DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/08/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 000807

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;
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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;
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA

SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/08/09

INDEX:

(1) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Yomiuri)

(2) DPJ President Ozawa marks third year in office; Will he conduct
politics along with his aides alone? (Yomiuri)

(3) Taepodong -- fragile intimidation (Part 3): Japan, U.S., South
Korea united over putting pressure on North Korea; Trilateral
cooperation to be tested (Nikkei)

(4) Naha police question U.S. Marine over hit-and-run by Y-plated
vehicle; Ask about other passengers (Okinawa Times)

ARTICLES:

(1) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
March 9, 2009

Questions & Answers
(Figures shown in percentage)

Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet?

Yes 24.3
No 66.5
Other answers (O/A) 0.3
No answer (N/A) 8.4

Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question)
Pick only one from among the following reasons for your approval of
the Aso cabinet.

Something can be expected of its policy measures 18.7
The prime minister has leadership 6.4
There's something stable about the prime minister 6.7
His cabinet's lineup is good 12.0
Because it's a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New
Komeito 42.0
O/A 3.3
N/A 11.0

Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) Pick
only one from among the following reasons for your disapproval of
the Aso cabinet.

Nothing can be expected of its policy measures 27.5
The prime minister lacks leadership 29.3
There's nothing stable about the prime minister 23.1
His cabinet's lineup is not good 4.0
Because it's a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New
Komeito 13.5
O/A 0.6
N/A 1.9

Q: Which political party do you support now?

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 27.2
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 24.2
New Komeito (NK) 3.3

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Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2.4
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1.5
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0.3
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) ---
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) ---
Other political parties ---
None 39.4
N/A 1.7

Q: When comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa, who do
you think is more appropriate for prime minister?

Prime Minister Aso 33.7
DPJ President Ozawa 27.2
N/A 39.1

Q: The government plans to hand out 2-trillion yen cash benefits to
individual households as an economic stimulus measure. Do you
appreciate this cash payout plan?

Appreciate very much 10.9
Appreciate somewhat 25.3
Don't appreciate very much 28.4
Don't appreciate at all 31.5
N/A 3.9

Q: The government's budget for fiscal 2009 recently cleared the
Diet. Do you think the government should hurry to work out
additional pump-priming measures for economic recovery?

Yes 73.6
No 17.7
N/A 8.7

Q: The Maritime Self-Defense Force, now sent out to waters off the
eastern African coast of Somalia for an antipiracy mission, is
currently not allowed to protect foreign ships that are irrelevant
to Japan. Do you support the idea of creating a new law so the MSDF
can protect such foreign ships as well?

Yes 50.4
Yes to a certain degree 10.6
No to a certain degree 7.4
No 19.3
N/A 12.2

Q: North Korea launched a ballistic missile. Do you think the
Japanese government should toughen its sanctions against North
Korea, or do you otherwise think there is no need to do so?

Toughen sanctions 77.7
No need to do so 15.8
N/A 6.5

Q: Do you feel uneasy about North Korea's ongoing missile
development?

Feel very uneasy 66.5
Feel somewhat uneasy 21.2
Don't feel very uneasy 7.1
Don't feel uneasy at all 4.2
N/A 0.9

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Q: DPJ President Ozawa's secretary has been indicted for allegedly
receiving illicit donations. Meanwhile, DPJ President Ozawa has
clarified his intention to stay on as party head. Is this
convincing?

Yes 25.3
No 66.4
N/A 8.3


Q: Do you think DPJ President Ozawa has fulfilled his accountability
on the case this time?

Yes 10.8
No 84.0
N/A 5.2

Q: Do you think the House of Representatives should be dissolved for
a general election right away, or do you otherwise think there's no
need to hurry?

Right away 44.9
No need to hurry 46.6
N/A 8.6

Q: If an election were to be held now for the House of
Representatives, which political party would you like to vote for in
your proportional representation bloc?

LDP 27.5
DPJ 30.8
NK 3.3
JCP 4.1
SDP 1.7
PNP 0.9
RC ---
NPN ---
Other political parties 0.0
Undecided 24.3
N/A 7.4

Q: What form of government would you like to see after the next
election for the House of Representatives?

LDP-led coalition government 12.5
DPJ-led coalition government 15.6
LDP-DPJ grand coalition government 27.1
Government under new framework after political realignment 38.3
O/A ---
N/A 6.5


Polling methodology: The survey was conducted April 3-5 across the
nation on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis.
Households with one or more eligible voters totaled 1,770. Valid
answers were obtained from 1,042 persons (58.9 PERCENT ).

(Note) In some cases, the total percentage does not become 100
PERCENT due to rounding.

(2) DPJ President Ozawa marks third year in office; Will he conduct

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politics along with his aides alone?

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
April 7, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa today marks
his third year in office. DPJ members have different views on such
basic policy issues as national security and the Constitution, but
Ozawa has led the party under while giving priority to elections.
However, his state-funded secretary has now been indicted for
violating the Political Funds Control Law over donations to his fund
management organization. DPJ members are now at odds over whether
Ozawa should stay on to lead the party into the next House of
Representatives election.

At DPJ headquarters on April 3, Ozawa ordered Masayuki Naoshima,
chairman of the Policy Research Committee, to put together a
large-scale economic stimulus package, without worrying about fiscal
resources. Ozawa told him: "If we take over the reins of government,
there will be no need to worry about money. So, I want you to come
up with a large-scale package."

Ozawa, who announced on March 24 his intention to remain in his
party post, has gradually returned to his party business.

He has often met with veteran lawmakers who have worked together
with him for a long time, including DPJ Vice President Hajime Ishii.
He has also met with members of the study group "Isshin-kai," which
is made up of junior lawmakers supporting him. An Isshin-kai member
compiled a document based on press reports. The document says
investigations into the DPJ are called a politically motivated
investigation. Ozawa reportedly was happy with the document. When
Ozawa became DPJ president in April 2006, he declared that he would
change himself first. A DPJ lawmaker who has distanced himself from
Ozawa criticized him, noting: "He has now returned to the
conventional style of carrying out politics with his aides alone.
Such politics is out of touch with the public."

Ozawa's stance of giving first consideration to elections has been
consistent. After a DPJ candidate won the Lower House by-election
for the Chiba No. 7 district in April 2006, Ozawa has strengthened
his grip on the party. In the 2007 House of Councillors election,
the opposition camp outnumbered the ruling camp.

Ozawa has consolidated views within the party by taking the stand of
opposing almost all the government policies, although there is a big
difference in security policy between the conservative lawmakers and
the members hailing from the former Japan Socialist Party. A person
close to Ozawa said:

"We do not want to be seen as an opposition party existing to oppose
anything. That is a negative image. Rather than that, it would be
better for us to see the government reach cul-de-sac."

The DPJ has yet to iron out the differences within it on U.S. base
issues in Okinawa and Afghan policy. The observation is growing that
should the largest opposition party take the reins of government,
those points would be a serious impediment to the party.

DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama stated in a press conference on
April 3: "The party has become united since Mr. Ozawa took became
our party's president. He has had the party gain strength to bring

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about a change of government." Hatoyama also said: "Some people are
still concerned that when our party comes into office, our arguments
over security and other policy issues might become inconsistent."

In a gathering held on April 5 in Kyoto City with DPJ Vice President
Katsuya Okada, one of the audience there said: "It is difficult to
win the general election under the leadership of Mr. Ozawa. I want
Deputy President Kan to serve as next president. Okada said: "If
there is a view calling for (Ozawa's) resignation, the DPJ will not
be trusted." However, he did not get applause from the audience.

Many DPJ lawmakers and supporters have taken the view that the
fund-raising scandal involving Ozawa's political management body,
which was caused by the LDP's old nature, is foreign to the DPJ."
The reason for calls for Ozawa's exit not surfacing in the DPJ is
because many in the party have hopes for Ozawa's voluntary
resignation.

Ozawa has indicated his intention to quit his party post once he is
determined that his remaining in his post will have a negative
impact on the Lower House election. Hatoyama, who has supported
Ozawa, recently told his aides: "I am ready to resign from my party
post with Ozawa if I have to." Many in the DPJ surmise that Ozawa is
exploring when to announce his exit, in order to take advantage of
his "resignation card."

(3) Taepodong -- fragile intimidation (Part 3): Japan, U.S., South
Korea united over putting pressure on North Korea; Trilateral
cooperation to be tested

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
April 8, 2009

Hiroshi Maruya, Washington

North Korea launched a missile on April 5. U.S. President Obama, who
was visiting the Republic of Czech at the time, categorically said
in a conference in Plague, "The U.S. will send a strong message in
cooperation with the international community." Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser Jones were talking a
corner of the room. The U.S. leadership clarified a policy of
seeking a new UN resolution at the UN Security Council (UNSC).

President refers to North Korea five times

Obama referred to North Korea five times on the day when he received
a report at 4:30 a.m., Czech time, noting that North Korea fired a
missile. North Korea tested the U.S. on the very day when he
delivered a nuclear disarmament speech. Obama said, "Violations must
be punished." His aim of making such a statement was to show a
resolute stance to the world.

Japan, the U.S. and South Korea are lined up after many twists and
turns with UNSC debate close at hand.

Special Representative for North Korea policy Bosworth in early
March said while visiting in Tokyo, "The six-party talks on North
Korea's nuclear program should not become protracted." He was thus
reluctant to make a hard-line response to North Korea's missile
launch.

Prime Minister Aso during the bilateral summit in late February

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asked Obama, "Please leave this matter to Japan." South Korea was
the last stop on Bosworth's tour of Asia just in case he has to
visit North Korea. As a matter of fact, Clinton later revealed that
there was a plan for him to visit Pyongyang, adding, "Unfortunately,
there was no invitation."

In late March, when the launch of a Taepoding-2 was drawing near,
Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Akitaka Saiki of
the Foreign Ministry along with South Korea's top envoy to the
six-party talks went straight to Bosworth in Washington. Seeing that
the U.S. is eyeing holding talks with North Korea," they wanted to
reconfirm the adoption of a pressure policy line. As a result of
working-level coordination, Obama during the financial summit told
Chinese President Hu Jintao, "I will bring this matter before the
UNSC."

Key person not yet in sight

There is little room for optimism in dealing with the North. The key
person for the Obama administration's North Korea policy is not yet
clear. Some take the view that even if the U.S. takes a stern stance
against the firing of a missile, it would eventually shift to a
dialogue policy line.

Reporters asked about questions about China and Russia, which are
members of the six-party talks and are veto-holding UNSC members,
during a press conference held by a senior U.S. government official
in Istanbul on the 7th. Deputy Assistant to the President McDonough
emphasized cooperation by the international community, saying, "It
is too early to reach a conclusion." He also said, "The unity of the
UNSC and the six-party talks will be the key."

Obama needs cooperation from China to rebuild his country's economy,
one of the most important challenges on the domestic front, and
cooperation from Russia for nuclear disarmament, which is one of his
foreign policy's features. The UNSC will continue debate on the
7th.

(4) Naha police question U.S. Marine over hit-and-run by Y-plated
vehicle; Ask about other passengers

OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full)
April 8, 2009

Naha police questioned yesterday on a voluntary basis a male U.S.
Marine as a major witness for a hit-and-run by a Y-plated vehicle
that occurred in Naha (on April 4).

The questioning on a voluntary basis began around 4 p.m. at the
Ishikawa Police Station. It lasted nearly two hours. The man in
question showed up at the police station in a white sedan,
accompanied by three persons connected with the U.S. military.

According to the Naha Police Station and other sources, the Marine
was asked, among other things, who had been in the car when the
accident occurred. The police station has not made public where the
Marine belongs to, his rank, or his age, saying the questioning was
conducted strictly on a voluntary basis. Police intend to continue
questioning him on a voluntary basis on April 8 and beyond, as
necessary. The man is believed to be under surveillance of a U.S.
military investigative organization.


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According to investigators, a black Japanese car hit three
individuals at a crosswalk of the Matsuyama intersection in Naha and
fled the scene toward Chatan around 6 a.m. April 4. The three
suffered serious injuries, with one sustaining a broken bone. The
vehicle was found parked at a restaurant district near Camp Hansen
in Kin Town about one hour after the incident. The police station
had asked via the U.S. military investigative organization for the
Marine's voluntary appearance as a major witness for questioning.
The police station received a reply on the afternoon of April 6,
according to a source.

ZUMWALT