JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/28/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 000970

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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/28/09

Index:

1) Aso Cabinet support rate at 28 PERCENT , a 7.4 point jump, in
Fuji-Sankei poll (Sankei)

Defense and security:
2) Basic Space Plan to include research on early-warning satellites
(Mainichi)
3) Defense Ministry argues that introducing an early warning system
would be enormously expensive (Mainichi)

Nuclear diplomacy:
4) Foreign Minister Nakasone in policy speech addresses the nuclear
security issue (Asahi)
5) Nakasone in speech calls for technological cooperation to
dismantle nuclear weapons (Yomiuri)

6) Prime Minister Aso during meeting with Chinese leaders will
announce 5 billion yen package of environmental cooperation aid to
China (Sankei)

Political agenda:
7) Prime Minister Aso hints at extending the Diet session, may
postpone general election until well after the July Tokyo assemble
election (Nikkei)
8) Opposition parties decide on all-out confrontation with the
ruling parties in the Diet over the supplementary budget bill,
hoping to force dissolution and election (Mainichi)

9) Questionnaire of 215 major companies finds 65 PERCENT see
economy as worsening, but some see a few signs of hope, as well
(Tokyo Shimbun)

Swine flu epidemic:
10) Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito form task force on
countermeasures against swine flu (Mainichi)
11) Local governments uncertain what to do about swine flu since
central government has yet to issue clear instructions (Mainichi)
12) To prevent harmful rumors, MAFF conducts survey to find out
voluntary restraint on selling pork (Mainichi) 9

Articles:

1) Poll: Cabinet support rate rises to 28 PERCENT

SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged)
April 28, 2009

The Sankei Shimbun conducted a joint opinion poll with Fuji News
Network (FNN) on April 25-26. In the poll, the rate of public
support for Prime Minister Taro Aso rose 7.4 points from the last
survey taken March 28-29 to 28.2 PERCENT and rebounded to the level
in last December's survey (27.5 PERCENT ). In the public's
preference of political parties for proportional representation in
the next House of Representatives election, the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party scored 34.6 PERCENT , with the leading opposition
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) at 34.0 PERCENT . The LDP
outstripped the DPJ for the first time since the Aso cabinet came
into office, showing a clear trend of regaining party strength.

In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP
stood at 29.2 PERCENT , up 1.7 points, and the DPJ at 21.5 PERCENT ,

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down 0.7 points. The gap between the two parties expanded to 7.7
points. The LDP topped the DPJ in the three consecutive polls since
DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa's state-funded secretary was arrested
March 3 for illicit political donations from a construction
company.

2) Early warning satellite research incorporated in space plan

MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged)
April 28, 2009

Taku Nishikawa

A special study group of the government's space development strategy
taskforce yesterday worked out a draft of its space master plan as
Japan's first national strategy in the area of space development and
exploitation. In the security area, the draft master plan recommends
setting about research in the direction of developing early warning
satellites that can detect ballistic missile launches. In addition,
the draft plan sets forth a positive stance of utilizing outer space
for such activities as industrial development and national life.

The space master plan is a five-year program looking ahead into
about 10 years down the road and will be formulated under the Space
Law that came into effect last August. The government will ask for
public comments and will decide on it in late May.

The draft plan advocates developing artificial satellites in nine
areas, including earth environment monitoring, advanced information
and telecommunications networking, and space science. Japan will
launch 34 satellites, double the current number, in fiscal years
from 2009 through 2013. The taskforce is currently in the process of
consulting with the Finance Ministry for necessary funding and
staffing, according to the draft plan.

3) Defense Ministry cautious about huge spending

MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged)
April 28, 2009

Yasushi Sengoku

The government yesterday worked out a draft of its space master
plan, incorporating its policy of pushing for research on early
warning satellites. Japan has been depending on intelligence from
U.S. early warning satellites for the detection of North Korea's
ballistic missile launches, so lawmakers in the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party are strongly insisting that Japan should have its
own early warning satellites. Meanwhile, there are also cautious
views from within the Defense Ministry since huge spending will be
necessary. This will likely become a major point at issue for
Japan's national defense program guidelines and midterm defense
buildup plan to be revised late this year.

4) Nakasone unveils Japan's plan to host nuclear disarmament
conference next year

ASAHI (Page 1) (Full)
April 28, 2009

Atsuko Tannai


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Delivering a speech in Tokyo yesterday, Foreign Minister Hirofumi
Nakasone unveiled the Japanese government's views about
comprehensive nuclear disarmament. He expressed his strong support
for U.S. President Barack Obama's policy of seeking a nuclear-free
world and unveiled Japan's 11-point initiative to achieve that goal.
He then announced Japan's plan to host an international conference
on nuclear disarmament early next year.

At the outset of the speech titled, "Conditions towards Zero,"
Nakasone touched on Obama's speech in Prague on April 5 and
condemned North Korea for its missile launch that day. He called
North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear development a "serious
threat" to the international community. Regarding the envisioned
international conference, Nakasone said: "The conference is aimed at
boosting momentum for the international community to take concerted
action to promote global nuclear disarmament" in preparation for
success in the next review conference on the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) next year. But he stopped short of
presenting any specific ideas. In analyzing the situation over
nuclear weapons, Nakasone expressed strong apprehension about
China's moves, saying: "Its strategic policy direction remains
murky, and it has yet to start reducing nuclear weapons. The nation
has not disclosed information at all."

5) Nakasone reveals plan to offer technical cooperation for
dismantling nuclear weapons

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
April 28, 2009

Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone revealed in a speech at a Tokyo
Hotel yesterday Japan's plan to offer technical cooperation in
verifying the disbandment of nuclear weapons as part of efforts to
promote nuclear disarmament. He also announced that Japan would host
an international conference possibly this fall on nuclear security
to prevent nuclear materials from being stolen and illegally
transferred. Further, the foreign minister expressed his strong
support for U.S. President Barack Obama's policy revealed in his
speech in Prague of pursuing universal nuclear disarmament. The
foreign minister called on China to promote nuclear disarmament and
to disclose the number of nuclear weapons it possesses.

Nakasone announced Japan's plan to hold an international conference
on nuclear disarmament early next year in preparation for a review
conference on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in May next
year. Toward the U.S., He said: "I expect the nation to swiftly
ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the time
of the NPT review conference."

6) Aso to pledge 5 billion yen in cooperation for China's
environmental protection efforts

SANKEI (Page 1) (Full)
April 28, 2009

Prime Minister Taro Aso and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao are expected
to agree on a Japan-China comprehension plan on environmental
protection and energy conservation during a meeting to be held when
Aso visits China starting on April 29, according to informed sources
yesterday. The Japanese government has earmarked approximately 5
billion yen in the fiscal 2009 budget to fund projects to help China
rebuild facilities at coal thermal power plants and train engineers.

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Japan also intends to technically assist China's efforts to protect
the environment, focusing on such problems as loess and acid rain.

While in Beijing on April 29-30, Aso will meet Wen on the afternoon
of the 29th and President Hu Jintao on the afternoon of the 30th to
exchange views on bilateral cooperation on such issues as developing
gas fields in the East China Sea, food safety, including the
food-poisoning cases in Japan by Chinese frozen dumplings, as well
as the global economy and monetary market.

In particular, environment and energy-conservation issues will take
center stage in the meetings. In the comprehensive cooperation plan,
the two governments intends to give priority to cooperation in such
areas as water purification, antipollution, and waste disposal, in
addition to improvement in coal thermal power plants.

In the water area, the cooperation plan will include measures to
promote cooperation in drainage projects in farm villages in China
and to implement a lake-water purification project with the Chinese
government. In the antipollution area, the plan will propose setting
up a forum for bureau director-level officials of the two countries
to discuss both countries' antipollution policies.

China's consumption of oil doubled over the past decade. Eventually,
China has emitted the world's second largest volume of carbon
dioxide. The nation is now urged to serious address such tasks as
improving its energy efficiency and protecting the environment.
Furthermore, the problems of loess and acid rain are becoming more
and more serious, as seen from the fact that about 18 PERCENT of
China's land has become deserted. Loess has been blown by winds to
Japan.

Given such circumstances, Aso hopes to make use of the upcoming
China visit as an opportunity for Japan and China to develop
bilateral technical cooperation in the environment and energy-saving
areas, Japan's strong fields. He expects such cooperation to become
a symbol of a strategic mutually-beneficial relationship.

7) Lower House election after Tokyo assembly poll; Deliberations on
extra budget start today; Aso hints at possibility of Diet session
extension

NIKKEI (Page2) (Excerpts)
April 28, 2009

The Diet commences today deliberations on the fiscal 2009 extra
budget, designed to cover an additional economic stimulus package,
holding questioning sessions by party representatives in plenary
sessions of the two Diet chambers. Prime Minister Taro Aso, who had
taken a stance of not hesitating to dissolve the House of
Representatives and calling a general election, yesterday hinted at
the possibility of substantially extending the current Diet session
beyond June 3, with an eye on a second overriding vote in the Lower
House. There is a growing view in the ruling parties that the
general election would be held after the July 12 Tokyo Metropolitan
assembly election, since it would be difficult to dissolve the Lower
House in May.

Aso told reporters yesterday: "I don't think that if the House of
Councillors refuses to pass the related bills, it would prevent the
budget from being implemented. Even if such occurs, it is important
to enact them." He indicated in his remark that he would give

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priority to the passage of the extra budget and related bills. Aso
is alert to the possibility of the main opposition Democratic Party
of Japan (DPJ) dragging out deliberations.

Aso's basic strategy is to dissolve the Lower House after
accumulating achievements once the extra budget and related bills
clear the Diet. There is a risk that he will come under criticism if
he dissolves the Lower House before the passage of the supplementary
budget. A lengthy extension of the ongoing session that ends June 3
would enable the Lower House to readopt the extra budget and related
bills in the middle of July, taking advantage of the constitutional
60-day rule, if they pass the Lower House in mid-May.

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori yesterday told Chief Cabinet
Secretary Takeo Kawamura, who was visiting Mori's office: "Although
the cabinet support rate has risen, (Aso) should not ride on his
luck." In an April poll conducted by the Nikkei and TV Tokyo, the
approval rate for the Aso cabinet increased to 32 PERCENT , while
the disapproval rate marked 59 PERCENT . Under such a situation, it
is still difficult to take a risk.

There is a rumor in the ruling coalition that the Lower House
election would be called before the mid-August O-bon holiday break.
If that is the case, there are two scenarios: 1) the Lower House to
be dissolved on July 14, the official campaign to kick off on July
21, and the snap election to be held on August 2; and 2) Lower House
dissolution on July 2, the start of the official campaign on July
28, and the election on August 9.

The Emperor and the Empress will visit the United States and Canada
on July 3-17. It is possible to dissolve the Lower House and kick
off the official campaign during their absence, but such is
unprecedented. The Nagasaki peace memorial ceremony will take place
on August 9. If the two scenarios are missed, the general election
will be held after the terms of the Lower House members expire.

There is a possibility that the opposition camp will coordinate the
timing of the passage of the extra budget, with the aim of holding
the Lower House election and the Tokyo Metropolitan assembly poll
the same day, which the ruling bloc wishes to avoid. If such
happens, there will a scenario of the Lower House being dissolved on
July 19, the official campaign kicking off on July 30, and the
voting taking place on July 12.

The New Komeito has often asked Aso not to set the Lower House
election within one month before and after the Tokyo election.
During that time, the New Komeito cannot support the Liberal
Democratic Party's (LDP) election campaign. New Komeito leader
Akihiro Ota met yesterday, too, with Aso in the Diet building.

8) LDP, New Komeito to set up task force team on swine flu; DPJ to
hold session to hear from ministries

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
April 28, 2009

Yuko Tadokoro, Yu Koyama

Following the international expansion of swine influenza, the ruling
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner New Komeito
will discuss today budgetary steps in their project team to deal
with the new type flu. The project team, headed by former Health,

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Labor and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki, will discuss budgetary
steps for funding measures to cope with swine flu. Prior to this,
the New Komeito held yesterday a first meeting of its swine flu task
force headed by Chikara Sakaguchi, former health, labor and welfare
minister. Sakaguchi said in the meeting: "Depending on developments,
the swine flu issue might have an impact on the political situation.
We must put all our efforts to prevent the swine flu from entering
our country."

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday set up a swine flu
task force office, headed by Policy Research Committee Chairman
Masayuki Naoshima. The DPJ team held a first meeting yesterday in
the Diet building. About 30 DPJ lawmakers received hearing from five
ministries, including the Heath, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the
Agriculture, the Foreign Ministry, and the Forestry and Fisheries
Ministry.

Naoshima pointed out: "The swine flu is spreading more rapidly than
we expected." In the meeting, many participants raised such
questions as how pork is imported and import ban standards.

Upper House Steering Committee Chairman Takeo Nishioka revealed
yesterday to the press corps that if the alert level was raised to
level 4, whether Diet members should go abroad would be looked
into.

9) Poll on 215 companies: Over 65 PERCENT think economy has
deteriorated, less pessimistic than previous survey

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpts)
April 28, 2009

The Tokyo Shimbun conducted a survey on 215 major companies in the
nation about the economy from mid-April through late April. About
two-thirds of the companies said that the Japanese economy has
deteriorated, indicating that many firms still have severe
perceptions about the economy against the backdrop of sluggish
exports and personal consumption.

At the same time, over 30 percent of the companies said the economy
has either bottomed out or leveled off, showing some improvement in
business sentiment that was extremely pessimistic in the previous
survey conducted late last year. Views were clearly split.

A total of over 65 PERCENT of the companies said that the Japanese
economy has slipped deeper into recession, with 44.9 PERCENT , the
largest group, indicating that it has rapidly deteriorated and 20.6
PERCENT saying it has deteriorated moderately. Many companies
pointed out Western economies, sluggish personal spending, and
unstable exchange rates as matters of concern.

Meanwhile, 23.8 PERCENT said that the economy has leveled off, 7.9
PERCENT indicated it has bottomed out, and 2.3 PERCENT said it is
bottoming out.

Making a simple comparison is not possible because questions were
altered in the latest survey. Even so, the business community was
less pessimistic than in the last survey in which 99 PERCENT were
seeing the economy as sinking into recession.

10) Opposition to stand against government, ruling camp


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MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts)
April 28, 2009

The Upper and Lower Houses will today hold interpellations by
representatives from each political party in their plenary sessions
regarding the supplementary budget for fiscal 2009. The Diet will
now start deliberations on the extra budget. Prime Minister Taro Aso
stressed: "I hope that the supplementary budget will be enacted as
quickly as possible." However, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Diet
Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka criticized the
government-sponsored extra budget, saying: "That is pork-barreling
in the runup to the election." The largest opposition party intends
to carry out a do-or-die resistance. Political maneuvering over
deliberations on the extra budget has intensified between the ruling
and opposition camps.

In the DPJ, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, Yamaoka, Deputy
President Naoto Kan and Azuma Koshiishi, chairman of the DPJ caucus
in the House of Councillors, yesterday discussed their response to
the Diet. The DPJ leaders agreed to have the government to explain
the budget on April 28 and to ask questions after the Golden Week
holidays.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner
New Komeito had initially stressed that under the present economic
recession, the supplementary budget should be enacted as early as
possible, calling for continuing deliberations on May 1 in an aim to
have the extra budget clear the House of Representatives on May 8.
With this scenario, LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori
Oshima, who is close to Aso, was aiming to constrain the opposition
by leaving the possibility of "dissolution in May."

Due to the arrest of DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa's secretary over
illegal donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co., the support rate
for the Aso cabinet has risen and Aso is now wearing an expression
of relief. In an LDP board meeting yesterday, Aso underscored: "I
want to pass such important bills as the anti-piracy bill and a bill
amending the National Pension Law," while expressing his eagerness
for an early passage of the extra budget. While the DPJ is suffering
a setback, there is a mood in the LDP for allowing Aso to put off
the Lower House election.

11) Swine flu: Without clear instructions from central government, a
municipality struggling to deal with returnee feeling sick

MAINICHI (Page 25) (Abridged slightly)
April 28, 2009

A certain municipality in western Japan is struggling to deal with a
person feeling sick after returning from Mexico where swine flu has
broken out. The person is not showing any symptoms of influenza.
Although the local government has asked the central government, it
has received no clear instructions. Anxieties are likely to linger
on the administration's response.

According to the municipality, the person in question has shown such
symptoms as coughing, a sore throat, and a fever after returning
from Mexico several days ago. It is unclear whether there is any
connection with swine flu.

The local government was asked over the phone for advice by the
person in question who is showing symptoms that are lighter than the

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symptoms typical of regular influenza. But because typical symptoms
of swine influenza were unclear, the municipality was unable to make
a decision. The municipal government asked the central government
for instructions, but there was no clear reply. As a result, the
local government has simply advised the person in question to
refrain from going out.

A source of the local government said: "We are monitoring the
symptoms which are weak. I believe there are other municipalities
that are finding it difficult to deal with similar cases."

12) To prevent harmful rumors, MAFF conducts survey to find out
voluntary restraint on selling pork

MAINICHI (Page 25) (Full)
April 28, 2009

Tomomi Okuyama

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has begun
a survey to find out if there are any supermarkets that are
voluntarily restricting selling pork, with a sign saying, "We have
stopped selling pork for safety reasons" in connection with swine
flu. It is believed that there are only a few cases where pork from
such countries as Mexico and the United States are being sold at
supermarkets and other places. "One will not be infected with
influenza from eating pork," MAFF stressed. Such a sign might spark
harmful rumors. In the event such a sign is found, the ministry
intends to instruct the store to remove it.

The ministry also decided yesterday to ask the restaurant industry
not to show any indications that could cause misunderstanding that
one could be infected with swine flu from eating, such as removing
dishes using Mexican pork from their menus.

Matsuya Foods Co., the operator of a beef-bowl restaurant chain, has
stopped serving dishes using Mexican pork. If such a situation
continues, MAFF will consider making a request to the company
individually.

ZUMWALT