JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 09/14/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002118 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 09/14/09 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 11 (Nikkei) Political Agenda 4) Tanigaki to run for LDP president (Asahi) 5) Extraordinary Diet session to be convened at the end of October (Tokyo Shimbun) 6) DPJ to exclude SDP and PNP from National Strategy Bureau (Nikkei) 7) Okada to visit U.S. at end of month (Mainichi) Japan-U.S. Security Relationship 8) In April the U.S. sounded out the Japanese govt. about the possible withdrawal of F-16s from Misawa (Tokyo Shimbun) 9) First anniversary of nuclear-powered flattop's deployment in Yokosuka; protestors demand carrier leave (Akahata) 10) New administration to request inclusion of environment clause in the SOFA (Sankei) 11) DPJ's policy toward U.S. begins with "safe driving"; Okada has first meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Japan (Nikkei) 12) Japanese Ambassador to U.S. expresses concern about request for continuation of refueling mission (Sankei) Secret nuclear accord 13) DPJ to establish secret-nuclear-accord investigation team (Nikkei) 14) Foreign Ministry moving quickly on issue of secret nuclear accord (Nikkei) Opinion 15) Yomiuri-Waseda poll: 72 PERCENT have expectations for DPJ; 77 PERCENT uneasy about new administration (Yomiuri) 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi: American Airlines also sounds out JAL about tie-up Yomiuri: Wall Street learns no lessons from Lehman collapse Sankei: New government to call on U.S. to include a provision in SOFA to require removal of contaminated soil from military facilities Tokyo Shimbun: Profile of Yukio Hatoyama (Part 1): Hated politics but changed his mind in U.S. Akahata: Yokosuka citizens stage protest against deployment of U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) One year after Lehman collapse: Global cooperation now needed TOKYO 00002118 002 OF 009 Mainichi: (1) No change in breeding ground for "acting irresponsibly" one year after Lehman collapse (2) Drastic review of new bar examination necessary Yomiuri: (1) Employ bureaucrats' expertise, instead of being hostile to them (2) Japanese, U.S. auto industries should search for ways to coexist Nikkei: (1) Consider income limitation for childcare allowance measures (2) Emerging countries show latent power in crisis Sankei: (1) "Abolishment" of driver's license renewal system: Concern over a retreat from education reform (2) Prevention of suicide: Listen to pleas for help Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Try to reconstruct relations with China, through cooperation and assertions (2) Increase in child suicide: Government urged to establish places where children can feel secure Akahata: (1) Target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions: Business circles must fulfill social responsibility 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, September 11 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) September 12, 2009 07:33 Took a walk around his official residence. 10:02 Cabinet meeting at the Kantei. Then met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto, followed by former National Personnel Authority Tani. Then met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 15:27 Met Senior Vice Foreign Minister Ito. 18:52 Met persons related to his support group at a restaurant in Nishiazabu. 21:50 Arrived at his official residence. 23:19 Arrived at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 11 10:17 Left home in Denenchofu with his wife Miyuki. 11:26 Met former prime minister Hata and Upper House member Yuichiro Hata at the party headquarters. 11:57 Met journalist Tamao Hosokawa. 12:30 Dined with his wife at a Japanese restaurant "Hitotsugi Chikurinso" in the TS Kyowa Rokubankan Building in Akasaka. 13:37 Met Abduction Issue Headquarters chief Nakai at the party headquarters. 14:52 Met Executive Office chief Hirano. 17:33 Met Deputy President Kan. 19:17 Arrived home. TOKYO 00002118 003 OF 009 Prime Minister's Schedule, September 12 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) September 13, 2009 Spent the morning at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 13:30 Arrived at the Imperial Hotel. 16:35 Shopped at Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream Azabu Store in Minamiazabu. 17:29 Arrived at his private residence. DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 12 09:20 Visited Sengen Shrine with his wife Miyuki on foot from his home in Denenchofu. 09:36 Went to Tokyu Tamagawa Station. 09:40 Left the station by Tokyu Tamagawa Line train. 09:41 Arrived at Tokyu Denenchofu Station. 09:44 Shopped at bakery Maison Kayser Denenchofu Store. 09:55 Arrived home. Spent the afternoon at home. No visitors. 18:29 Went to Hiroko Koshino Aoyama Store, womenswear shop in the Hashimoto Building in Minami Aoyama with his wife. 18:56 Dined with his wife at Korean restaurant "Taishikan Roppongi." 20:06 Met party executive office chief Hirano at Hotel Grand Palace in Iidabashi. 23:21 Arrived home. Prime Minister's schedule, September 13 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) September 14, 2009 10:03 Took a walk around his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. Spent the afternoon at his private residence. DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 13 Spent the morning at home. No visitors. 12:32 Left home. 12:55 Met Lower House member Yorihisa Matsuno at Hotel Okura in Toranomon. 15:07 Arrived at Hotel New Otani in Kioicho. 17:37 Arrived at his office in the Lower House Members' Office Building 1. 18:44 Attended a reception to celebrate the conferment of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Chairman Blatter at The Ritz Carlton Tokyo in Akasaka. 20:04 Arrived home. 4) Tanigaki to run in LDP presidential race ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) September 14, 2009 Yesterday former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 64, officially announced his intention to run in the presidential election of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The election will be held on Sept. 28 and its official campaign will kick off on Sept. 18. He declared his candidacy against the background of such likely candidates as Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe expressing their TOKYO 00002118 004 OF 009 intentions not to run for the presidency. Attention will now shift to former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, 64, and Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 52, who are waiting to see how things develop, and to moves by junior and mid-level LDP lawmakers critical of the faction-driven election. 5) Extra Diet session to be convened toward Nov. TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) September 14, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided on Sept. 12 to convene toward Nov. an extraordinary Diet session, at which DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama will deliver his first policy speech as prime minister. Azuma Koshiishi, chairman of the DPJ caucus in the House of Councillors, said at a press conference in Kofu City: "(The extra Diet session) will be held around the end of October. It would be impossible to convene it earlier than that." He indicated that it would be desirable to convene the extra session after Upper House by-elections are held in Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures on Oct. ¶25. According to DPJ sources, it will be difficult to convene the extra session before the by-elections because Upper House President Satsuki Eda will visit Russia, Britain and Lithuania from early to mid-October, 6) DPJ to exclude SDP, PNP from national strategy bureau: Policy coordination to be made among party leaders, others NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt) September 14, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on Sept. 13 decided not to allow the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party (PNP) to take part in the national strategy bureau, which will be responsible for the nation's basic policies, including budget compilation, under the incoming administration. The basic policy cabinet ministerial committee made up of party head-level persons of the three parties will be solely tasked with policy coordination between the government and the ruling coalition. Since the SDP and the PNP are hoping to participate in the bureau as well as in the committee, they are likely to strongly oppose the DPJ's decision. 7) Okada to visit U.S. in late September MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) September 14, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada, tapped to be the next foreign minister, plans to visit the United States later this month. Okada's U.S. visit is aimed to coincide with the planned visit to New York by DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama after his election as prime minister. Okada will attend a foreign ministerial of the Group of Eight slated for Sept. 23 in New York. Coinciding with the G-8 foreign ministerial, coordination is underway for a trilateral foreign ministerial meeting among Japan, the United States, and Australia. TOKYO 00002118 005 OF 009 Hatoyama is expected to leave Japan as early as Sept. 21. Okada appears to be accompanying Hatoyama to the United States. Hatoyama plans to attend the opening ceremony of the High Level Meeting on UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on Sept. 22 and to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 23rd. A meeting between Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to be held on the 23rd as well. 8) U.S. sounded out Japan on F-16 pullout from Misawa base TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) September 12, 2009 The U.S. government sounded out the Japanese government early this April on a plan to withdraw all of about 40 F-16 fighter jets currently deployed to the U.S. Misawa Air Base in Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, beginning as early as this year, sources on Japan-U.S. relations revealed yesterday. At the same time, the U.S. government also proposed reducing the current deployment of F-15 fighter jets to the U.S. Kadena Air Base, which straddles Kadena Town and some other municipalities in Japan's southernmost island prefecture of Okinawa and which currently deploys more than 50 F-15s, according to the sources. The move reflects the Obama administration's review of the United States' defense strategy since coming into office. The Japanese government, concerned about the impact on the North Korean situation and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, is opposed to the proposed plans and withholding an answer, the sources said. Japan and the United States have reached an intergovernmental agreement on a plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan, the agreement being a precondition for maintaining the current deployment of U.S. forces in Japan. With the Democratic Party of Japan soon to launch a new government under DPJ President Hatoyama, the Japanese and U.S. governments could enter into consultations over this issue and again focus on such matters as the proposal to move the heliport functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, to the Kadena base. A Japanese government official predicts that in case the Misawa-based F-16s are withdrawn, F-35 fighter jets could be deployed instead in rotation from a U.S. base on Guam. The F-35 is a next-generation fighter jet model. The F-35, however, has yet to be mass-produced. Its deployment is still more than five years away. The Misawa base may therefore have no fighter planes deployed on a standing basis. 9) "U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, get out of Japan!"; Protest rally held ahead of first anniversary of carrier's deployment to Yokosuka AKAHATA (Top play) (Lead paragraph) September 14, 2009 The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington was deployed to its new homeport of Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, about one year ago. A rally to protest against the carrier's deployment was held at Verny Park in the city on Sept. 13, ahead of its first anniversary, with many people holding banners saying, "U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, get out of Japan!" TOKYO 00002118 006 OF 009 10) New government to call on U.S. to include in SOFA provision to require removal of contaminated soil from military facilities SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) September 14, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),the Social Democratic Party, and the People's New Party decided yesterday to propose to the U.S. government that the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) include a provision that would require the U.S. to remove hazardous materials if such are found on U.S. military sites. The agreement between the U.S. and Germany and that between the U.S. and South Korea insert an environment-protection provision. Focusing on this, they do not think it will be difficult to have the U.S. understand their proposal. After coming into office as prime minister, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama is scheduled to visit the U.S. to attend the UN General Assembly and meet U.S. President Barack Obama possibly on Sept. 23. In the summit meeting, Hatoyama intends to relay his basic view to Obama regarding a revision of the SOFA. Under the current SOFA, Japan's central and local governments concerned are not allowed to enter U.S. military bases or training sites if the U.S. military refuses it. The agreement does not require the U.S. military to remove contaminated soil and other materials, either. Furthermore, U.S. military personnel are excluded from the application of Japan's domestic law under the SOFA, so the three parties also plan to look into including in the SOFA a provision calling on the U.S. to try to abide by domestic law. An agreement they reached on Sept. 9 to form a coalition government specifies that "the new government will propose revising the SOFA." 11) DPJ diplomacy gets off to a safe start; Okada holds first meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Japan NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) September 12, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who will serve as foreign minister under the incoming administration, held talks for the first time with U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos at DPJ headquarters on Sept. 11. At the meeting, the two agreed to work hard to make the first talks between DPJ President Yukio Hotoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama, planned for Sept. 23, a success. The DPJ, which advocates a "close and equal Japan-U.S. relationship," has effectively launched its diplomacy toward the U.S. At the same time, there are mounting challenges, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, and a purported secret pact on the introduction of nuclear weapons. Global warming, refueling mission pose challenges "What is important is that the Japan-U.S. alliance will continue and deepen over the next 30 years and even 50 years," Okada told Roos. The U.S. Ambassador replied, "It is necessary to further deepen the alliance over the next 50 years." The meeting, which lasted 45 minutes, was conducted in an amicable atmosphere. The DPJ's diplomacy toward the United States has gotten off to a safe start. TOKYO 00002118 007 OF 009 "I was able to have a very productive meeting with the future foreign minister," Roos told reporters contentedly. Ahead of the launch of the DPJ administration, the U.S. Obama administration is expediting efforts to build ties (with the DPJ) on the assumption that Okada will become the next foreign minister. Expectations for the Japan-U.S. summit Okada expressed his hopes on the upcoming Japan-U.S. summit by telling Roos: "I hope the upcoming summit will help Japan and the United States to cooperate closely in dealing with global issues such as global warming and nuclear weapons, and lead the world." Nevertheless, global warming is a thorny issue. The DPJ said in its manifesto (campaign pledges) that Japan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from the level of 1990 by 2020. After the election, President Hatoyama also announced that his party will implement the initiative as promised. Okada, who serves as the head of the party's taskforce to curb global warming and played a central role in drafting the party's campaign pledges, is considering visiting the United States ahead of Hatoyama to coordinate targets with other countries. The DPJ's target of reducing emissions by 25 percent from the level of 1990 is higher than the government's target of cutting emissions by 15 percent from the level of 2005, and is drawing fire from business circles. Both Japan and the United States have used the year 2005 as the base year. If Japan unilaterally adopts 1990 as the base year after a change of government, that might cause a schism in Japan-U.S. relations. Another potential source of trouble is the question of continuing (Japan's) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean that is scheduled to expire next January. Although the DPJ does not intend to extend it, a U.S. Defense Department spokesman has strongly called for its extension. Stance remains unchanged Okada made this comment in a Sept. 11 press conference: "A spokesman cannot say anything that is different from the policy course in the past. The reaction is natural. Our thinking is that we will not simply extend the mission. Nothing more, nothing less." Okada reportedly brought this up in his talks with Roos, but the U.S. ambassador avoided referring to it. Hatoyama has indicated that the new administration will reveal the truth to the public about the purported secret agreement allowing the United States to introduce nuclear weapons into Japan. The DPJ will launch an investigation into the matter by sending an investigative team to the United States. "We will thoroughly investigate the matter," said Okada, who will take charge of the investigation as the next foreign minister. 12) Ambassador to U.S. expresses concern about U.S. request for continuation of Japan's refueling mission SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) September 12, 2009 Ambassador to the U.S. Ichiro Fujisaki at a press conference on TOKYO 00002118 008 OF 009 Sept. 10 expressed his displeasure at Pentagon spokesman Morrell's Sept. 9 request to Japan to continue its refueling operation in the Indian Ocean. He said, "The relationship between Japan and the U.S. is not the kind of relationship in which views are exchanged through spokesmen." He was apparently concerned that the statement made by the spokesman could be taken as pressure from the U.S. Fujisaki stressed Japan's independence in its diplomacy with regard to assistance to Afghanistan. He said, "I believe that the Japanese government will look into and discuss assistance to Afghanistan when the new administration is launched. Japan's contribution is for Japan to decide independently." 13) DPJ to set up team to investigate secret nuclear accord NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) September 12, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday decided that after the new administration is launched, the party will establish a team to clear up the truth about an alleged Japan-U.S. agreement allowing U.S. warships carrying nuclear weapons to pass through Japanese territorial waters, according to a senior party member. With the aim of also looking into the situation at the time when the accord was reached, the party intends to include experts in the team. 14) Foreign Ministry being pressed to quickly decide how to deal with issue of secret nuclear pact NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt) September 14, 2009 The Foreign Ministry is being pressed to quickly decide on how to deal with the alleged Japan-U.S. agreement allowing U.S. warships carrying nuclear weapons to pass through Japan's territorial waters. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who has been tapped as the next foreign minister, said, "We will investigate the issue thoroughly." The Foreign Ministry is acting in response to the DPJ's announcement that it is looking into setting up a team to investigate the issue that would include experts. The Foreign Ministry, which has repeatedly claimed that the secret pact does not exist, will be placed in a difficult position. 15) Poll: 72 PERCENT pin hopes on DPJ, 77 PERCENT concerned about DPJ's future course YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) September 13, 2009 The Yomiuri Shimbun and Waseda University jointly conducted a face-to-face public opinion survey across the nation on Sept. 5-6 after the Aug. 30 general election for the House of Representatives. In the survey, respondents were asked if they had expectations for the Democratic Party of Japan. In response to this question, a total of 72 PERCENT answered "yes." The percentage was a record high in this series of surveys, markedly up from 52 PERCENT in the last survey conducted June 27-28 before the general election. Asked if they thought the DPJ is competent to run the government, 67 PERCENT answered "yes" (51 PERCENT in the last survey). The Liberal Democratic Party was at 57 PERCENT (56 PERCENT in the last survey). The DPJ topped the LDP for the first time. These figures appear to show that the public has growing expectations for the DPJ, TOKYO 00002118 009 OF 009 which has translated a change of government into reality. As the framework of the new administration becomes clearer, many more people seem to think the DPJ is competent to govern the nation. The Yomiuri Shimbun has conducted a series of seven joint surveys with Waseda University since last October in order to probe public attitudes on the House of Representatives election. The general election ended in a landslide victory for the DPJ and a change of government. Having seen this outcome, 66 PERCENT said Japan's politics would change in a favorable way. However, 77 PERCENT said they were concerned about the DPJ, almost on a par with the figure in the last survey, 76 PERCENT . This shows that the public is watching the DPJ, which is waiting in the wings, with a mixture of expectation and anxiety. ROOS