JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 11/10/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 002598 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 11/10/09 INDEX: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Politics: 4) Bill would grant local suffrage only to permanent foreign residents from countries with which Japan has diplomatic relations (Asahi) 5) Diet debate (Yomiuri) Futenma saga: 6) Hatoyama says Futenma decision difficult because Okinawa's people are divided on the issue (Asahi) 7) PM says Futenma relocation issue will not present a major problem during summit (Mainichi) 8) Kanagawa Governor Matsuzawa calls for early resolution of Futenma issue (Mainichi) 9) Hatoyama says Futenma relocation will not be a major topic at Japan-U.S. summit (Nikkei) 10) Govt. increasingly concerned about rising tide of anti-base sentiment in Okinawa (Yomiuri) Foreign relations: 11) U.S. President to have lunch with Emperor on Nov. 14th (Yomiuri) 12) Foreign Ministry to observe closely U.S.- North Korea talks (Nikkei) 13) DPJ rapidly increasing contacts with China (Sankei) 14) President Obama, PM Hatoyama to agree to deepen U.S.-Japan alliance (Asahi) Defense & security: 15) Defense Minister orders reexamination of shifting MSDF ships from refueling mission to Somalia offing (Sankei) 16) Japanese and Indian defense ministers agree to strengthen defense cooperation (Mainichi) 17) SDP Party Secretary General says hit-and-run incident symbolizes the reality of the U.S. military presence in Okinawa (Mainichi) 18) U.S. Army staff sergeant identified as owner of car involved in fatal hit-and-run accident in Okinawa (Okinawa Times) Opinion: 19) Yomiuri poll: Cabinet support drops 8 points to 63 PERCENT (Yomiuri) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Yomiuri, Sankei, and Tokyo Shimbun: Government Revitalization Unit decides to review requested spending for 447 projects in FY 2010 budget, including payments to medical institutions and sympathy budget Mainichi: Japan, U.S. adrift (Part 1): Bilateral alliance at crossroads; Futenma relocation issue out of control; "winter period," "danger zone"; distrust in Japan continuing TOKYO 00002598 002 OF 012 Nikkei: Honda, Nissan, and other Japanese automakers to cut numbers of models on domestic market to focus on global strategic cars Akahata: JCP's Koike criticizes government for its failure to eliminate the medical insurance system for people 75 and older before Upper House Budget Committee 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Global economy: Stay on alert against new imbalance (2) Discrimination against illegitimate children: Children's rights must be equal Mainichi: (1) Decentralization committee's final advice: Discussion of tax system required for regional autonomy (2) Democratization essential for Myanmar (Burma) Yomiuri: (1) 20th anniversary of end of Cold War: How should a new world order be built? (2) Toyota withdraws from F1: Difficult decision based on environmental considerations Nikkei: (1) Country needs swift growth policy that does not rely excessively on fiscal measures (2) Reform for regional autonomy must be implemented Sankei: (1) 20 years since collapse of Berlin Wall: Alliances essential for regions still gripped by Cold War structure (2) Granting voting rights to foreign residents: Constitutionality must be discussed thoroughly Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Futenma relocation: Have Okinawa's voices reached the Hatoyama cabinet? (2) 20 years since end of Cold War: Time to look at new wall Akahata: (1) Business circles' budgetary requests too self-centered 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, November 10 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) November 8, 2009 10:06 Went to the supermarket MEIDI-YA Hiroo Store with his wife Miyuki. 10:57 Arrived at his official residential quarters. 14:37 Met Minister for Abduction Issue Nakai. 15:08 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno. 18:04 Met National Strategy Minister Kan, Hirano, Finance Minister Fujii, and Administrative Reform Minister Sengoku. 19:57 Met Kan, Fujii, Sengoku, Land and Transport Minister Maehara, TOKYO 00002598 003 OF 012 Senior Vice Finance Minister Minezaki, Senior Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office Furukawa, and Matsui, joined by Hirano. NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) November 9, 2009 07:57 Arrived at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 09:01 Attended Upper House Budget Committee session. 12:02 Met Foreign Minister Okada, Defense Minister Kitazawa at Kantei, with Hirano and Matsuno present. Hirano and Matsui stayed behind. 13:01 Attended Upper House Budget Committee session. 17:05 Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani at Kantei. 18:01 Attended Government Revitalization Unit meeting. Met Decentralization Reform Promotion Committee Chairman Niwa with Internal Affairs Minister Haraguchi present. 20:06 Arrived at his official residential quarters. 4) Diplomatic ties as guideline in granting local suffrage to permanent foreign residents ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) November 10, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is looking into submitting to the ongoing extraordinary Diet session a bill granting local suffrage to permanent foreign residents. The gist of the lawmaker-hosted legislation was revealed on Nov. 9. The legislation targets residents from countries with which Japan has diplomatic relations or areas with which Japan is regarded as having such relations. The party has no intention of employing reciprocity to limit foreign residents eligible for the new regulation to those from countries that grant a similar right to permanent Japanese residents in their countries. Eligible for local suffrage are special permanent residents, meaning those from Japan's former colonies, such as the Korean Peninsula, and their descendants, and general permanent residents, who have obtained permanent resident status as a result of living in Japan for a certain set period of time or marrying a Japanese. The legislation, however, limits those who are eligible for the new regulation to the nationals of countries with which Japan has diplomatic ties or to those from areas that are regarded as having such ties with Japan. Special permanent foreign residents will be limited for the time being to nationals of South Korea, with which Japan has diplomatic relations, and to people with an affiliation with Taiwan, with which Japan has active interchange but no diplomatic ties. There is a strong possibility that those with roots in the Korean Peninsula and their descendants may be ineligible under the new regulation if they do not have South Korean nationality. The legislation is similar to a proposal made in 2008 by the DPJ's League of Diet members who support the promotion of local suffrage for permanent foreign residents, for which Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama served as advisor and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada served as chairman. 5) Gist of cabinet ministers' responses to interpellation on foreign policy issues at Upper House Budget Committee on November 9 YOMIURI (Page 15) (Full) TOKYO 00002598 004 OF 012 November 10, 2009 Elimination of nuclear arms Kenzo Fujisue (Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)): What is your thinking on the elimination of nuclear arms? Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada: The problem of nuclear arms is one of the major issues facing mankind. The reason why U.S. President Obama's speech in Prague touched the heart of people all over the world is because the perception that (nuclear weapons) are a major threat is widely shared. Japan, as the only atomic bombed country, should take pragmatic steps, one by one, toward the elimination of nuclear arms. Fujisue: We ask that you place emphasis on the ideals of the Japanese Constitution. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama: I think it is a really wonderful thing that the Constitution of Japan affirms the right to live in peace. I would like to convey the message of the pacifist constitution in the process of eliminating nuclear weapons, which constitute the most serious threat. Masaaki Taniai (New Komeito): Please reiterate your determination to eliminate nuclear weapons. Hatoyama: Japan has the capability to possess nuclear arms, but it is determined not to possess (nuclear arms) from a moral standpoint. U.S. Forces Japan realignment Fujisue: I would like you to consider Iwo Jima as a relocation site for the U.S. Marines' Futenma Air Station. Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa: There are places on Iwo Jima that are geologically unstable, and each year, people go there to collect the remains (of people who died during World War II). We are currently looking at various options for Futenma relocation. Fujisue: (The Prime Minister) should participate in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference in May. Hatoyama: It will depend on the Diet schedule, but personally, I would like to go to the conference. East Asian community Fujisue: There should be a long-term plan. Okada: A concrete picture (of the East Asian community) should not be determined now. We should start with what is possible. We can proceed with the economic areas, such as energy, the environment, and personnel exchanges. It is actually better not to have a long-term plan. Fujisue: How about advocating lasting peace in Asia? Okada: When we think of the East Asian community, the Japan-U.S. alliance is an important prerequisite. The bilateral alliance will play the role of ensuring regional stability for some time. TOKYO 00002598 005 OF 012 Hatoyama: I think the greatest security measure is to guide countries and peoples toward a feeling of goodwill through cooperation. We will develop a framework capable of contributing to peace in East Asia in the pursuit of this goal. Free trade agreement (FTA) Fujisue: Please develop a FTA strategy. National Strategy Minister Naoto Kan: It is necessary to give due consideration so that (the FTA) will not be disadvantageous for agriculture and other domestic sectors, but basically, the (DPJ's) manifesto says that we will actively promote negotiations. Japan, as a country that thrives on free trade, should make efforts toward signing FTAs. 6) Futenma relocation issue: "It is difficult to make a decision," says prime minister ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) November 11, 2009 The Okinawan people's calls for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture) outside the prefecture have intensified since the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),which advocates a review of the relocation site, took the reins of government. At a prefectural rally to oppose the relocation of Futenma Air Station within the prefecture, a number of lawmakers of the ruling party called for relocating the facilities outside the prefecture. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who has yet to come up with his policy direction, is being put in an increasingly difficult position. The prime minister on Nov. 9 conveyed his personal struggle to the press corps: "I find it very difficult to make a decision, because the wishes of residents of Okinawa are not unanimous. Expectations (for relocation outside the prefecture) may develop further as time elapses. I would like to gain the understanding of the people of Okinawa for my decision by coming up with a policy direction that will reduce their burden." However, expectations for the prime minister, who advocates a review of the relocation site, are beginning to turn into distrust. That is because the cabinet has yet to take specific actions toward moving the Futenma functions out of the prefecture, although some still pin their hopes on the prime minister making relocation outside the prefecture possible. People's New Party Secretary General Mikio Shimoji's speech supporting the prime minister given at the prefectural rally drew boos from participants. Shokichi Kina (Upper House member),the chief of the DPJ Okinawa Chapter, who takes the position of supporting the Hatoyama cabinet, issued a strong warning, saying that he would not allow the Futenma functions to be relocated to Henoko, Nago City, as currently planned. Provided that the prime minister opts to approve the Japan-U.S. agreement pact, those oppose the pact are bound to activate their opposition campaign. Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on a TV talk show on the 8th touched on the possibility of putting off making a decision until early next year, saying, "We intend to reach a TOKYO 00002598 006 OF 012 decision by the end of December. However, there may be a delay." 7) Hatoyama: Futenma issue will not be a focus in Japan-U.S. summit MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) November 10, 2009 Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met at the Prime Minister's Official Residence with Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano yesterday to discuss what approach Japan should take in the Japan-U.S. summit meeting scheduled for Nov. 13. On the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, they reaffirmed that the prime minister will make a final decision after Okada and Kitazawa take sufficient time to examine the existing relocation plan. Hatoyama told reporters last evening: "In the summit meeting, the Futenma issue will not be a major focus." In reference to a rally held in Ginowan City on Nov. 8 in protest against the planned relocation of the Futenma airfield within the prefecture, Hatoyama said: "The residents of Okinawa must have very complicated feelings. ... We must avoid hurting their feelings as a result of trying too hard to achieve results quickly. This issue is too complicated to easily reach a conclusion by the end of the year." 8) Kanagawa governor explains his earlier statement as intended to call for early settlement of Futenma relocation issue MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) November 10, 2009 Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture Shigefumi Matsuzawa, who chairs the Base-Hosting Governors' Association, made a statement backing an existing deal between Japan and the U.S. in the package of plans to realign U.S. forces in Japan. This statement elicited a strong reaction from local residents in Okinawa calling for moving the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, out of the prefecture. In response, the governor gave this explanation yesterday: "There is a misunderstanding. I did not mean to say that the relocation of the Futenma airfield (to Nago City in Okinawa) is the best option," in replying to questions by reporters at the Foreign Ministry, which he visited to make a request concerning the problem of noise created by Atsugi Air Base in Kanagawa Prefecture. Matsuzawa explained that his statement was intended to call for an early resolution of the Futenma relocation issue. He said: "I wanted to say that if the issue becomes protracted, the efforts to reduce (Okinawa's) base burden might come to naught." Regarding the overall plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan, Matsuzawa said in a speech on Nov. 5 during his visit to the U.S.: "I hope the realignment will be promoted based on a deal (reached between Japan and the U.S.)" But the participants in a rally held in Ginowan City on Nov. 8 against the planned relocation of the Futenma facility within the prefecture decided to protest the governor's statement. 9) Hatoyama: Futenma issue will not take center stage in Japan-U.S. TOKYO 00002598 007 OF 012 summit NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) November 10, 2009 Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama yesterday indicated that the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture would not take center stage in a Japan-U.S. summit meeting set for Nov. 13. In replying to questions by reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, he said: "I would like to take up pending bilateral issues and Afghanistan and other global issues." Over the Futenma relocation issue, there is a difference in views between Washington and Tokyo. The U.S. side has called for an early agreement on the current plan to transfer the Futenma facility to a coastal area of U.S. Camp Schwab, while the Japanese government has proposed reviewing the plan. In the upcoming summit meeting, the two leaders are expected to discuss such issues as civilian aid for Afghanistan and to skip an in-depth discussion of the Futenma issue. The government will adopt in a cabinet meeting today a package of fresh Afghanistan support measures worth 4 to 5 billion dollars over the five years starting in 2010. Hatoyama plans to inform President Barack Obama of the package during their meeting. 10) Government concerned about growing anti-base sentiment over Futenma issue YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) November 10, 2009 The government is becoming increasingly concerned about growing opposition to the U.S. bases among people in Okinawa ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Japan on Nov. 13. Rallies were held on Nov. 7-8 opposing the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the prefecture. In addition, a fatal hit-and-run accident, in which a U.S. service member is suspected of involvement, occurred on Nov. 7. This might cause anti-base sentiment to intensify. A senior Defense Ministry official voiced his concern on Nov. 9 by saying: "The longer the settlement of the Futenma issue is delayed, the more momentum the anti-base movement will gather, making it difficult to relocate the air station." Asked on Nov. 9 by the press corps at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) about the anti-base movement, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama indicated that it signifies the complex feelings held by people of Okinawa. However, he did not seem ready to take action to bring the situation under control. At the same time, the Prime Minister indicated that discussions will not be focused on the Futenma issue during the Japan-U.S. summit to be held on Nov. 13, saying, "Given the current situation in Japan, I don't think it will be a major item on the agenda." 11) Luncheon for Emperor, President Obama likely to be held on Nov. 14 YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) November 10, 2009 The governments of Japan and the United States decided yesterday on TOKYO 00002598 008 OF 012 the basic schedule for President Barak Obama's visit to Japan on Nov. 13-14. President Obama will arrive in Tokyo on the afternoon of the 13th and hold talks with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama later on that day at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). After the meeting, the two leaders will hold a joint press conference. The Prime Minister will then host a dinner party for the President. Arrangements are being made for the President to deliver a speech on the U.S.'s Asia policy in Tokyo on the morning of the 14th and to attend a luncheon with the Emperor. 12) Japan, South Korea to carefully observe course of U.S.-North Korea talks NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) November 10, 2009 Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Akitaka Saiki yesterday held talks with South Korean special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs Wi Sung Lac. The two officials agreed that Tokyo and Seoul will carefully observe the course of the upcoming talks between the Unites States and North Korea with an eye on the resumption of the Six-Party Talks. 13) DPJ forging closer relations with China; group of Diet members' secretaries to hold party with PRC diplomats on November 13 SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) November 10, 2009 It was learned on Nov. 9 that a group of secretaries of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Diet members will hold a party with Chinese diplomats at the PRC embassy in Motoazabu, Tokyo, on Nov. 13. The group accepted an invitation from the Chinese Embassy. Around 20 officials of the secretaries' group and 20 PRC diplomats will attend the party. The DPJ is also holding the third meeting of the "council for consultations on exchanges," its body for regular consultations with the Communist Party of China (CPC),on Nov. 10-11 in Tokyo. The two sides are forging closer relations rapidly. There is concern that the purpose of the party for the Diet members' secretaries and Chinese diplomats is to "ensnare the secretaries to collect information," according to a Public Security Agency source. The secretaries have access to information on government meetings and other matters. An official of the association of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secretaries in the House of Representatives says, "Under LDP administrations, we had never heard of such a thing as a party between the party's secretaries and Chinese diplomats apart from the parliamentary union on Japan-China relations." The DPJ's "council for consultations on exchanges" was created in 2006 based on an agreement between (then) President Ichiro Ozawa and PRC President Hu Jintao during Ozawa's visit to China. Ozawa and Azuma Koshiishi, chair of the DPJ caucus in the House of Councillors, from the DPJ side, and Wang Jiarui, director of the CPC International Department, and other officials from the CPC side will participate in the latest meeting. TOKYO 00002598 009 OF 012 Ahead of this meeting, Ozawa and Koshiishi treated Wang and other CPC officials to tempura and sake aboard a houseboat on Sumida River on the evening of Nov. 8. Ozawa will also lead a large delegation of DPJ Diet members and their supporters on a visit to China in December. It appears that the DPJ's relations will China are likely to be strengthened at various levels amid the discord in the Japan-U.S. relationship over the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. 14) Prime minister, U.S. President to agree at summit to deepen bilateral alliance ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) November 10, 2009 It has been learned that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Obama at their summit meeting on Nov. 13 will agree to deepen the bilateral alliance in a multitiered manner, striving to strengthen ties. The aim is to reinforce cooperative ties on various issues, including climate change and nuclear disarmament, to which both leaders are devoting their energies. This was revealed by an aide to the prime minister. The prime minister has until today expressed his intention to review the Japan-U.S. alliance in a comprehensive manner. The outlook is that although the words Japan-U.S. alliance will be used at the talks, there will not be discussion of a review of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty or the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement." The Prime Minister had decided to attend the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change (COP15) to be held in Denmark in December. During the meeting he will also call on the President to take part in the session. 15) Defense minister again issues an order to study option of sending MSDF vessels to Somalia offing SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) November 10, 2009 The Defense Ministry began considering yesterday having Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels provide fuel to foreign vessels engaged in antipiracy operations off Somalia after withdrawing the MSDF vessels from the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa issued an order yesterday. Kitazawa also issued an order to expedite coordination within the government to enable Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to convey this policy course to U.S. President Barack Obama during the Japan-U.S. summit to be held on Nov. 13. Kitazawa envisages an announcement during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting to be held in Singapore staring on Nov. 14. On Oct. 27 Kitazawa referred to the idea of sending MSDF vessels to the Somalia offing. But Prime Minister Hatoyama expressed a cautious stance on the same day, saying, "The activities are basically different. I'm not considering that. The option requires legislative measures. A conclusion cannot be reached easily." Social Democratic Party (SDP) Secretary General Yasumasa Shigeno, too, expressed displeasure on the same day, saying, "We must restrain the use of the SDF overseas." TOKYO 00002598 010 OF 012 But given tense Japan-U.S. relations due to the Futenma relocation issue and other matters, Kitazawa reissued the order to the Defense Ministry on Nov. 9, concluding that the use of the SDF is essential as an alternative support measure. Many U.S. and European vessels on antiterrorism missions in the Indian Oceans are engaged in antipiracy operations off Somalia. For this reason, Kitazawa apparently thought that the idea of sending MSDF vessels to the Somalia offing would readily be appreciated by the United States. At the same time, there is a plan to win the support of the SDP and others by referring to MSDF destroyers as yuai (fraternity) boats. 16) Japan, India agree to step up defense cooperation MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) November 10, 2009 Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa met yesterday at the Defense Ministry with visiting Indian Defense Minister Anthony. In the meeting, Kitazawa and Anthony agreed to work out an action plan to shape a bilateral joint declaration on security cooperation, which was signed at a Japan-India summit held in October 2008. "Defense cooperation between Japan and India is an important area," Anthony told Kitazawa in the meeting. "We want to strengthen this bilateral relationship," he added. 17) Hit-and-run incident a reality in Okinawa: SDP exec MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) November 10, 2009 Yasumasa Shigeno, secretary general of the Social Democratic Party, one of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's two coalition partners, held a press conference yesterday, during which he referred to the recent occurrence in Okinawa Prefecture of a hit-and-run incident, which is believed to have been caused by a U.S. military person's vehicle. "It symbolizes the realities of Okinawa and we must seek to realign and reduce the presence of (U.S. military) bases (in Okinawa)," Shigeno said. 18) U.S. Army staff sergeant identified as owner of car involved in fatal hit-and-run accident in Okinawa OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full) November 10, 2009 In connection with the hit-and-run case of Mr. Masakazu Hokama, 66, of Yomitan Village, who was found dead in a thicket along a road in Sobe, Yomitan Village, in which the Kadena Police Station suspected that it is highly probable he was hit by a car with a Y number plate, inquiries made by Okinawa Times to parties involved with this case revealed that the Kadena police had identified the owner of the Y number car as a male U.S. Army staff sergeant. It was also learned through inquiries with the sources involved with this case that the Kadena police moved the impounded car to the parking lot of the Uruma Police Station on Nov. 9 and determined through DNA examination that the hair, blood, and other substances adhering to the car belonged to Mr. Hokama. According to these sources, the Y number car impounded by the Kadena police was brought to a garage in the town of Kadena for repairs by TOKYO 00002598 011 OF 012 a foreign-looking man in his 20s at around 2:00 pm on Nov. 7, some 3 hours before the accident was reported to the police. The windshield of the impounded car was broken, fragments of glass were found inside the car, and the front bumper was dented. The foreign man who brought the car to the garage reportedly said that the vehicle had sustained damage was from striking a tree. He said he would pay for the repairs since he could not claim insurance. The Okinawa Defense Bureau has requested the cooperation of the U.S. forces in the investigation of this case. The Kadena police are making vigorous efforts to ascertain if the staff sergeant who is being questioned by U.S. Army investigators on a voluntary basis was actually driving the car and if he was the man who brought the car to the garage for repairs. According to Mr. Hokama's family, he normally took a walk in the area near where his body was found every morning at about 5:00 a.m. The Kadena police are investigating the case on the assumption that Mr. Hokama was probably hit by the car in the morning of Nov. 7. Autopsy by the Kadena police has shown that the cause of Mr. Hokama's death was cervical spine fracture. 19) Poll: Cabinet support down to 63 PERCENT YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) November 10, 2009 The rate of public support for the Hatoyama cabinet was 63 PERCENT in a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on Nov. 6-8, down 8 percentage points from the 71 PERCENT rating in the last survey. The nonsupport rate was 27 PERCENT , up 6 points. In the survey, respondents were asked if they thought Prime Minister Hatoyama has fulfilled his accountability on his own politics-and-money issue. To this question, a total of 73 PERCENT gave negative answers. Meanwhile, a total of 63 PERCENT were concerned about cabinet ministers making contradictory comments on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. Problems related to Hatoyama himself and the conflict of opinions within the cabinet appear to have led to the decline in the Hatoyama cabinet's popularity. In addition, respondents were also asked if they thought the Hatoyama cabinet has made policy decisions based on its political initiative. To this question, 55 PERCENT answered "no," with 28 PERCENT saying "yes." The public was split over the Futenma relocation issue, with 32 PERCENT saying it would be better to modify the plan and 31 PERCENT saying it would be better to push ahead with the plan in line with an intergovernmental agreement reached between Japan and the United States. The proportion of those calling for a substantial change to the plan was only 19 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan stood at 43 PERCENT (47 PERCENT in the last survey),while the opposition Liberal Democratic Party was at 19 PERCENT (17 PERCENT in the last survey). TOKYO 00002598 012 OF 012 ROOS