DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 000797 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 04//09 INDEX: (1) North Korean missile launch - part 2: Aim is to enter into talks with U.S. (Yomiuri) (2) Hiroyuki Noguchi's reader on security: Lessons learned from North Korean missile launch; MD is national strategy itself (Sankei) (3) Drifting alliance: North Korean missile launch - part 1; Gap in sense of alarm between Japan and U.S. (Yomiuri) (4) Don't allow North Korea to repeat missile launches, nuclear tests (Yomiuri) (5) Gov't to ask U.S. military to provide info without delay (Okinawa Times) (6) Coffee thrown on consul general (Okinawa Times) (7) Poll on Constitution (Yomiuri) (8) TOP HEADLINES (9) EDITORIALS (10) Prime Minister's schedule, April 6 (Nikkei) ARTICLES: (1) North Korean missile launch - part 2: Aim is to enter into talks with U.S. YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full) April 6, 2009 Masao Okonogi, Keio University professor The aim of the launch of a missile by North Korea on April 5 is to enter into talks with the U.S. Pyongyang has thus far been assuming a hard-line stance, as it carried out the launch with no regard to international criticism. In my view, however, its stance will change in the coming years. North Korea is developing nuclear weapons and missiles with the aim of maintaining General Secretary Kim Jong Il's dictatorship. The aim is to preserve the present regime, and developing weapons is a means to achieve that end. The North will not abandon its weapons unless it feels that its regime is safe. Then what will bring peace of mind to that nation? It can only be the normalization of ties with the U.S. and the rebuilding of its economy. The key objective of the latest missile launch is to influence the Obama administration's North Korea policy. The North wants to normalize ties with the U.S. by engaging it in "missile talks", set apart from the six-party talks. Now that Secretary of State Clinton has referred to normalization of bilateral ties, both countries are motivated by the same desire to hold talks. With the launch of its missile, North Korea intends to use that card (against the U.S.). Acrimonious exchanges of words are likely at the UN Security Council in debate over North Korea's missile launch. However, what North TOKYO 00000797 002 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 Korea is thinking now is probably what might happen afterward. In an unusual move, it took a stance of abiding by international rules, as can be seen in its prior notification of the launch. North Korea arguably has paved the way for starting talks with the U.S., using China as an intermediary. It probability intends to continue the six-party talks, as well, in tandem with talks with the U.S. The meaning of the missile launch on the domestic front is great. Because of the economic slump and Kim Jong Il's health problem, the leadership is very sensitive to winning the hearts and minds of the North Korean people, so that turmoil will not occur in the country. Since unity cannot be achieved unless the leadership shows some results, it made much propaganda of the missile launch. If it succeeds in igniting a second-stage booster, even if an artificial satellite does not go into orbit, it probably intends to use it as the achievement. In my view, Kim Jong Il is under pressure. The launch this time was presumably quite a venture domestically as well. If the launch had failed, the news would have spread, making people feel insecure. It can be said that (the regime) had restored stability to some extent. When we think about how many more years Kim Jong Il might stay healthy, 2012, the year when the Obama administration will end its first term, surfaces as a key year. Kim will be 70 years old. The year will also mark the 100th anniversary since the birth of Kim Il Sung. General Secretary Kim wants to settle the successor problem by normalizing ties with the U.S. and rebuilding the economy by that time. The missile launch this time does not significantly increase the North Korean military threat. A missile launch that takes several weeks for preparations and is dictated by weather conditions is no threat to the U.S. There are already Nodong-1 missiles specific targeting Japan. The greatest threat to Japan is a compact-size nuclear weapon being fitted into the warhead of a Nodong-1 missile. What is important is to restrict Nodong missiles and bring about denuclearization. We must not allow the six-party talks tasked to tackle denuclearization to collapse. Masao Okonogi: Specialist in South Korean and North Korean politics. His works include "North Korea in the Era of Kim Il Sung" and "Korea War." 63 years old. (2) Hiroyuki Noguchi's reader on security: Lessons learned from North Korean missile launch; MD is national strategy itself SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) April 7, 2009 A North Korean long-range ballistic missile that appeared to be an improved version of the Taepodong-2 flew over Japan again. As with a series of incidents involving North Korean spy ships, every time North Korea effectively infringes Japan's sovereignty, challenges for Japan's security come to the fore. To begin with, it was the North's Taepodong-1 missile that flew over the Japanese archipelago in 1998 that pushed Tokyo toward the missile defense (MD) system the United States was pursuing. The latest missile launch also posed a variety of challenges for Japan. TOKYO 00000797 003 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 As was the case of 1998, there is a subtle gap in views between Japan and the United States. The biggest concern for the United States was whether or not the North has acquired the technology to launch a missile that can reach the continental United States. The results showed some progress in technology, but it was not quite that level. As such, the extent to which the United States will act in concert with Japan regarding policy toward North Korea policy remains unclear. The United States might manipulate its military information demanding concessions on the political, diplomatic, and economic fronts. There is a possibility that the United States will not provide Japan with full information collected by the U.S. military. Independent information-collecting capability To deal with the manipulation of information, Japan must increase its ability to gather information. Currently, Japan relies heavily on the United States' early-warning satellite capable of detecting a rocket's injection flames immediately after its launch. Possessing such a satellite independently is one option. It is also necessary to have a complex three-dimensional system to search and intercept an incoming missile that combine ground-based high-performance radars, such as the X-band radar capable of identifying the configuration of a launched missile, with Aegis-equipped vessels. The X-band radar is deployed at an Air Self-Defense Force camp in Aomori Prefecture. Having independence in deploying and operating such a system is ideal. The country's administration also has serious problems. For instance, frequency bands that can be used for national defense are extremely limited. Priority rights to use them have yet to be established. Radio sending equipment, such as radars, is manufactured in consideration of domestic law. But a large part of imported products are not. They cannot fully output in Japan because they interfere with private-sector radio waves, such as televisions. There are such restrictions on the radar linked to the PAC-3 interceptor missiles deployed in the Tohoku region in anticipation of a launched North Korean missile falling on Japan. A system that can fully utilize national-defense radio-waves in time of a national contingency is desirable. SDF and local governments There are mounting challenges for contact points between the people and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF),as well. People in the region where the missile might have fallen said in unison: "We don't know what might fall upon us. We are scared." The North launched the missile before the local governments clearly determined whether or not the people should stay indoors. Persons connected with the locally-deployed SDF were swayed between the view that the imminent missile launch would be a good opportunity to increase the local residents' awareness of the importance of evacuation drills and the opinion that fears must not be stoked unnecessarily. How should a balance be struck between evacuation and prevention of a panic? Study on damage control must be conducted. Meanwhile, a highly toxic substance called hydrazine is used as fuel for North Korean missiles. Inhalation of 0.1 mg of hydrazine can be lethal. The substance is volatile enough to emit smokes at once when it touches the air. The SDF had chemical protective suits on hand to TOKYO 00000797 004 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 be ready to extinguish fallen missile debris and rescue local residents. In dealing with hydrazine, a person needs a mask to inhale air from the compressed-air cylinder on his back. There were enough protective suits, but air masks were in severe shortage. As seen in the purchase of fire extinguishing helicopters by local governments for storage by SDF helicopter units, the two sides are already in close cooperation in some areas. It is imperative to expand collaboration of this sort. Lessons must be learned from mistakes There were some mistakes in distributing communication and responding to the incident militarily. But they should be regarded as the mother of success. In the case a glitch is found in the system, any decent military in the world thoroughly clarifies it and improve it and increase the degree of completion by repeating that process. For the people, it is fortunate that the incident like this has not happened often, but such is not necessarily good for the SDF. The challenges mentioned about would all require budgetary steps. The country's defense spending has been trimmed by 200 billion yen over the last seven years. Intercepting an incoming missile with the MD system seems more effective than demanding the North to halt launching missiles. Given the situation, Japan must be prepared to contribute trillions of yen to the MD system. The cost borne by Japan is casting a shadow on the joint operation of the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces. In dealing with the latest incident, the three forces cooperated smoothly. But in seeking bigger shares in the limited pie, the three arms spare some excellent personnel and lock horns with each other at times. Japan's share has taken a toll on the SDF's potential. The MD system is not just a weapon but a diplomatic means. Therefore, as in the case with the cost related to reconnaissance satellites, funds must be contributed to the MD system, including an early-warning satellite, separate from the framework of defense spending. That is the major lesson learned form the latest missile satellite. (3) Drifting alliance: North Korean missile launch - part 1; Gap in sense of alarm between Japan and U.S. YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) April 7, 2009 Defense Minister Hamada terminated the order to destroy North Korea's ballistic missile Taepodong-2 26 hours and 30 minutes after the launch. The pullout of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces' (MSDF) Aegis ships and Patriot Advanced Capability - 3 (PAC 3) missiles deployed in the Tohoku region began at 2:00 p.m. on April 6. North Korea in 1998 launched a Taepodong-1 missile, which flew over Japan. In 2006, it test-fired a Taepodong 2 missile, but the test was a failure. In 1998, a U.S. Aegis ship left the Sea of Japan before the launch. In 2006, determining that North Korea would not launch a missile, the U.S. military did not order Cobra Balls designed to observe ballistic missile flights at long range, deployed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, to take off. In that sense, this is the first time for the SDF and the U.S. military to have tracked a missile in cooperation. TOKYO 00000797 005 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 The U.S. military, which confirmed the launch and took over tracking from Japan, announced that the missile had splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. It is said that the collaboration worked successfully. However, gaps were exposed during the process. The order to destroy a launched missile was issued on March 27, following an advance notice from North Korea. Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Akitaka Saiki, chief delegate from Japan to the six-party talks, emphatically told U.S. Special Envoy to the six-party talks Sung Kim the same day, "This is the occasion when Japan and the U.S. must show that they are united." This U.S. government official at a gathering of diplomatic personnel revealed his thoughts, "Japan cannot stay cool, when it comes to North Korea." Secretary of Defense Gates on the 29th, announced his stance of not intercepting a North Korean missile, unless it targets the U.S. territory. Gates right after making that comment urged Hamada to respond to the matter in a cool-headed manner. An MSDF officer was surprised to know this, saying, "The U.S. has never abandoned a military option against North Korea right from the beginning." Given the Obama Administration's response at the UN Security Council (UNSC) after the launch, it is far from being conciliatory to Pyongyang. It is rather the other way round. However, it appears that the Obama Administration does not want to be committed to North Korea, faced with the Afghanistan issue and the economic crisis. A source connected to the U.S. Democratic Party complained, "It is impossible to intercept a missile that flies over Japan, and yet, Japan is making a fuss over North Korea's missile, saying that it must be intercepted." The MSDF was responsible for tracking the Taepodong 2 missile above the Sea of Japan, and the U.S. Navy was responsible for dealing with the Hawaii and Alaska areas on the day when the Taepodong 2 was launched. A source connected to the SDF took this clear-cut role-sharing as a message from the U.S. military that Japan should take care of its our own affairs by itself. Japan and the U.S. share a sense of alarm over the nuclear issue. However, when it comes to North Korean missiles, there is a gap that cannot be bridged between the two countries with Japan being within the range of the Nodong missile, while the U.S. being out of the range of the Taepodong 2 missile. However, this gap holds the potentiality of turning the current passive structure of the SDF providing (logistical) support to the U.S. military into a structure of the U.S. military assisting the SDF. (4) Don't allow North Korea to repeat missile launches, nuclear tests YOMIURI (Page 5) (Full) April 7, 2009 By Hajime Izumi, professor at Shizuoka University The Yomiuri Shimbun interviewed Hajime Izumi, professor at Shizuoka University, to ask for his views about North Korea's purpose for launching a long-range ballistic missile, which it claimed to be a satellite, and the next moves that could be expected from that country. TOKYO 00000797 006 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 ASTERISK ASTERISK ASTERISK With the current launch, North Korea was able to raise the "selling price" of its missile prior to anticipated negotiations with the U.S. It calculated that under pressure from the U.S. in bilateral negotiations, it would be able to call for a good reward from the U.S. in exchange for scrapping its improved missile. With the North having a missile with a longer range, such a product can work as a threat to forestall moves by the U.S. In the North Korean regime, there are those officials who engaged in missile negotiations with U.S. officials in the Clinton administration. Fully aware that it would become unable to launch a missile once bilateral negotiations were concluded, North Korea was anxious to increase the "value" of its missile as much as possible before the two countries reached any negotiated agreement. North Korea had announced that it would launch a rocket between April 4 and 8. As seen from this timeframe, Pyongyang was apparently aiming to liven up its newly elected parliament set to convene on April 9. Leader Kim Jong Il was reelected to sit on the legislative Supreme People's Assembly. Once Pyongyang launched its missile, irrespective of its outcome, the nation would be able to demonstrate the greatness of "the Great Leader who exercised the right of launching a satellite despite the international community's improper pressure on the nation." Rumors about Kim's health problem have already spread across North Korea, and there are those who are worried about clouds over the Kim regime. The North expects the missile launch to dispel such clouds and enhance national prestige. Pyongyang claimed that the rocket was designed to carry a satellite. Such a claim stems from its desire to split the international community and to get authorization for its planned launch of a projectile. In the case of a satellite launch, it will be possible to obtain understanding from China and Russia. North Korea will be inevitably exposed to international criticism for the time being, but talks are expected to start around June to resume the six-party talks after a cooling-off period set for a while. The North can insist that any member of the international community can freely launch a satellite. It can argue that although the country has the technology to lift off a satellite, the right to launch has been taken away. The North can use the same logic as it used when it demanded light-water reactors in exchange for dismantling its older nuclear reactors that generate electricity. It will thrust the same demand at the U.S. If North Korea succeeds in getting the U.S. to launch a satellite for it, it will be able to play up progress in its relations with the U.S. The second and third-stage rockets of the launched projectile did not separate. But Pyongyang, in a sense, still has overcome the failure of its missile tests in 2006 in the past three years. North Korea has honed its technical skills to a noticeable level. Pyongyang can be expected to repeatedly launch missiles from now, given that it called the launched projectile an experimental communications satellite. The sole country that could suffer damage is Japan, because fired rockets fly over it. Japan absolutely must not allow North Korea to continue missile launches. There is also concern that Pyongyang has yet to make any commitment about its nuclear weapons testing. If the North repeatedly carries out nuclear tests, the nation will probably become able to produce a TOKYO 00000797 007 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 miniaturized warhead. In such a case, the threat of the Nodong missile, which has already been deployed in North Korea and has enough range to hit Japan, will become far more serious. It is imperative to persuade North Korea to freeze any nuclear test and missile launch simultaneously. (5) Gov't to ask U.S. military to provide info without delay OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full) April 7, 2009 Taro Kono, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, arrived in Okinawa Prefecture yesterday for the committee's fact-finding purpose and met with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima and Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Speaker Zenshin Takamine. Kono, in his meetings with the governor and the speaker, revealed that the government was creating new rules for its procedures to go through when the National Police Agency and the Foreign Ministry cooperate and inquire of the U.S. side about incidents or accidents involving U.S. military personnel. Kono said that even though local police chiefs inquire of the U.S. military about incidents or accidents that are believed to involve the U.S. military or its personnel, what and when to answer are up to the U.S. military and this impedes investigations as in the case of the stray bullet incident that took place in Kin Town's Igei district. "I will ask the Foreign Ministry to tell them that if they do not give out information as soon as possible, this delay could affect the Japan-U.S. alliance," Kono said. Kono, after meeting with the governor and the speaker, said: "To get information from the U.S. side, the ambassador at the Foreign Ministry's liaison office in Okinawa and all others will have to try hard. The committee also would like to back up." The Foreign Ministry is expected to work out a course of action shortly, according to Kono. (6) Coffee thrown on consul general OKINAWA TIMES (Page 27) (Full) April 7, 2009 Urasoe police yesterday arrested Kazuo Yamamoto, 43, an unemployed male from Shuri Ishiminecho in Naha City, for throwing coffee on U.S. Consul General to Okinawa Kevin Maher in a restaurant at Toyama, Urasoe City. Maher did not get hurt. Yamamoto has admitted to the charge, the police said. The Urasoe Police Station is interrogating him to find out his motive in detail. According to the Urasoe police's investigation, Yamamoto has been charged with assaulting Maher. Yesterday around 4 p.m., Yamamoto threw coffee on Maher's legs while telling him to "get out of Okinawa." He also pushed Maher with both hands against the chest, the police said. Maher then held Yamamoto down and turned him over to police officers as they hurried into the restaurant. Maher said: "An act of violence is undesirable in any country. I don't know why he did it, but I don't think he (the suspect) represents the people of Okinawa, so this will not affect the friendly relations we have." TOKYO 00000797 008 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 (7) Poll on Constitution YOMIURI (Page 11) (Full) April 3, 2009 Questions & Answers (Figures shown in percentage) Q: What's your interest in the Constitution of Japan? If there's anything you are particularly interested in, pick as many as you like from among those listed below. The Emperor and imperial household 14.9 Japan's war renunciation, Self-Defense Forces 46.7 Equality, discrimination 19.2 Freedom of speech, press, and all other forms of expression 10.5 Information disclosure 10.5 Privacy protection 14.3 The right to live in peace, social welfare 25.4 Environmental disruption 30.4 The rights to assemble, demonstrate, and strike 1.7 Electoral system 15.8 The right of access to the courts 25.8 Official visits to Yasukuni Shrine 12.0 Constitutional revision 14.2 Separation of the three powers of administration, legislation, and judicature 4.6 Local autonomy 15.0 The Diet's bicameral system 12.8 The process and background of establishing the Constitution 4.6 Other answers (O/A) + nothing in particular (NIP) + no answer (N/A) 13.8 Q: Do you think it would be better to amend the Constitution? Yes 51.6 No 36.1 N/A 12.4 Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) Why? Pick as many reasons as you like from among those listed below. Because it's a U.S.-imposed constitution 27.7 To expressly stipulate Japan's right of self-defense and the existence of the Self-Defense Forces 27.0 Because there are too many cases claiming rights while neglecting obligations 24.1 Because the conventional way of reading or applying the Constitution's provisions would lead to confusion if and when there is a need to meet situational changes 34.6 Because Japan is expected to make international contributions, and there are also various challenges Japan cannot meet under its present-day constitution. 49.0 O/A 2.8 N/A 2.2 Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) Why? Pick as many reasons as you like from among those listed below. Because the Constitution has already taken root in the nation 47.6 TOKYO 00000797 009 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 Because the Constitution is of a pacifist nature, Japan can be proud of it in the world 49.3 Because the Constitution guarantees fundamental human rights and democracy 25.6 Because the Constitution can be interpreted or applied in a flexible way with changing times 19.0 Because revising the Constitution may pave the way for Japan to turn into a military power 24.8 O/A 1.1 N/A 2.1 Q: The Constitution's Article 9 stipulates that Japan renounces war and will never maintain any war potential. The government has so far responded to relevant problems with its interpretation and application of the article. What do you think the government should do about Article 9 from now on? Pick only one from among those listed below. The government should continue with its interpretation and operation of Article 9 33.3 The government's conventional way of responding to problems with its constitutional interpretation and operation has now reached its limit, so Article 9 should be amended 38.1 The government should strictly abide by Article 9 and should not respond to problems via interpretation or operation 20.7 O/A 0.5 N/A 7.5 Q: The Constitution's Article 9 has two paragraphs. The first paragraph stipulates Japan's war renunciation. Do you think this paragraph should be amended? Yes 17.7 No 77.5 N/A 4.8 Q: The second paragraph in Article 9 stipulates Japan's maintenance of no war potential. Do you think this paragraph should be amended? Yes 42.0 No 50.9 N/A 7.1 Q: The government has been taking the position that although Japan has the right to collective self-defense, the Constitution does not allow Japan to exercise this right. What do you think about this? Pick only one that is closest to your opinion from among those listed below. The Constitution should be amended so that Japan can exercise the right of collective self-defense 24.3 The Constitution should be reinterpreted so that Japan can exercise the right of collective self-defense 24.5 Japan should continue as it has done and need not be allowed to use the right of collective self-defense 43.8 O/A 0.5 N/A 7.0 Q: The government used to create a special law whenever it needed to send SDF members for a long period of time on overseas missions other than Japan's participation in United Nations peacekeeping TOKYO 00000797 010 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 operations. Do you think Japan should instead have a permanent law that prescribes general rules for Japan to send SDF members overseas as needed? Yes 53.0 No 37.0 N/A 10.0 Q: Do you think SDF personnel participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations overseas should be allowed to use weapons in order to help foreign troops working together if they come under attack? Yes 51.2 No 38.6 N/A 10.2 Q: Then, do you think the Maritime Self-Defense Force should be allowed to fight back if a U.S. naval ship acting together comes under attack on the high seas around Japan? Yes 48.3 No 40.5 N/A 11.2 Q: The Constitution stipulates that the Diet shall consist of two houses, namely the House of Representatives (lower chamber) and the House of Councillors (upper chamber). What do you think about this bicameral parliamentary system? Pick only one that is closest to your opinion. Combine the lower and upper houses into the unicameral-chamber system 28.3 Maintain the bicameral-chamber system and review the lower and upper houses' respective roles and authorities 38.7 Maintain the current system as is 28.0 O/A 1.0 N/A 4.0 Q: The Constitution stipulates that a bill passed by the House of Representatives and rejected in the House of Councillors becomes a law when passed a second time by the House of Representatives by a majority of two-thirds or more of the members present. Pick only one that is closest to your opinion. It's only natural to take a second vote 11.2 It's unavoidable to take a second vote 34.1 It would be better to avoid taking a second vote as far as possible 31.3 The lower chamber should avoid taking a second vote 17.2 N/A 6.2 Q: The Diet is currently divided with the ruling parties holding a majority of the seats in its lower chamber and the opposition parties dominating its upper chamber. In this regard, there are two opinions: (A) Bills will fail to pass the Diet or their enactment will be delayed if the ruling and opposition parties are at odds over these bills; (B) The ruling and opposition parties will hold policy talks and the Diet will be activated. Which opinion is closer to yours? TOKYO 00000797 011 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 Closer to (A) 43.8 Closer to (B) 43.0 N/A 13.2 Q: The "regional system" is now being discussed as a step to reform the nation's local government system which currently consists of 47 prefectures. The concept of this regional system is to transfer as many of the government's current roles as possible to each regional government, with the exception of such functions as diplomacy and defense. Do you support the idea of introducing the regional system? Yes 21.1 Yes to a certain degree 18.9 No to a certain degree 21.9 No 25.2 N/A 12.8 Q: Do you think the political parties should have even more animated discussions on the Constitution? Yes 77.4 No 17.4 N/A 5.2 Q: Do you think the current state of politics is appropriate to discuss the Constitution? Yes 15.2 No 78.2 N/A 6.6 Q: If there's anything you think it would be better to revise in the Constitution or add to the Constitution, pick as many as you like from among those listed below. The Emperor's status 13.2 Japan's maintenance of armed forces for self-defense 30.3 Proactive international cooperation 23.3 Right to access government information 19.5 Privacy protection 17.5 Respect for family 11.5 The right to live in a good environment 30.9 The prime minister's strengthened powers to deal with emergencies, etc. 10.7 The lower and upper houses' respective roles 21.5 Central and local government roles 30.3 Establishment of a constitutional court 6.0 O/A 0.3 NIP 19.6 N/A 3.4 Polling methodology Date of survey: March 14-15. 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: 1,755 persons (58.5 PERCENT ) Breakdown of respondents: Male-48 PERCENT , female-52 PERCENT ; TOKYO 00000797 012 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 persons in their 20s-8 PERCENT , 30s-14 PERCENT , 40s-17 PERCENT , 50s-21 PERCENT , 60s-25 PERCENT , 70 and over-16 PERCENT ; big cities (Tokyo's 23 wards and government-designated cities)-22 PERCENT , major cities (with a population of more than 300,000)-17 PERCENT , medium-size cities (with a population of more than 100,000)-26 PERCENT , small cities (with a population of less than 100,000)-24 PERCENT , towns and villages-11 PERCENT . (8) TOP HEADLINES Asahi & Tokyo Shimbun: Prime Minister Aso orders more than 10 trillion yen in fiscal spending in FY2009 extra budget Mainichi: 60-year-old man to be arrested for the murder of 15-year-old girl in Kyoto Prefecture Yomiuri: U.S. turns tough on North Korea Nikkei: Central banks prepare to supply euro, yen in liquidity crunch Sankei: China, Russia taking icy attitude toward adoption of UNSC resolution Akahata: Japan Post Bank card business consigned to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Co.-affiliated company (9) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Obama speech: The international community urged to fall into line to eliminate nuclear weapons (2) Afghan aid: Many difficulties lie ahead Mainichi: (1) U.S. use of nuclear weapons: We are glad that President Obama clarifies U.S. has "moral responsibility" (2) Daido River dam: Cooperation among governors changed the trend Yomiuri: (1) North Korea puts ball in Obama's court (2) U.S., Europe barely has kept solidarity Nikkei: (1) Obama notion of creating world without nuclear weapons (2) Strategy of intellectual property should be strengthened Sankei: (1) North Korea's missiles: We urge a strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance as a deterrent (2) U.S. nuclear arms reduction policy: U.S. should start forming sanction framework Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Obama's "nuclear" speech: Superpowers must first reduce nuclear weapons (2) Reform of Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry: Reform the TOKYO 00000797 013 OF 013 SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04//09 ministry to effective organization Akahata: (1) 60th anniversary of NATO: No role for military alliance (09040704kn) Back to Top (10) Prime Minister's schedule, April 6 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 7, 2009 07:31 Took a walk around the official residence. 09:58 Gave a letter of appointment to Board of Audit President Nishimura. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Matsumoto, Konoike and Uruma were present. Uruma remained. 11:01 Met with Venezuelan President Chavez. 12:50 Met with Finance Minister Yosano, Vice Finance Minister Sugimoto and Budget Bureau Director General Tango. 14:05 Met with Seychelles President Michel. 15:03 Met with the chief of the European Parliament legislative mission for exchange with Japan. Taro Nakayama, the chief of the Japanese Diet members delegation, was present. 15:37 Met with LDP Tax System Research Commission Chairman Tsushima and Vice Chairman Koyanagi. Kawamura was present. 16:02 Met with U.S. Academy Award Oscar winners film directors Yojiro Takita and Hisajin Kato. METI Minister Nikai was present. 16:10 Intellectual Properties Strategy Headquarters. 17:08 Party executive meeting in the Diet. 18:12 2009 TOKYO Political and Economic Forum hosted by LDP Tokyo Chapter at Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka. 18:34 Arrived at the official residence. ZUMWALT