JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 09/11/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002103 SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 09/11/09 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 4) DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 10 (Nikkei) Politics 5) New administration to investigate "secret nuclear accord" (Tokyo Shimbun) 6) Komeito president says the party will examine cooperation with LDP in next summer's Upper House election from a blank slate (Sankei) 7) Government representative Shotaro Yachi resigns today (Mainichi) 8) Final selections for cabinet to be made on 15th (Asahi) 9) LDP mulls "next cabinet" at meeting for rebuilding party (Yomiuri) Opinion 10) 30 PERCENT of poll respondents think DPJ has too many Diet seats (Yomiuri) Defense & Security 11) U.S. Defense Department requests refueling mission continue (Sankei) 12) Residents claim U.S. demonstration flight for purpose of creating alibi (Akahata) 13) Rush to refuel ships in Indian Ocean (Tokyo Shimbun) Foreign Relations 14) Hatoyama to attend Pakistan aid meeting (Yomiuri) 15) Hatoyama: "Improving relations up to North Korea" (Nikkei) 16) DPJ and JCP to cooperate in investigating secret nuclear accord (Asahi) 17) MOD official: "International community values refueling mission" (Mainichi) Politics & Foreign Relations 18) Hatoyama: "North Korean is to blame for nuclear weapon and abduction issues" (Sankei) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Unused funds in fiscal 2009 extra budget total 8.3 trillion yen Mainichi: Health Ministry to set uniform fee for new-flu vaccination nationwide Yomiuri: Less than 30 PERCENT pass bar examination for 2009 Nikkei: Financial Services Agency to require listed firms to disclose executives' salaries Sankei: Japanese Trade Union Confederation shifts emphasis to Ozawa in new doctrines toward DPJ TOKYO 00002103 002 OF 009 Tokyo Shimbun: Health Ministry finds only 45 PERCENT of expansion plan for nursing homes implemented from fiscal 2006 through fiscal 2008 Akahata: JCP Chairman Shii meets with DPJ President Hatoyama 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Eight years after 9-11: Next challenge over fight against terrorism (2) Business world: Now is time for change, together with politics Mainichi: (1) Eight years after 9-11: Expand dialogue to bring about safer world (2) False accounting by Chiba prefecture: Stop irregularities Yomiuri: (1) Fix postal service flaws from users' viewpoint (2) Don't allow Afghanistan to become nest of terrorism again Nikkei: (1) Will DPJ aim at placing postal services under government? (2) Mitsui Sumitomo Financial Group, Daiwa Securities Group urged to map out new strategy after giving up on merger plan Sankei: (1) Japan should extend cooperation in fight against terrorism (2) Illegal accounting by Chiba prefecture: Tighten monitoring system Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Present specific measures for review of postal services (2) Results of survey on Japanese language show great influence of Internet Akahata: (1) Afghan war turning into quagmire 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, September 10 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) September 11, 2009 07:47 Took a walk near official residential quarters 09:57 Met Upper House President Satsuki Eda, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Tsutomu Sato, former Internal Affairs Minister Toranosuke Katayama, chair of Japan Firefighting Association (Nissho),at Nissho Hall in Toranomon 10:01 Memorial service for firefighters who died on duty 10:32 Arrived at Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 12:01 Arrived at Aso faction office in National Hotel Association Hall in Hirakawa-cho 13:33 Met Takeshi Yoshimura, secretary general of Association of Private Universities of Japan, at Shigaku Kaikan in Kudankita; followed by Katsuhiko Shirai, chairman of Japan Association of Private Universities and Colleges, others TOKYO 00002103 003 OF 009 14:27 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura at Kantei 15:23 Met PM's assistant Shunichi Yamaguchi 17:58 Met Kawamura again 18:15 Back to official residential quarters 18:48 Met Lower House member Keiko Nagaoka, former Lower House member Nobuhiko Endo 4) PJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 10 08:48 Left residence in Denenchofu 09:25 Met Upper House member Masamitsu Oishi at personal office in Nagata-cho 09:45 Met Xiao Rong, vice president of China Association for International Friendly Contacts and third daughter of the late leader Deng Xiaoping 11:31 Met Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa at DPJ headquarters 12:00 Meeting of Hatoyama group in same building where personal office is located 12:58 Arrived at DPJ headquarters 16:56 Met Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Chairman Kazuo Shii at Diet building; JCP General Secretary Tadayoshi Ichita, DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada also present 17:41 Met Executive Office Chairman Hirofumi Hirano, former Policy Research Committee Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto, Upper House member Koji Matsui at DPJ headquarters 18:54 Met Okada, Hirano 19:10 Met Hirano, Matsumoto, Matsui again; Matsumoto, Matsui stayed behind 20:00 Met Hirano, Matsumoto 20:54 Arrived home 5) DPJ President Hatoyama says new government will investigate the nuclear pact; "We will unveil the truth to the public" TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) September 11, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama announced last night that the incoming administration will launch an investigation into a purported Japan-U.S. agreement allowing U.S. warships carrying nuclear weapons to pass through Japan's territorial waters and call at Japanese ports and disclose the findings to the public. Hatoyama said to the press corps at DPJ headquarters: "There are many questions about the secret nuclear pact. We want to unveil the truth to the public. We will investigate it. We will let the people know about the results." He intends to order the Foreign Ministry to conduct an investigation and ask the United States for its cooperation after the new administration is launched. Coordination is underway for a Japan-U.S. summit on around Sept. 23 to coincide with the UN General Assembly in New York. Hatoyama plans to convey such a plan (investigation into the secret pact) to President Barack Obama. The Foreign Ministry adheres to its view that the purported secret agreement does not exist. Nevertheless, given the nation's decision on a change of government, Administrative Vice-Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka has expressed a stance to cooperate in the planned investigation, saying, "We will take the necessary measures in accordance with instructions from the new administration." There are chances that the government will change its view depending on how the investigation proceeds. TOKYO 00002103 004 OF 009 Earlier, Hatoyama and DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who has informally been selected as the next foreign minister, held talks with Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii in the Diet building. Shii sought an investigation into the secret nuke pact. (Hatoyama and Okada) replied that it is most important to uncover the truth. Shii said, "We highly evaluate Mr. Hatoyama's past statements." Shii also presented Hatoyama with data related to reclassified U.S. government documents. The secret agreement is designed to allow nuclear-armed U.S. warships to pass through Japan's territorial waters and call at Japanese ports and nuclear-armed U.S. aircrafts to fly into Japan without prior consultations, a requirement under the revised the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty concluded in 1960. In Kyodo News Service interviews, four former administrative vice-foreign ministers have admitted the existence of pact-related document and other materials and said that they have explained about the secret agreement to some prime ministers and foreign ministers in the past. 6) New Komeito leader: No plan for cooperation with LDP on Upper House election next summer SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) September 11, 2009 New Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi said last night: "We will start with a clean slate" on cooperation with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the House of Councillors election next summer, when asked by reporters in Tokyo. 7) Government Special Envoy Yachi to resign MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) September 11, 2009 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwao Uruma revealed at a press conference yesterday that Shotaro Yachi, a special government envoy, will resign on Sept. 11. His resignation will formally be approved at a cabinet meeting today. He reportedly decided to step down voluntarily. He caused a controversy in April over his remarks on the Northern Territories issue in an interview to the Mainichi Shimbun that Japan should accept the return of 3.5 islands (instead of the four islands). 8) Hatoyama cabinet lineup to be formally decided on Sept. 15 ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) September 11, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama yesterday discussed with Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa at party headquarters the selection of the lineup of a Hatoyama cabinet, which will launched soon after he is voted in as prime minister. Although the Hatoyama side intended to select all cabinet members as early as possible, it was agreed to postpone a formal decision on the appointments of the cabinet members and DPJ executives until Ozawa is officially appointed secretary general at a general meeting of all DPJ Diet members on Sept. 15. TOKYO 00002103 005 OF 009 The Social Democratic Party (SDP),a coalition partner of the DJP's, yesterday formally requested that employment affairs portfolio be given to its chair Mizuho Fukushima. The People's New Party (PNP), the other coalition member, asked for the internal affairs and communications minister post or state minister without portfolio for its leader Shizuka Kamei. Cabinet ministers appointed to date Name Post Party Age Electoral District Yukio Hatoyama Prime Minister DPJ 62 Hokkaido No.9 Lower House (8) Naoto Kan National Strategy Minister DPJ 62 Tokyo No. 18 Lower House (10) Katsuya Okada Foreign Minister DPJ 56 Mie No. 3 Lower House (7) Hirofumi Hirano Chief Cabinet Secretary DPJ 60 Osaka No. 11 Lower House (5) Mizuho Fukushima SDP 53 Proportional Representation, Upper House (2) Shizuka Kamei PNP 72 Hiroshima No. 6 Lower House (11) DPJ lawmakers most likely to join the cabinet Name Age Electoral District Seiji Maehara 47 Kyoto No. 2, Lower House (6) Hirohisa Fujii 77 Proportional Representation Minami-Kanto Bloc, Lower House (7) Yoshito Sengoku 63 Tokushima No. 1, Lower House (6) Masayuki Naoshima 63 Proportional Representation, Upper House (3) Tatsuo Kawabata 64 Shiga No. 1, Lower House (8) Akira Nagatsuma 49 Tokyo No. 7, Lower House (4) Yoshihiko Noda 52 Chiba No. 4, Lower House (5) Note: Figure in parenthesis shows the number of times elected to the Diet. 9) LDP to consider forming next cabinet YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) September 11, 2009 The Party Rejuvenation Council (chaired by Yuji Yamamoto, former state minister for financial policy) of mid-ranking and junior lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at a meeting on Sept. 10 decided to compile a six-point reform plan, including an election candidate selection process and the nature of the Policy Research Council (policy board and subcommittees). The panel will aim to finalize the plan possibly by the 28th, when the new party president is elected. Toshimitsu Motegi, acting chairman and former state minister for administrative reform, proposed at the meeting, "We must form a shadow cabinet (next cabinet)." The idea is to newly set up the next cabinet in the party to show the next prime minister and cabinet ministers to the people in advance, with power transfer in the next Lower House election in mind." The panel has decided to look into the proposal. Some, however, said, "We cannot copy the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)." Concerning the selection of election candidates, some said, "Those TOKYO 00002103 006 OF 009 who have served as prime minister should not be endorsed as candidates for national elections." 10) Poll: 30 PERCENT of DPJ supporters say DPJ has too many seats, 60 PERCENT concerned about "dual power" YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) September 11, 2000 The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted an online monitoring poll of 1,000 Internet users across the nation on the recent general election for the House of Representatives. According to the results tabulated yesterday, 60 PERCENT of those who support the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) were concerned about a two-tier power structure of DPJ President Hatoyama and DPJ Deputy President Hatoyama, who will become DPJ secretary general. Meanwhile, 30 PERCENT of those DPJ supporters answered that the number of seats the DPJ garnered in the election should have been smaller. The online poll was carried out Sept. 4-9, and 814 people responded. In the poll, respondents were asked if they thought that the incoming Hatoyama government would have a two-tier power structure. In response to this question, 34 PERCENT answered "yes," with 38 PERCENT saying "yes to a certain degree." Those concerned about a dual power structure totaled 72 PERCENT . Among DPJ supporters, those concerned about it added up to 61 PERCENT . Respondents were also asked if they thought that Hatoyama has fulfilled his public accountability on his fund-managing body's false reports on political donations from individuals. To this question, a total of 74 PERCENT answered "no." Among DPJ supporters, negative answers accounted for 57 PERCENT . Respondents were further asked if they thought that the number of seats the DPJ garnered in the general election should have been smaller. To this question, a total of 58 PERCENT answered "yes." Among DPJ supporters, "yes" accounted for 29 PERCENT . Among those with no particular party affiliation, "yes" accounted for 60 PERCENT . 11) U.S. Defense Department asks for continuation of refueling mission, terms this "international responsibility" SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) September 11, 2009 Takashi Arimoto, Washington U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Geoff Morrell discussed the refueling mission of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) in the Indian Ocean at a news conference on September 9. He said, "We have greatly benefited from Japan's participation in those efforts, and we would very much encourage them to continue those efforts," asking the next administration led by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to continue the mission. Against the background of statements by the next administration that it will end the refueling mission, Morrell commented, ''I know there was a lot of campaign rhetoric... But there's a difference between campaigning and governing," indicating his expectation for the DPJ to adopt realistic policies as a ruling party. He emphasized that TOKYO 00002103 007 OF 009 Japan should continue to contribute to peace and stability in Afghanistan, asserting that "there is an international responsibility... to contribute to the effort to bring about a more peaceful and secure Afghanistan, to avoid it returning to a country that could launch attacks against Japan and the U.S." Morrell reiterated that there is no plan to review the agreement reached between the Japanese and U.S. governments on U.S. Forces Japan realignment. "We look forward to working with (the next administration) on executing all the existing agreements, including the relocation (of U.S. Marines in Okinawa) to Guam," he said. 12) Citizens protest U.S. military aircraft's demo flights at Futenma relocation site in Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa AKAHATA (Page 15) (Abridged) September 11, 2009 In connection with the construction of the new U.S. military base in Henoko, Nago City in Okinawa, the Ministry of Defense's Okinawa Defense Bureau conducted demo flights by two CH-53 helicopters over the sea areas near the construction site on September 10 to measure noise level. According to the Defense Bureau's public relations office, the demo flights were conducted based on a request from Okinawa Prefecture, Nago City, and Ginoza Village, and this was "unrelated" to the environmental assessment procedures currently in progress. The demo flights were conducted for the prospective flight routes for takeoffs and landings at the V-shaped runways to be built on the new base as described in the preparatory documents for environmental assessment from the north and south. Later, hovering was also conducted at the four sites where helipads will be built, which were added to the preparatory documents. Some 50 members of citizens' groups and local residents opposing the construction of the new base held a sit-in protest in a tent nearby. Japanese Communist Party members of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Nobuko Tamaki, Masaaki Maeda, Osamu Toguchi, and Sumie Nishime participated in the protest action. 13) Rise in demand for refueling in Indian Ocean after Lower House election, probably reflecting desire for MSDF's continued mission TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) September 11, 2009 The U.S. Defense Department has asked Japan to continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Before the House of Representatives was dissolved, Japan provided oil and water for vessels from eight coalition vessels five times a month. In August, after the Lower House dissolution, however, the number increased to seven, including refueling three U.S. warships, according to informed sources yesterday. Although Japan once refueled more than ten vessels a month, the number has reduced by half recently. Among the eight coalition countries including the U.S., Britain, Germany and France, only Pakistan, an eligible country for Japan's official development assistance (ODA) funds, has received the refueling service every month. TOKYO 00002103 008 OF 009 In the case of the U.S., its vessels did not receive refueling during the period between this March and July, but in August, Japan refueled three U.S. vessels. Britain also received the service two times. These moves apparently show their willingness to see Japan continue its mission. On the propriety of Japan's refueling mission, Administrative Defense Vice Minister Kimito Nakae just said yesterday: "A decision should be made on this matter by the government as a whole." The Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) has provided oil and water free of charge, although the U.S. and Britain has provided fare-paying refueling. 14) Hatoyama to attend meeting for assistance to Pakistan in New York YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) September 11, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama has decided to attend the Summit of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum when he visits the U.S. in late September. At the meeting, to be held in New York on the 24th, Hatoyama intends to praise Pakistan's efforts to fight the terrorism and promote economic reform and then to announce Japan's specific assistance measures for helping to stabilize that nation. 15) Hatoyama: Whether bilateral relations are improved depends on North Korea's response NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) September 11, 2009 Speaking before reporters yesterday, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama made this comment on his stance toward North Korea: "The problems that currently exist between the two countries are on the North Korean side as seen from its repeated test-firing of missiles and nuclear tests, as well as from the lack of progress in negotiations on the issue of its past abductions of Japanese nationals. Whether North Korea can build fruitful relations with Japan hinges on its response." 16) DPJ, JCP to cooperate to uncover the truth about secret nuclear pact ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) September 11, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President held talks with Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Chairman Kazuo Shii in the Diet building yesterday. Regarding the basic stance of the incoming Hatoyama administration, Shii said, "As a constructive opposition party that cooperates on good things and opposes bad things, we will deal with it accordingly." The two leaders agreed that their parties will cooperate in uncovering the truth about a purported secret Japan-U.S. agreement on the introduction of nuclear weapons and to actively create opportunities for the heads of opposition and ruling parties to exchange views. 17) "International community highly praises Japan's refueling TOKYO 00002103 009 OF 009 operation" MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) September 11, 2009 Referring to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, Vice Defense Minister Kimito Nakae during a press conference on Sept. 10 underscored the meaning of the mission, noting, "I am aware that the international community highly praises the operation." He then said, "I would like to explain the circumstances, the meaning of the operation, and the present situation" to the new administration. He also said, "If the new government sets its policy, we will naturally abide by it." 18) DPJ President Hatoyama says, "The North is to be blamed for the nuclear and abduction issues" SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) September 11, 2009 Referring to North Korea's nuclear, missile, and abduction issues, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Hatoyama on the evening of September 10 stressed: "I believe that the North Korean side is to be blamed for the situation in which it has repeatedly launched missiles, developed nuclear arms, and carried out nuclear tests, and there has been no progress in the abduction issue." He also said, "If fruitful Japan-North Korea relations are to be built, whether that can be done or not naturally depends on what approach Pyongyang makes." ROOS