DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 11/02/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 14 TOKYO 002532 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: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 11/02/09 INDEX: (1) Discord in Hatoyama cabinet on Futenma relocation (Mainichi) (2) Editorial: Fatigue of foreign minister who is obsessed with Kadena is worrying (Nikkei) (3) Harvard University Prof. Joseph Nye: Major change might wreck progress in negotiations on Futenma relocation (Sankei) (4) Investigative authorities suspect dependents of U.S. service members at Yokota Air Base involved in motorcycle accident (Sankei) (5) Scramble for lithium in South America: Sharp increase in demand for raw materials for batteries for cell phones, eco-cars (Asahi) (6) Poll on the Constitution of Japan (Mainichi) (7) Poll on reading (Yomiuri) ARTICLES: (1) Discord in Hatoyama cabinet on Futenma relocation MAINICHI (Pages 1, 3) (Full) November 2, 2009 Thirteen years after the agreement on the return of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa is rushing the relocation to the coastal area of Camp Schwab in line with the Japan-U.S. agreement; Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has shifted gear to advocating a plan to merge Futenma with Kadena Air Base; and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is taking a long-term view, saying, "I will be the one to make the final decision." This article looks at Hatoyama cabinet members' conflicting motives for their stances on U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) realignment issues. During his flight aboard the government plane to Thailand to attend the ASEAN summit meetings on the evening of Oct. 23, Hatoyama called Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano on his cell phone and told him: "Messrs. Okada and Kitazawa are both working very hard on this issue. I would like to watch how things unfold. You should do the same." Before he left for his trip, Okada had negated the Japan-U.S. agreement of 2006 on the relocation of the Futenma base (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) to the coastal area of Camp Schwab (in Henoko, Nago City) where V-shape runways would be built and proposed the merger of Futenma with Kadena Air Base, a plan that was once examined and rejected by the two governments. His differences with Kitazawa, who favors carrying out the agreed plan, came into the open, and there has been increasing criticism of the "discord" inside the cabinet. During his visit to Japan, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Oct. 20 pressed for the implementation of the existing plan and asked for a decision before U.S. President Barack Obama's visit from Nov. 12. This inflamed the Futenma issue. During the recent House of Representatives election the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) had pledged the relocation of the Futenma base out of Okinawa, so this caused the Hatoyama administration to scramble to find ways to reconcile the current Futenma relocation plan with its election TOKYO 00002532 002 OF 014 pledge, resulting in discrepancies in the ministers' response. Yet, Hatoyama appeared unruffled by U.S. "pressure" and the upheaval inside the cabinet. In contrast to Kitazawa, who wants a conclusion by President Obama's visit, and Okada, who is aiming at a solution before year end, he is sticking to his position of deferring a decision until after the Nago mayoral election in January. Hatoyama's aides explain what is on the mind of the Prime Minister -- who does not prohibit his ministers from making various statements in the name of upholding politician-led decision-making and insists that "I will be the one to make the final decision" -- as follows: "If he submits to the U.S.'s dictate, it would amount to following apting the Liberal Democratic Party administration's policy of following the U.S. blindly" (remarks at the House of Councillors plenary session on Oct. 30). It is apparent that he is using this issue as a litmus test of "departure" from the "diplomacy of subservience to the U.S." Hatoyama has adopted a noncompliant attitude toward the U.S. However, his own words and actions are partly responsible for the confusion. On July 21, the day the Lower House was dissolved, the DPJ's Seiji Maehara (currently minister of land, infrastructure, transport, and tourism) and Akihisa Nagashima (currently parliamentary secretary of defense) called out to Hatoyama in the Diet and asked him: "What do you intend to do?" Hatoyama had just stated in Okinawa City two days earlier that he will "take action to at least relocate (the Futenma base) out of Okinawa." Maehara and Nagashima, who have strong connections with the U.S., became seriously concerned. Relocation out of Okinawa was a policy included in the DPJ's Okinawa Vision compiled in July 2008. In June, Maehara, who visited the U.S. with Koichi Takemasa (currently senior vice minister of foreign affairs) and the author of draft of the Okinawa Vision, had met with former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (currently assistant secretary of state) Kurt Campbell - who was a negotiator for the agreement on Futenma's return and later called for revising the Camp Schwab relocation plan -- and other U.S. officials. Maehara came back convinced that "the Futenma issue can be renegotiated from scratch under an Obama administration." However, after the Obama administration was launched in January 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that it will carry on with the existing plan. Maehara's and others' prediction was off the mark, so the manifesto for the Lower House election regressed to an abstract expression that the DPJ will "deal with the issues of U.S. military bases in Japan in the direction of a review." Nevertheless, Hatoyama's statement is still regarded as a pledge in Okinawa even today, so he is not in a position to simply betray Okinawa's expectations. Okada's proposal on Futenma-Kadena merger is an attempt to strike a balance between giving up on relocation out of Okinawa and reducing the burden on Okinawa. At his meeting with USFJ Commander Edward Rice and U.S. Ambassador John Roos at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Oct. 29, Okada stressed: "A change of administration has taken place in Japan. It will not do to ask us to proceed as promised (by the previous administration)." However, the U.S. side indicated TOKYO 00002532 003 OF 014 repeatedly that the merger plan proposed by Okada "is not possible" for the following reasons: (1) this will undermine the capacity to respond to contingencies; and (2) the presence of Marines mainly comprising helicopter units on a base where the Air Force's fighters are permanently deployed will undermine base functions. The Kadena merger plan was considered twice in the past: first in 1996 at the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) as a proposal to downsize bases in Okinawa. It was rejected, with an agreement being reached on constructing a removable replacement facility offshore. However, this facility was changed to an airport for joint military and civilian use with a 2,000-meter runway under the basic relocation plan of 2002. Subsequently the basic plan became deadlocked, so the U.S. side presented various proposals for revising the original plan from 2003 onward, including the Kadena merger plan. At that time, the Defense Agency considered a proposal to construct heliports in the Kadena ammunition depot area, while MOFA endorsed a proposal to downsize the plan to reclaim land in waters off Henoko (the "Nago light" proposal),but these proposals faded out. In the end, the Defense Agency pressed for the plan to relocate the heliport to the coastal area of Camp Schwab as a compromise, but in the bilateral agreement reached in May 2006, the plan was further transformed into a massive public work project with two runways. Nagashima and others who are familiar with the process led by the LDP held study meetings in the DPJ on this issue and suggested the Kadena merger plan to Okada, who was then DPJ secretary general, in July, before the Lower House election. Okada regarded this as a "realistic plan" that will reduce the cost and time required for Futenma's return by utilizing existing base facilities. After Okada became foreign minister, he conveyed his doubts to senior MOFA bureaucrats that "spending 400 billion yen (in construction cost) to reclaim that sea area just doesn't make sense to me" and instructed them to re-examine the process that led to the agreement. While like the Prime Minister, Kitazawa's focus is on Okinawa, the Ministry of Defense (MOD),which serves as the communication channel with Okinawa, faces some unique problems. On Oct. 28, Tsuyoshi Gibu, mayor of the town of Kin, who has been involved with the Futenma relocation issue for many years as the leader of a municipality adjacent to Nago City, told Hirano at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) on Oct. 28: "Prime Minister Hatoyama is saying that he will make a decision after looking at the outcome of the election, but we want him not to make a decision in a way that will sharply split the people of Okinawa." To the local governments in Okinawa, which were once forced to make a bitter decision to accept Futenma's relocation within the prefecture, the government's zigzagging is perceived as an act of betrayal. The Prime Minister's statement that he will gauge the will of the people of Okinawa through the outcome of the Nago mayor election in January has given rise to suspicions that he is "shifting the responsibility (onto Okinawa) again." The MOD, which is at the forefront of negotiations with the local communities, is increasingly critical of the Prime Minister. A senior MOD official said, "His sense as a politician is questionable." TOKYO 00002532 004 OF 014 Kitazawa's position on seeking a solution in line with the existing plan reflects the mood in the MOD. On Oct. 17, he dispatched Director General Genzo Inoue of the Bureau of Local Cooperation to inspect the Kadena ammunition depot, the Shimoji island airfield, and other sites that were once proposed as relocation sites, showing his intention to look for alternative plans. However, he concluded in all cases that relocation will be "difficult." There is also an opinion that the exercise was for the purpose of persuading Okada, who still insists on the Kadena merger plan. Kitazawa stated at the interpellation at the House of Councillors plenary session on Oct. 30: "Politics that takes the popular will lightly will face the retaliation of popular will." Hatoyama does not rule out the possibility of relocation out of Okinawa; Okada is working for Futenma's merger with the Kadena base; and Kitazawa accepts relocation to Henoko. All three attach importance to reducing the burden on Okinawa, but they all differ in their perception of popular will. On his part, Gibu expresses his frustration: "While they will indeed spend time examining various plans, is the acceptance of the current plan their actual intention in the end?" If the Okinawans are betrayed after their expectations for relocation out of Okinawa are raised by the administration, the Hatoyama administration will face a backlash. President Obama will be visiting Japan in 10 days. The Prime Minister keeps saying "there is no need to come up with a conclusion before the visit." How does he propose to integrate the complex and interconnected factors of demonstrating a change from the previous LDP-New Komeito administration, build a "close and equal Japan-U.S. alliance," and show sympathy for Okinawa all at one fell swoop? The leadership of the Prime Minister, who has decided to adopt a wait-and-see attitude, will be put to test on various occasions from now on. (2) Editorial: Fatigue of foreign minister who is obsessed with Kadena is worrying NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) November 1, 2009 Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada seems a little tired. We are worried about him. He wants to visit the United States armed with a plan to integrate Futenma Air Station, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter base, with Kadena Air Base. But if he meets Secretary of State Hillary Clinton without carrying out prior coordination in the cabinet and local governments, he will be told to organize opinions in Japan first. Shortly after assuming office, Foreign Minister Okada flew to New York and met with his counterparts from other countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Soon after returning to Japan, the foreign minister made a tour of South Korea, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Indonesia. He must have done his homework in preparation for the extraordinary Diet session as well. Okada is 56 years old, which is not young. He apparently cannot get over his exhaustion from this summer's House of Representatives election. His remarks on the Futenma issue particularly have given TOKYO 00002532 005 OF 014 us the impression that the foreign minister has not had enough time to rest his body and mind. The foreign minister is obsessed with the Kadena merger plan, while Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa's thinking is close to what was agreed upon between Japan and the United States. But both want to reach a conclusion swiftly. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has not mentioned any specific options. He has indicated that he will take his time to reach a conclusion. Differing views among the Prime Minister, foreign minister, and defense minister have undermined trust in Japan's foreign policy and the Hatoyama administration. The foreign minister's stance on the Kadena plan remains unclear. To Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, he explained that it was his "personal idea." Asked by a Liberal Democratic Party member during a House of Councillors plenary session, he replied that he made the "statement in his capacity as foreign minister." Those responses seem haphazard and are uncharacteristic of Okada, who attaches importance to logic. The Kadena plan, which does not require the construction of a new base, seems highly feasible. But there is a solid reason why the option, once studied more than 10 years ago, was not adopted. The U.S. military pointed out the operational difficulty in allowing fixed-wing aircraft, such as fighters, and rotary-wing helicopters to take off and land on the same base. Kadena and other municipalities opposed the option, saying that they would be forced to bear a greater burden, including noise. Okada must have learned of those developments from U.S. Forces Japan Commander Lt. Gen. Edward Rice and Nakaima. The foreign minister is examining the process of past negotiations between Japan and the United States. He should take a firsthand look at the sites in question before reading documents and thinking with his head. We want to see Okada visit Futenma, Kadena, and Henoko, listen to the opinions of persons concerned, and think about the matter with an open mind before rushing to visit the United States. The Prime Minister has said that the foreign minister should not have commented on the Emperor's "words" at the opening ceremonies of Diet sessions. Okada is naturally humble and careful. We think he made this comment that drew criticism from the Prime Minister because of his fatigue, which he might not be aware of. If this is not the case, the situation will become more serious. (3) Harvard University Prof. Joseph Nye: Major change might wreck progress in negotiations on Futenma relocation SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) October 31, 2009 Takashi Arimoto, Washington Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye on Oct. 30 said in a strong tone of voice to the Sankei Shimbun that the Japanese government should accept the existing plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab, citing there is a risk that Tokyo's call for making significant changes to the TOKYO 00002532 006 OF 014 Futenma relocation plan will wreck the progress made in negotiations between the two countries. At a U.S. congressional hearing in June before the inauguration of the Hatoyama administration, Nye predicted that friction would occur in the Japan-U.S. alliance. "When a new government is inaugurated by a political party that advocates the need for a change in the election, it is unavoidable that a certain amount of friction will occur. I don't think the current friction is any greater than I imagined," said Nye. He warned: "There is a possibility that if the Japanese government seeks a perfect solution to the Futenma base, it will regard a good solution as an enemy. There is a risk that Japan's call for a major change will spoil all the efforts made by the two countries up until now." Nye pointed out that the Futenma issue has continued since he served as assistant secretary of defense (from 1994 to 1995) when President Bill Clinton was in office. "I don't want to see the United States and Japan spending another 14 years on this issue. It would be best to remove the Futenma issue from the agenda between the two countries by compromising on the existing agreement," said Nye. In reference to the fact that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has made it clear that he plans to move forward in reexamining the Japan-U.S. alliance given that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, Nye said: "The security treaty has become the foundation for stability in East Asia. It can be said that next year will be a year to reconfirm the importance of Japan-U.S security arrangements." Moreover, he noted that the present situation is similar to the year of 1996 when former President Clinton and former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto signed the Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on Security. "There was economic friction at that time. Even if there are differences, the security treaty will benefit the two countries. In addition to North Korea, China, which has been gaining economic strength, is also Japan's neighbor. Therefore, Japan's alliance with the United States is a realistic approach. I hope that a new declaration will be issued." (4) Investigative authorities suspect dependents of U.S. service members at Yokota Air Base involved in motorcycle accident SANKEI (Page 23) (Full) October 31, 2009 In an investigation into an incident in August in which a female rider was seriously injured after falling off her motorcycle in Musashimurayama City, Tokyo, police now suspect that several dependents of U.S. military personnel at U.S. Yokota Air Base - located near the site of the incident - were involved in the incident. The Sankei Shimbun obtained this information in an interview with investigative authorities yesterday. The police began to suspect this possibility based on eyewitness testimonies and images taken by security cameras. The Second Organized Crime Section of the National Police Department (MPD) is stepping up its efforts to search for evidence in the case. TOKYO 00002532 007 OF 014 According to the MPD, a female company employee, 23, fell off her motorcycle after running into a rope strung across the street, and fractured her skull at around 11:30 p.m. on August 13. The synthetic fiber rope was strung across the street between a pillar in front of the entrance of a warehouse of a trucking company and an electric pole. The rope is usually strung between two poles in front of the entrance of the warehouse with the aim of keeping all unauthorized automobiles out. When a patrol car passed along the street at around 11:10 p.m., the rope was not strung across the street. Police believe that the rope was tied there during a period of about 20 minutes between 11:10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. when the accident took place. The NPD believes that the accident was caused as a result of malicious mischief, and is investigating the incident as an attempted murder case. According to the investigative authorities, when one car arrived at the scene just after the incident, young foreigners stood in its way and prevented it from passing through. The driver of the car said he saw a motorcycle lying on the ground behind the foreigners at that time. The injured woman also said: "I saw foreigners." Furthermore, a security camera recorded a suspicious young foreigner passing an area near the site of the incident on a bicycle just before the accident. The police have yet to obtain evidence that identifies the offenders, such as fingerprints. But as a result of the analysis of the images taken by cameras, the NPD has come to suspect that several dependents of U.S. service members were involved in the incident. Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which stipulates the legal status of U.S. military personnel in Japan, family members of military personnel are placed outside the reach of the agreement. Given this, observers take the view that there should be no obstacle for the Japanese side to carry out the necessary penal procedures. (5) Scramble for lithium in South America: Sharp increase in demand for raw materials for batteries for cell phones, eco-cars ASAHI (Page 7) (Excerpts) November 1, 2009 Toshihiko Katsuta, Atakama Salt Lake, Chile Demand for lithium as a material for rechargeable batteries for PCs, cell-phones and electric cars is on the sharp rise. There is a fierce scramble for the material in South America, which reportedly has 80 percent of lithium reserves. Japan, which is one of the largest battery-producing countries, is frantic about securing the material. I visited lithium-production sites in Chile. Eighty percent of the world's lithium reserves lying at bottom of salt lake The area of Atakama Salt Lake is roughly 3,000 square kilometers, which is equivalent to the area of the sand dunes in Tottori Prefecture. Although it is called a salt lake, only scattered parts are covered with water. Most of the lake is covered with sandy TOKYO 00002532 008 OF 014 pieces of rock salt. Lithium lies more than 10 meters beneath the lake bed. I learned that snowmelt from the Andes penetrates the layers of rock salt and melts lithium salt as it seeps to the lake bottom. SQM, a leading Chilean company operating at the lake, draws water from about 200 wells. The water is kept in dozens of evaporation ponds, each as big as a soccer ground. The water is left in the ponds for about 10 months for solar evaporation. As the concentration of lithium in the water becomes high, the water becomes increasingly yellowish. Japan desperate to secure stable supply Competition to secure lithium has already started. Lithium-ion cells manufactured by Japanese companies command nearly 50 percent of the global production. Japan relies on imported lithium. The greatest supplier is Chile. Most of Chile's lithium is produced at Atakama Salt Lake. A number of business people from Japanese companies have visited SQM. At present South America produces 50 percent of the world's lithium. There are Uyuni Salt Lake (Bolivia),and Rincon Salt Lake (Argentine) in the region bordering Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. It is said that the three salt lakes alone account for 80 percent of Lithium reserves in the world, if those that cannot be developed are included. Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC),an independent administrative agency, and Sumitomo Corporation have begun talks with the Bolivian government on the development of lithium at Uyuni Salt Lake. Bolivians remember that Spain, its former colonial master, once exploited their silver reserves. As such, although they are appreciative of Japan's offers for technological cooperation and financial assistance, they are negative toward the idea of conducting joint development, insisting they want to develop lithium on their own. A JOBMEC executive said, "Bolivia is protective." South Korea, the largest lithium-cell producer next to Japan, and France are also interested in Uyuni Salt Lake. Korea Resources Corporation President Kim Shin Jong said during an interview given to the Chonsun Ilbo, "We will go abroad and win the future battle for lithium by all means." (6) Poll on the Constitution of Japan MAINICHI (Page 11) (Full) November 1, 2009 Questions & Answers (T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) Q: Are you interested in debate on amending the Constitution? T P M F Very interested 14 19 9 Somewhat interested 52 51 54 Not very interested 26 23 28 TOKYO 00002532 009 OF 014 Not interested at all 7 6 8 Q: Do you approve of amending the Constitution? T P M F Yes 58 62 55 No 32 32 32 Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) Why? T P M F Because the present Constitution is not appropriate for the times 54 55 52 Because the present Constitution was imposed by the U.S. 10 12 9 Because the present Constitution has never been amended since its enactment 22 17 27 Because there is a gap between the Self-Defense Forces' activities and Constitution Article 9 9 13 6 Because the present Constitution honors individual rights excessively 3 2 3 Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) How do you think the Constitution should be amended? (Up to three) T P M F Rewrite the Constitution into Japanese language that is easy to understand because its current wording sounds like translatese 36 33 38 Define the Self-Defense Forces clearly 37 43 30 Allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense 13 20 7 Review the Emperor-as-a-symbol system 9 9 9 Abolish the Diet's bicameral system and adopt a unicameral legislature 15 17 14 Introduce a direct vote for the people to elect the prime minister 42 40 44 Expand decentralization even more 32 36 27 Create new rights for the people 22 18 26 Incorporate new obligations for the people 14 14 14 Ease requirements for amending the Constitution 14 14 15 Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) Why? T P M F Because the present Constitution is appropriate for the times 8 9 7 Because there is no definite reason to amend the present Constitution 32 36 29 Because Constitution Article 9 might be amended 36 34 38 Because individual rights might be restricted or individual obligations might be stipulated 5 5 5 Because it can't be said that the public and political parties have conducted thorough discussions 17 15 19 Q: Constitution Article 9 stipulates Japan's renunciation of war in its first paragraph and Japan's not maintaining a military in its second paragraph. What do you think about amending Article 9? T P M F It should be amended in some way 48 55 42 TOKYO 00002532 010 OF 014 It should not be amended at all 43 40 46 Q: (Only for those who answered "it should be amended in some way") How do you think should be amended? T P M F Amend only the first paragraph that stipulates Japan's renunciation of war 9 10 9 Amend only the second paragraph that stipulates Japan's not maintaining a military 26 32 20 Amend both paragraphs 17 19 13 Add a new clause 44 37 53 Q: Do you like America as a country? T P M F Yes 18 21 15 Yes to a certain degree 58 55 60 No to a certain degree 16 16 17 No 3 3 3 Q: How have your feelings toward America changed since President Obama was sworn in this January? T P M F Like even more 17 15 19 Dislike even more 1 1 1 Unchanged 80 82 77 Q: Do you think Japan's foreign and security policies should be oriented toward the United Nations, or do you think Japan should prioritize cooperation with the United States? T P M F U.N.-oriented 76 76 76 Cooperation with the U.S. 17 20 15 Q: Japan is currently conducting Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean for U.S. and other foreign naval vessels in order to support the war on terror in Afghanistan. The MSDF's refueling mission there, however, is to end in January next year. Do you approve of extending the refueling mission? T P M F Yes 48 55 42 No 44 40 48 Q: The SDF's overseas activities, with the exception of its participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and disaster relief operations, have been conducted under a time-limited special measures law as in the case of its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and its assistance for Iraq. There is an opinion suggesting the need to make an indefinite, permanent law that allows Japan to send the SDF abroad as needed. Do you approve of this opinion? T P M F Yes 36 42 31 No 56 53 59 Q: What do you think Japan should do in terms of the SDF's overseas activities in the future? TOKYO 00002532 011 OF 014 T P M F Japan should never ever send the SDF abroad 9 8 9 Japan may go so far as to participate in PKOs after a ceasefire 53 51 55 Japan may go so far as to send the SDF to a country at war to help with its reconstruction 23 26 21 Japan may go so far as to use armed force depending on circumstances 10 13 8 Q: Japan has been making it a basic policy to maintain its three nonnuclear principles of not producing, possessing, or allowing nuclear weapons into the country. According to a former Foreign Ministry bureaucrat's account, however, there was a secret deal between Japan and the United States when the two countries revised their security pact. This secret deal is said to have allowed U.S. naval vessels carrying nuclear weapons to make port calls in Japan and transit Japan's territorial waters. It is also evident from U.S. archives. The government has maintained that there was no such secret accord. Do you think the government should admit the existence of that secret deal? T P M F Yes 60 64 55 No 32 32 33 Q: What do you think Japan should do about its three nonnuclear principles? T P M F Maintain 72 70 73 Review 24 27 21 (Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "No answer" omitted. Figures in parentheses denote the results of the last survey conducted Sept. 16-17. Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 11-13 across the nation at 300 locations on a stratified two-stage random-sampling basis. A total of 4,568 persons were chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over (as of Sept. 30) for face-to-face interviews. Answers were obtained from 2,615 persons (57 PERCENT ). (7) Poll on reading YOMIURI (Page 14) (Full) October 25, 2009 Questions & Answers (Figures in percentage) Q: How many books did you read over the past month? 1 book 17 2 books 14 3 books 8 4 books 3 5 to 9 books 4 10 or more books 2 None 53 No answer (N/A) 0 Q: (Only for those who answered "none") Why? From among the reasons TOKYO 00002532 012 OF 014 listed below choose as many as you like. Because I had no time 51 Because there were no books that I wanted to read 21 Because I can get knowledge or information from other sources 18 Because I can live without reading books 18 Because I don't like reading books 10 Because books are expensive 2 Because I don't want to spend money buying books 3 Because health reasons prevent my reading books 16 Other answers (O/A) + N/A 1 Q: What's the primary reason you read books? Pick as many reasons as you like from among those listed below. For deep knowledge or education 46 For work 19 To make the most of my hobbies 28 To get a sense of the trend of the times 15 To get a clue to life 14 To experience a virtual world 10 For fun 33 To pass time 17 From habit 7 O/A + Don't read (D/R) + N/A 13 Q: How do you choose books to read? Pick as many as you like from among those listed below. Happen to see at a bookstore 8 Happen to read a newspaper's book review 26 Happen to read a magazine's book review 11 Happen to see a newspaper or magazine ad 21 Happen to see a TV program introducing books 12 Happen to learn from someone 17 O/A+D/R+N/A 16 Q: Where do you usually buy books? Pick as many as you like from among those listed below. Bookstores 80 New secondhand bookstores like BOOKOFF 9 Old secondhand bookstores 3 Convenience stores or station kiosks 6 Online market 9 O/A 0 Don't buy 15 N/A 1 Q: Has a book ever influenced your way of thinking or your view of life? Yes 66 No 31 N/A 3 Q: Do you think reading books will enrich your life? Yes 87 No 11 N/A 3 TOKYO 00002532 013 OF 014 Q: What would you like to read most among those listed below? Pick up to three. Pure literature (postwar, modern times) 12 literature (prewar WWII) 4 Classical literature 3 Historical novels 26 Mysteries, science fiction, adventure stories, light novels 23 Nonfiction, biographies 15 Essays 18 Archaeology, history 6 Philosophy, ideology, religion 6 Politics, law, international politics 6 Economics, business, international economics 10 Natural science 6 Health, healthcare, welfare, pension 23 Education, childcare 8 Cooking, dietary life 19 Travel, leisure, sports 21 Personal computer, information technology 4 O/A + nothing in particular + N/A 11 Q: Do you get information you need on the Internet and not have to buy books or magazines? Often 17 Sometimes 19 Not very often 10 Not at all 53 N/A 1 Q: Have you ever used an e-book service on your personal computer or cellphone? Pick only one from among those listed below. Yes, and would like to continue 5 Yes, but would not like to continue 3 No, but would like to use 19 No, and would not like to use 71 N/A 1 Q: Do you think e-book services will increase the reading population? Yes 44 No 43 N/A 13 Q: Who is your favorite novelist or writer? Pick up to three, Japanese or foreigners. (M = male; F = female; respondents) M F Ryotaro Shiba 72 (53) (19) Haruki Murakami 66 (31) (35) Keigo Higashino 63 (21) (42) Seicho Matsumoto 49 (22) (27) Miyuki Miyabe 33 (7) (26) Osamu Dazai 29 (14) (15) Soseki Natsume 27 (18) (9) Kyotaro Nishimura 27 (12) (15) Jiro Akagawa 22 (2) (20) Hiroyuki Itsuki 21 (10) (11) TOKYO 00002532 014 OF 014 Shuhei Fujisawa 19 (9) (10) Eiji Yoshikawa 18 (12) (6) Jakucho Setouchi 16 (--) (16) Toyoko Yamasaki 16 (6) (10) Junichi Watanabe 16 (4) (12) Kuniko Mukoda 13 (--) (13) Shugoro Yamamoto 13 (4) (9) Ryunosuke Akutagawa 12 (5) (7) Shotaro Ikenami 12 (8) (4) Kotaro Isaka 12 (7) (5) Yasuo Uchida 12 (5) (7) Yasushi Inoue 11 (8) (3) Yasunari Kawabata 11 (3) (8) Polling methodology Date of survey: Oct. 10-11. Subjects of survey: 3,000 persons chosen from among all eligible voters throughout the country (at 250 locations on a stratified two-stage random-sampling basis). Method of implementation: Door-to-door visits for face-to-face interviews. Number of valid respondents: 1,801 persons (60 PERCENT ) Breakdown of respondents: Male-46 PERCENT , female-54 PERCENT ; persons in their 20s-8 PERCENT , 30s-14 PERCENT , 40s-16 PERCENT , 50s-19 PERCENT , 60s-25 PERCENT , 70 and over-18 PERCENT ; big cities (Tokyo's 23 wards and government-designated cities)-21 PERCENT , major cities (with a population of more than 300,000)-18 PERCENT , medium-sized cities (with a population of more than 100,000)-26 PERCENT , small cities (with a population of less than 100,000)-23 PERCENT , towns and villages-11 PERCENT . (Note) In some cases, the total percentage does not add up to 100 PERCENT due to rounding. "0" denotes percentages less than 0.5 PERCENT . "--" denotes that no respondents answered. ROOS