JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/09/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002332 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 10/09/09 INDEX: 1) Top Headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Futenma relocation issue: 4) Prime Minister hints at acceptance of Futenma relocation agreement (Yomiuri) 5) Prime Minister: "I didn't say" facility would be relocated to Henoko (Asahi) 6) Prime Minister says he would like to widen options; attempts to clarify remarks suggesting acceptance of Futenma relocation (Yomiuri) 7) Government expediting coordination of Futenma relocation policy in preparation for visits by U.S. officials (Yomiuri) Foreign relations: 8) President Obama to visit Japan on Nov. 12 (Yomiuri) 9) Dali Lama plans to visit Japan this month (Yomiuri) 10) Prime Minister leaves for South Korea today (Nikkei) 11) FM Okada comments on statement by ex-PM Murayama: "action before words" (Sankei) Politics: 12) LDP to set up administration policymaking board; shelves "shadow cabinet" concept (Tokyo Shimbun) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Emergency employment measures to support job seekers from construction industry, expand employment in nursing care services Mainichi: Board of Audit finds accounting irregularities in 28 prefectures, cities in FY09 Yomiuri: Prime Minister issues orders on environment tax, tax deductions with cash benefits, taxpayer ID numbers at new tax commission Nikkei: Major U.S. companies on offensive in cloud computing Sankei: New government tax commission kicks off; provisional gasoline tax rates to be abolished Tokyo Shimbun: Survey of 208 major companies: 45 PERCENT see economy "recovering," 40 PERCENT say "flat" Akahata: JCP Chairman Shii calls for new communities for agricultural revival at JA national convention 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: TOKYO 00002332 002 OF 007 (1) Decentralization reform: Publish four-year road map of administration promptly (2) Winny developer acquittal: Respect for developer appropriate Mainichi: (1) New government tax commission: Time for "real lead player" to come on stage (2) Winny developer acquittal: Development of defensive software also necessary Yomiuri: (1) New government tax commission: Prioritizing tax cuts will lead to fiscal bankruptcy (2) Making police interrogation visible: Investigation of situation in Western countries should come first Nikkei: (1) Introduce taxpayer numbering in tax system restructuring at early date (2) Need for awareness of responsibility despite acquittal Sankei: (1) Foreign Minister Okada: Placing absolute priority on Murayama Statement is cause for concern (2) New government tax commission: Do not forget debate on consumption tax Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Futenma relocation within Okinawa: Was hinting at acceptance a result of careful consideration? (2) Winny court case: Despite the acquittal... Akahata: (1) Iraq airlift activities record: Serious responsibility for concealing support of war 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, October 8 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 9, 2009 09:12 Met with Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Nagatsuma, DPJ Upper House Caucus Chair Koshiishi, SDP leader Fukushima, and People's New Party Vice President Kamei at the Tokyo International Forum in Marunouchi. Then attended a regular meeting of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo). 10:56 Met with International Energy Agency Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. 11:22 Met with Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae and Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Saiki. 13:01 Met with DPJ Administration Committee Chairman Okumura, followed by State Minister for National Strategy Bureau Kan and Senior Vice Minister for the Cabinet Office Furukawa. 14:06 Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Miki and Defense Ministry Defense Policy Bureau Director General Takamizawa. Decentralization and Reform Promotion Committee Chairman Niwa and Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Haraguchi joined later. 15:01 Council for Science and Technology meeting. 16:01 Attended a meeting of the Tax Commission of the government. TOKYO 00002332 003 OF 007 18:38 Wake for former Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa of the LDP at Zenpukuji Temple in Motoazabu. 19:12" Arrived at his private residence. 19:26 Dined with his wife Miyuki at "Sakana Kobayashi," Japanese restaurant in Okusawa. 4) Government speeds up coordination on Futenma relocation ahead of visits by senior U.S. officials NIKKEI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) October 9, 2009 Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's statement implying acceptance of the plan to relocate the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) within the prefecture has created a major stir. Coalition partner Social Democratic Party (SDP) has reacted strongly and has lodged a strong protest with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano and other officials. While the government is stepping up the coordination process both at home and abroad as the schedule of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Japan is being finalized, a source of dispute has emerged in the coalition government even as the administration makes efforts to "give consideration to the U.S." In an effort to bring the situation under control, Hatoyama told reporters on October 8 that he "did not mention 'Henoko' (the current proposed relocation site) at all" in his statement on the Futenma relocation plan. Futenma relocation is the first pending issue that Japan needs to discuss with the U.S. after the change of administration. Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and the other concerned cabinet ministers will discuss the government's response on the morning of October 9. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is coming to Japan on October 11, to be followed by a visit of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on October 20. The government intends to inform President Obama directly of its plans for a solution to this issue when he visits Japan starting on November 12. One possible solution is to move the relocation site further offshore by several dozen meters. Okinawa has been demanding this move, and this will only require minor modifications of the existing plan, so "it will be easy to get the U.S. side's approval," according to a source on Japan-U.S. relations. This solution is supported by some because it will also be in line with the three coalition parties' policy agreement on "dealing with Futenma relocation in the direction of a review." Some consideration is also being given to a proposal to merge Futenma with Kadena Air Base. However, the U.S. is hesitant about the joint use of Kadena, an Air Force base, with the marines. Another proposal to relocate Futenma to the inland areas of Camp Schwab was once considered, but the procurement of land for the relocation site would be difficult, and the noise would be a problem for the local residents. SDP Secretary General Yasumasu Shigeno reiterated the party's demand for the relocation of Futenma out of Okinawa or out of Japan to Hirano on October 8. House of Representatives member Kantoku Teruya elected from Okinawa also met Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and criticized the Prime Minister's statement, saying: "This is absolutely unacceptable." Teruya told reporters after the meeting: TOKYO 00002332 004 OF 007 "The possibility (of leaving the coalition) exists," in an attempt to apply pressure on the government. 5) Hatoyama says his earlier remarks do not suggest willingness to agree to relocation of Futenma facility to Henoko ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) October 9, 2009 Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Oct. 7 made remarks suggesting the possibility of accepting the agreement reached between Japan and the U.S. to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within Okinawa Prefecture. On these remarks, he said yesterday: "I did not imply that I am ready to accept what was agreed on between the previous governments (of Japan and the U.S.)." The Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto and the coalition accord among the three ruling parties included a pledge to move in the direction of reexamining future options for U.S. military forces in Japan. Hatoyama's statement yesterday was apparently intended to revise his earlier remarks and confirm this pledge. Hatoyama said on Oct. 7 regarding the pledge on U.S. forces in Japan in his party's manifesto: "I would not deny the possibility that it could change" over time, indicating his view that it was not necessary to adamantly adhere to the pledge. In response to questions from reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence about what his remarks the previous day meant, Hatoyama said: "I did not mention Henoko at all," and emphasized that he did not imply his willingness to accept the Japan-U.S. plan to relocate the Futenma Air Station to Henoko district in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture. He further said: "While bearing in mind the wishes of the people in Okinawa, I will negotiate with the U.S. and come to a final conclusion on the matter. The three parties launched the coalition government based on an agreement, so I cannot ignore the coalition accord." Asked if he would decide on a policy direction by the time of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Japan on Nov. 12-13, Hatoyama said that he would not set the presidential visit as a deadline for making a decision. 6) Hatoyama explains remarks implying approval of Futenma relocation plan: "We want to look into various options" YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) October 9, 2009 Regarding the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture),Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters last evening: "I will give top priority to the coalition accord when reaching a final conclusion on the matter." On Oct. 7, Hatoyama made remarks implying his willingness to accept the current plan to relocate the Futenma Air Station to the coastal area of U.S. Camp Schwab (Nago City),contradictory to the Democratic Party of Japan's pledge to relocate the Futenma facility outside the prefecture. Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party, promptly reacted to Hatoyama's remarks. After visiting Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada yesterday, Fukushima told reporters: "In accordance with the stance to review the agreement, I TOKYO 00002332 005 OF 007 want (the prime minister) to properly address the issue of realignment of U.S. military forces in Japan." In response, Hatoyama gave a clarification of his earlier remarks: "We are looking into various possibilities. The agreement reached during the previous administration certainly carries weight. But I wonder if it is the best option. I do not think it is the only possibility. We would like to look into various options and find a compromise agreement about which the people, particularly, the people of Okinawa can say, 'We can understand this.' " 7) Hatoyama hints at accepting Futenma accord YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) October 8, 2009 Prime Minister Hatoyama implied yesterday evening that he would accept the currently planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the island prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago. The Democratic Party of Japan, in its manifesto for this summer's election for the House of Representatives, said it would "review" the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. "I would not deny the possibility that it (the DPJ's policy of reviewing the U.S. force realignment) could change over time," Hatoyama told reporters at his office. Hatoyama's remarks can be taken to mean that he will review not only the Futenma issue but also the DPJ's policies in its manifesto to meet the situation and that he will modify them if he sees the need to do so. 8) President Obama's 1st Japan visit set for Nov. 12 YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) October 8, 2009 Yoshinari Kurose WASHINGTON-U.S. President Obama will make his first visit to Japan on Nov. 12-13, a high-ranking U.S. government official said Oct. 7. After his Japan visit, Obama will participate in an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit to be held in Singapore on Nov. 14-15. He will also visit China and South Korea. 9) Dalai Lama plans to visit Japan late this month YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) October 8, 2009 The 14th Dalai Lama, supreme leader of Tibetan Buddhism, will visit Japan in late October and deliver speeches in Tokyo on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, his representative's office in Japan announced yesterday. The Dalai Lama last visited Japan in April on his way to the United States. This is the first time for him to visit Japan since the Hatoyama cabinet's inauguration. 10) Prime Minister Hatoyama to visit Seoul today NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 9, 2009 TOKYO 00002332 006 OF 007 Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will visit South Korea today. He is expected to meet in Seoul with President Lee Myung Bak to discuss such issues as North Korea. After the meeting, the two leaders will hold a joint press conference. Arriving in Beijing later in the day, Hatoyama will attend a trilateral summit on Oct. 10 with Lee and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. 11) Foreign Minister Okada on Murayama statement: "Action instead of words"; U.S. not to be included in East Asian Community SANKEI (Top Play) (Full) October 8, 2009 On Oct. 7 at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Yurakucho, Tokyo, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada gave a speech in which he indicated a stance of delving deeper into the Murayama statement (1995),noting, "It is true that a definite range of people (in Asia) are not convinced by the statement. Actions speak louder than words." Regarding the history textbooks issue involving Japan, China and South Korea, he expressed doubt about the present school textbook screening system, saying, "The ideal in the future is (for Japan, China and South Korea) to compile common history textbooks." Okada's remarks, made on the eve of a Japan-South Korea summit (Oct. 9) and China-South Korea summit (Oct. 10),will likely stir up a hornet's nest Referring to the East Asian Community initiative advocated by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Okada noted, "I would like to see the envisaged community comprise Japan, China, South Korea, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),India, Australia and New Zealand." Thus he indicated a policy of establishing the community without including the U.S. as an official member. He then said, "I would like to start with the economy and then expand the areas of cooperation to energy, the environment, and health care." He expressed his intention to put the matter on the agenda at the upcoming Japan-China and South Korea talks. He also indicated that currency integration "will be an agenda item in the far future." Regarding Japan's relations with the U.S., Okada said, "The Japan-U.S. alliance is indispensable for national security. To alter that arrangement is not an option." He continued: "Japan has its own national interests, and the U.S. has its own interests. Some observers are concerned about (the future of) Japan's relations with the U.S. Japan does not belong to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the European Union (EU). But that does not mean Japan is excluded." He also voiced the view that just paying lip service to the Murayama statement is insufficient, saying, "The feelings of those who suffered in the past war cannot be healed easily." He then said some ministers in past cabinets made remarks contrary to the Murayama statement, leading people to wonder whether those ministers were contrite. I would like to ensure that such a situation will not occur." Okada said the following about the system of screening school textbooks: "This is a very difficult issue. In Japan, textbook authors can basically write without any inhibition. Another issue is to what extent the state can get involved in the matter." He then noted, "It would be ideal (if Japan, China and South Korea) could TOKYO 00002332 007 OF 007 compile common textbooks in the future. However, it will take a long time to reach that stage. Joint studies of history are important as the first step toward that goal." In the meantime, on the subject of assistance to Afghanistan, Okada indicated a cautious stance concerning the dispatch of Self-Defense Force personnel, saying, "I do not think dispatching SDF members is the only way to extend assistance." 12) LDP to set up "administrative policy committee" to decide policies; "shadow cabinet" formation put on back burner TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) October 9, 2009 The main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) informally decided yesterday on the appointments of the deputy chairman of the Policy Research Council and division directors. The LDP also decided to establish an "administrative policy committee" comprising Policy Research Council Chairman Shigeru Ishiba as leader, senior deputy chairman, deputy chairman, and division directors. LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki's idea of forming a "shadow cabinet" has been put on the back burner. ZUMWALT