Minister of Finance July 2000: Chairman of the Committee on Security, Diet Lower House September 2000: Chairman of the DPJ Policy Research Committee October 2002: DPJ Deputy Secretary General December 2002: DPJ Secretary General May 2004: DPJ President April 2006: DPJ Vice President May 2009: DPJ Secretary General ¶12. (U) ICHIRO OZAWA Born in Iwate prefecture on May 24, 1942 TOKYO 00002068 004.2 OF 004 Graduated from Keio University, Department of Economics, in 1967 1969: Elected to the National Diet Lower House 1985-1986: Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman of National Safety Commission (Nakasone Cabinet) 1987-1989: Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Takeshita Cabinet) 1989-1991: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General 1993-2003: Secretary General and President of various liberal parties September 2003: Liberal Party merges with DPJ September 2005: DPJ President December 2003-May 2004: DPJ Acting President November 2004-September 2005: DPJ Vice President April 2006-May 2009: DPJ President May 2009: DPJ Acting President ¶13. (U) HIROFUMI HIRANO Graduate of Chuo University. Before entering politics on his own, worked at the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company and its labor union from 1971 to 1983 and served as first public secretary to former Lower House member Masao Nakamura. First elected to National Diet Lower House in 1996 from Osaka #11 district as an Independent. Joined DPJ in 1998 and has served in key party posts such as Deputy Secretary General, Acting Diet Affairs Committee Chairman, and Acting Secretary General. Chief of DPJ Executive Office. Married with one son and two daughters. ¶14. (U) HIROHISA FUJII Born on June 24, 1932. Graduate of the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law and former official at the Ministry of Finance for more than twenty years. Elected to the National Diet Upper House for the first time in 1977 as a member of the LDP. Elected to the Lower House in 1990. In 1993, joined the Japan Renewal Party, which later became the DPJ. Finance Minister from 1993-1994 under non-LDP coalition government. Appointed DPJ Acting President in 2004 and DPJ Supreme Advisor in 2007. Currently serves as Chairman of the DPJ Tax Research Committee. ¶15. (U) MIZUHO FUKUSHIMA Born in Miyazaki prefecture on December 24, 1955 Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, in 1980 1987: Registered as lawyer 1998: Elected to the National Diet Upper House 2000: Secretary of Public Relations Department, Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2001-2003: Secretary General of the SDP 2003: Head of the SDP ¶16. (U) SHIZUKA KAMEI Born in Hiroshima prefecture. Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Department of Economics, in 1960. 1962: National Police Agency 1979: Elected to the National Diet Lower House as a member of the LDP. 1994: Minister of Exports 1996: Minister of Construction 1999: Head of the LDP Policy Research Council 2005: Left LDP and formed the People's New Party (PNP) 2009: PNP Party President ROOS