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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000805 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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 02/15/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4)   Seeking North Korea breakthrough before leaving office, 
  Prime Minister Koizumi sends message to North Korea's Kim Jong Il 
  stressing need for dialogue 
 
Defense issues: 
5)   US intercept missiles to be used to defend Tokyo area from 
  attack under missile-defense scheme 
6)   Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe says government will go all out 
to obtain local understanding for Futenma relocation to Camp 
Schwab coastline 
7)   LDP's Kyuma says the bill to make JDA into ministry will not 
go to the Diet until next year's regular session 
 
Beef stew: 
8)   Opposition camp to continue relentless pursuit in Diet of 
  government responsibility for US beef import resumption 
9)   LDP, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) missions to US 
have different versions of same plants inspected for beef 
slaughtering safety 
10)  Agriculture Minister Nakagawa, USDA Secretary Johanns 
discuss BSE issue by phone 
11)  Japan might make condition for restarting US beef imports 
its own pre-checks at shipping time 
12)  Consumer groups, food industry slam OIE's easing of beef 
trade standards based on scientific evidence 
13)  Since 2001, 82 companies went bankrupt due to Japan's BSE 
problem 
 
Political merry-go-round: 
14)  Slight difference in historical stances of Foreign Minister 
  Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe 
15)  Minshuto head Maehara meets SDP head Fukushima but no 
meeting of minds on Constitution, Self-Defense Forces 
16)  Koizumi continues rebuttal of barrage of Diet criticism over 
growing income disparity in Japanese society 
17)  Former National Land Agency director general Ito may have 
acted as intermediary for architectural scandal-tainted Huser 
company 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Kobe Airport to open tomorrow, New Kitakyushu Airport in March, 
Shizuoka Airport in 2009; Many regional airports unprofitable 
 
Mainichi: 
Former National Land Agency chief Ito asked Industrial 
Revitalization Co. last June to meet Huser President Ojima 
regarding IRC's hotel auction 
 
Yomiuri: 
Livedoor instructed affiliates to fabricate financial data to 
conceal its window dressing for business year to September 2004 
 
 
TOKYO 00000805  002 OF 012 
 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Banks, non-banks offering variety of housing loans focused on 
people in their twenties and women 
 
Sankei: 
Tokyo Metropolitan Police investigating murder of Japanese man 
last July in the Philippines, suspecting that the man was killed 
for insurance money 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
5.5 trillion yen in government subsidies spent annually for 4,000 
special public corporations and public-interest corporations, 
Lower House learns 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Don't rush pluthermal program 
(2)  Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party join 
hands in search of past dream 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  The Koizumi government may not last until September 
(2)  We would like to see the results of Iwakuni referendum 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Global policy needed on recycling nuclear fuel 
(2)  Opening of Kobe Airport: How will three airports in Kansai 
area overcome runway glut? 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Strengthen management oversight via outside board members 
(2)  Dispute over Muhammad cartoons should be settled thorough 
dialogue 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Further vigilance required for avian flu 
(2)  Japan should display its prowess through another launch of 
MTSAT2 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  LDP Secretary General Takebe should tell us the truth 
(2)  Local residents have high hopes for Kobe Airport, but . . . 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, February 14 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
09:01 
Cabinet meeting in the Diet building. Finance Minister Tanigaki 
stayed afterward. Then met with Agriculture Minister Nakagawa. 
 
09:55 
Met with members of the LDP's US Beef Import Issue Investigation 
Team, including Lower House member Toshikatsu Matsuoka, at the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence. 
 
16:20 
Deputy Foreign Minister Nishida. 
 
TOKYO 00000805  003 OF 012 
 
 
 
17:49 
Met with State Minister in charge of Economic, Fiscal, and 
Financial Policy Yosano. 
 
18:38 
Met at Hotel Okura with Takashi Imai, honorary chairman of Nippon 
Steel Corp.; Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of Toyota Motors; and 
Yoshifumi Nishikawa, president of Japan Post. 
 
20:53 
Arrived at official residence. 
 
4) Koizumi sends message to Kim Jong Il underlining his dialogue 
policy course in bid to find breakthrough before his term of 
office expires 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has sent a message to North 
Korean leader Kim Jong Il, expressing his strong desire to pave 
the way for normalizing diplomatic ties between the two countries 
through dialogue before his term of office as Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) president expires in September. The step apparently 
also reflects his judgment that settling bilateral issues 
requires political decisions by the two top leaders. Following 
the failure of the recent intergovernmental talks, held for the 
first time in three years and three months, calls are growing 
stronger in the government and ruling coalition for applying 
pressure on the North. Time is running out for Koizumi to advance 
his dialogue strategy. 
 
The message called for mutual efforts for solving problems in 
accordance with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration. The 
Declaration specified an early normalization of diplomatic 
relations between the two countries. The message was designed to 
play up Tokyo's intention to abide by the Pyongyang Declaration 
and the prime minister's dialogue policy course. 
 
The September 2002 and May 2004 Koizumi-Kim talks have brought 
about a series of positive results, such as the Pyongyang 
Declaration and the repatriation of abductees and the handover of 
their families to Japan. "The settlement of issues depends on 
decisions by Kim Jong Il," a government source said. 
 
The Japan-North Korea government-to-government talks held earlier 
this month ended by just confirming each other's standpoints 
without making any visible progress. A sense of disappointment is 
looming over the government and the ruling bloc. LDP Secretary 
General Tsutomu Takebe said on Feb. 13, "The dominant view in the 
LDP is that the government should discuss seriously the option of 
applying pressure on the North." Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo 
Abe also told a press conference yesterday, "We must study 
thoroughly what kind of pressure is best." 
 
Koizumi is finding it difficult to ignore hardliners' views. 
 
Unless Kim Jong Il exhibits a willingness to respond positively 
to Koizumi's call for dialogue through the next intergovernmental 
talks and other venues, it will be difficult for Koizumi to find 
a breakthrough in the deadlocked relationship with the North in 
 
TOKYO 00000805  004 OF 012 
 
 
his remaining term in office. 
 
5) Japan to propose deploying US intercept missiles for metro 
defense 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 15, 2006 
 
Japan and the United States will enter into intergovernmental 
consultations for US Forces Japan's deployment of Patriot 
Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) ground-to-air missiles in Japan to 
defend Tokyo and its environs with an antiballistic missile 
defense (MD) shield. The two countries will also integrate their 
information networks, such as Aegis-equipped vessels and US early 
warning satellites. In addition, Japan is going to lay down an MD 
system with the United States late in fiscal 2006. 
 
In October last year, the Japanese and US governments released an 
interim report on USFJ realignment. The interim report clarifies 
that the United States will deploy proactive defense 
capabilities, such as the PAC-3 and the Standard Missile-3 (SM- 
3). It also incorporates an agreement to share radar intelligence 
in order to detect ballistic missiles. 
 
In response, a deputy director of the US Missile Defense Agency 
(MDA) will arrive in Japan tomorrow for consultations with the 
Defense Agency. Meanwhile, the Japanese and US governments will 
hold a meeting of officials late this month to exchange views for 
intelligence sharing, with US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer and 
the MDA director attending on the US side and the Joint Staff 
Council chairman and others on the Japanese side. 
 
In the talks, Japan will ask the United States to employ PAC-3 
missiles to shield the Tokyo metropolitan area and other urban 
areas if and when there is a sign indicating a ballistic missile 
launch from North Korea or other countries. 
 
Washington has already told Tokyo that the US government would 
prioritize safeguarding Kadena base in Okinawa, which deploys F- 
15 fighter jets. The US military is also expected to deploy PAC- 
3s to Kadena. However, Japan will propose deploying them flexibly 
in the Tokyo area and other urban districts in the event of 
emergencies, since they are airliftable. 
 
6) Gov't to explain Futenma relocation for local understanding: 
Abe 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
The government will give thoroughgoing explanations to Okinawa 
and its local communities about its agreement with the US 
government to relocate the US military's Futenma airfield in the 
city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to the prefecture's northern 
coastal city of Henoko, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe told a news 
conference yesterday. "We'd like to provide full explanations 
about the agreement that has been reached so that we can obtain 
local understanding," Abe said. US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer 
remarked yesterday that the US government would respect local 
proposals and would flexibly respond to talks about changes to 
the Futenma relocation plan. However, Abe's remarks indicated 
that the Japanese government would make efforts for local consent 
 
TOKYO 00000805  005 OF 012 
 
 
to the current relocation plan. 
 
7) Defense Agency will be upgraded to ministry next year: Kyuma 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
Fumio Kyuma, chair of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 
executive board, held a press conference yesterday, in which he 
remarked that the government is not yet ready to upgrade the 
Defense Agency to the status of a ministry. "The government does 
not appear to be well prepared to come up with a bill (in the 
Diet)," Kyuma said. "Even if the government introduces a bill (to 
the Diet at the current session), it might be carried over to the 
next ordinary Diet session after the Defense Agency submits its 
budget estimate this summer and after the budget is compiled at 
the end of the year," he said. 
 
8) Opposition bloc to pursue government's responsibility in 
intensive Diet deliberations on US beef 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
The House of Representatives Budget Committee will deliberate on 
US beef imports for seven hours today. Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi is scheduled to attend the afternoon session. The 
opposition bloc, including Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), 
is expected to question the propriety of the government's 
decision in December to resume beef imports and how it plans to 
lift the second ban on beef imports in the future. The committee 
is also scheduled to conduct intensive deliberations on the 
Livedoor scandal on Feb. 17. 
 
In today's session, Minshuto lawmakers, such as Masahiko Yamada, 
who visited the United States on a fact-finding mission, are 
expected to pursue the government's responsibility for allowing 
substandard US beef to enter Japan, resulting in the second ban 
on US beef. A senior Minshuto member said, "We have two 
bombshells." 
 
9) US beef imports: Investigation teams of LDP, DPJ split over 
evaluation of safety control; Lower House to hold Intensive 
deliberations on issue today 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) US beef import issue 
investigation team (led by Toshikatsu Matsuoka), which visited 
the US until Feb. 13., yesterday held a press conference at the 
LDP headquarters. The team presented a report on inspection 
results, which criticized the sloppiness of the safety control by 
the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) but concluded that 
meatpackers they have inspected were processing cattle in a 
strict manner so that specified risk materials (SRM) could not be 
mixed with meat for human consumption. The Democratic Party of 
Japan's (DPJ=Minshuto) investigation team also inspected the same 
companies from late last month through early this month. They 
came up with a negative view, noting that the way the plants had 
removed SRMs was slipshod. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000805  006 OF 012 
 
 
The LDP team visited meatpackers in Kansas, home to the beef 
industry, for five days and inspected meat-processing operations 
there. Matsuoka noted that there naturally were companies that 
gave priority to their products being safe. He then criticized 
the US government for the inclusion of SRMs in a Japan-bound 
shipment, noting, "The problem was the sloppiness of the US 
government, which authorized unreliable suppliers." 
 
Regarding the inspection by the DPJ, some LDP members take the 
view that the DPJ's inspection results do not reflect the actual 
situation. DPJ chief Seiji Maehara during yesterday's news 
conference raised doubts about the reliability of inspections by 
the LDP, rebutting, "The members of our team were all experts. 
They carried out inspections in a scrupulous manner." The Lower 
House Budget Committee is expected to hold today intensive 
deliberations on the reimposition of a ban on US beef imports. 
There is the possibility of the difference in the views of the 
two parties being discussed. 
 
10) Agriculture minister tells Johanns by phone he sent 
questionnaire over OIG report 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 8) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa 
held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of Agriculture 
Johanns last night. Nakagawa told Johanns that he has sent a 
questionnaire asking several questions. The questions include 
whether the meat-processing facilities authorized to handle Japan- 
bound meat are included among the facilities whose sloppy 
management was pointed out by the Office of Inspector General 
(OIG) early this month. 
 
The OIG report noted that it was unable to judge whether 
specified risk materials that could transmit BSE were properly 
being removed at nine of the 12 abattoirs subjected to US 
inspections. The written question asks the US to explain the 
details of the recent Beef Export Verification violation. 
 
11-1) Government, ruling parties to set Japan's prior inspection 
of slaughterhouses in US as condition for resuming US beef 
imports 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
The government and the ruling parties decided yesterday that 
Japan would propose prior inspections of meat-processing 
facilities in the US by Japanese inspectors as a precondition for 
resuming US beef imports. It will soon start negotiations with 
the US on the resumption of imports. But in order to erase the 
growing concerns in the nation about the safety of US beef, the 
government now feels it is also necessary for Japanese experts to 
inspect slaughterhouses in the US. 
 
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe said 
yesterday: "It is necessary for Japanese inspectors to go to 
slaughterhouses in the US and inspect them." LDP member 
Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who visited such facilities, told reporters: 
"It might be necessary (for Japanese experts) to confirm if the 
slaughtering process is being properly conducted." The Japanese 
 
TOKYO 00000805  007 OF 012 
 
 
government will receive a report detailing measures to prevent 
any Beef Export Verification violations this week. Based on the 
report, Japan will engage in negotiations with the US. In the 
negotiations, Japan intends to insist that only meat-processing 
facilities inspected by a Japanese inspection team should be 
allowed to handle Japan-bound meat.  The inspection team will be 
composed of mainly experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, 
Forestry, and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and 
Welfare. The team will check to see if such specified risk 
materials as the brain and spinal cord have been completely 
removed and whether processing records have been properly kept. 
 
Under the bilateral agreement that restarted imports of US beef 
last December, the US government certifies processing plants that 
are allowed to export to Japan, and inspections by Japan are not 
required. 
 
11-2) US beef may be checked by Japan before shipment 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
A Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) fact-finding delegation led by 
Toshikatsu Matsuoka to study the issue of US beef imports gave a 
news conference of Feb. 14 at party headquarters. The delegation 
stated that at the time of resumption of US beef imports, "there 
needs to be checking (of shipments) by the Japanese government as 
much as possible," indicating that it would be necessary for the 
Japanese government to inspect the beef for safety prior to it 
being exported to Japan. In addition, Matsuoka gave this 
explanation about removing specified risk materials, which easily 
accumulate agents that cause BSE: "We confirmed that the places 
(meat-processing facilities they had observed) where beef was 
being processed strictly observed the rules." 
 
12) Japanese consumers, meatpackers criticize OIE plan to ease 
standard restrictions on beef trade 
 
ASAHI (Page 12) (Excerpts) 
February 15, 2006 
 
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and 
the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare listened to views 
yesterday from domestic consumers and meatpackers about a plan by 
the World Organization for Animal Health, known as OIE, to ease 
standard restrictions on beef trade. The restrictions have been 
imposed as measures to prevent the risk of BSE. Many criticized 
the OIE's easing of its safety standards as an annual practice. 
One respondent said: "The organization has given priority to 
trade promotion over safety." 
 
The government intends to express opposition to the proposal in 
the OIE's upcoming annual assembly, but a MAFF official 
commented: "Rules are adopted under the majority method. Under 
this system, rules advantageous for exporters of beef products 
tend to be adopted." 
 
The OIE added boneless beef to the list of tradable products last 
year. Japan and European countries raised objections to this. As 
a result of debates, the OIE decided to attach these two 
conditions for allowing all countries to trade boneless beef: (1) 
only products from cattle up to 30 months of age are tradable; 
 
TOKYO 00000805  008 OF 012 
 
 
and (2) exported products should be free from any suspicion of 
BSE infection or such infection has not been confirmed. 
 
The OIE included the conditions, reflecting the assertions of 
Japan and other importing countries. This year, however, it has 
proposed scrapping these two conditions. If the proposal is 
adopted, all countries will be allowed to export boneless beef 
without any restrictions as long as they abide by the requirement 
of removing specified risk materials that could transmit BSE. 
 
Most of the OIE member countries are developing countries, many 
of which have farm and livestock products as their mainstay 
export items. In many cases, they have lagged behind 
industrialized countries in terms of technical levels in hygienic 
management. But the OIE has adopted the majority formula in 
principle. The total number of votes of developing countries and 
industrialized countries committed to exports of livestock 
products, such as the US and Australia, can affect the 
development of the OIE annual assembly. according to a senior 
MAFF official. 
 
13) BSE issue forces 82 companies out of business in timeframe 
between Oct. 2001 and Jan. 2006: Total amount of debt reaches 
80.2 billion yen 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
The BSE-related bankruptcy statistics released yesterday by 
Teikoku Databank found that the number of bankruptcies of such 
companies as meat-processing companies and barbecue restaurants 
during a timeframe between Oct. 2001 and Jan. 2006, Jan., 
following the discovery of the first domestic BSE case, reached 
82 with the total amount of debt at 80.2 billion yen. It was 
thought that the industry would break out of the slump, when US 
beef imports were resumed last December. However, there has now 
appeared concern over an increase in the number of bankruptcies 
as a result of the reimposition of a ban in January. 
 
According to the statistics, 22 companies went under in the 
second half of fiscal 2001 and 23 in fiscal 2002. As more 
companies shifted to imported beef, the number of bankruptcies 
fell to 4 in fiscal 2003. After a temporary lull, bankruptcies 
rose to 17 in fiscal 2004, following the introduction of a US 
beef import ban at the end of 2003. 
 
In fiscal 2005, 16 companies have gone bankrupt as of January 
this year. There is still no prospect for resumption of US beef 
imports. 
 
14-1) Post-Koizumi candidates reveal subtle differences in war 
views, foreign policy before Lower House Budget Committee; Aso 
cautious, as Abe displays originality 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
February 15, 2006 
 
By Takashi Suto 
 
At a Lower House Budget Committee session yesterday, committee 
members showered questions on two post-Koizumi candidates - Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Aso - 
 
TOKYO 00000805  009 OF 012 
 
 
about their views of war and Asia diplomacy. Their answers were 
all innocuous and did not depart from government views. While Aso 
shied away from a clear-cut mention of Japan's post-Koizumi 
diplomacy toward China and South Korea, Abe spoke of his vision: 
"We need to devise a mechanism to prevent an escalation of 
trouble." Presumably keeping in mind the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) presidential race slated for September, the two revealed 
subtle differences in their attitudes. 
 
The first questioner was Katsuya Okada, former president of the 
largest opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan). 
His questions started with this preliminary remark: "I'd like 
those who seem more likely to lead Japan in the future to answer 
my questions." In answering questions, Aso remained cautious, 
while Abe was more bold. Subtle differences were revealed 
accordingly. 
 
When asked, "What will you do as the leader of Japan about policy 
toward China and South Korea if you intend to pay homage at 
Yasukuni Shrine?" Aso remained cautious about answering the 
question and noted: "It's difficult to answer such a question 
based on the premise that I will become prime minister." On the 
other hand, Abe came up with an answer that envisioned his future 
course, noting: "While paying attention to the movements of the 
rest of the world, we have to consider it from a medium- to long- 
term perspective." He thus revealed his eagerness to succeed 
Koizumi. 
 
In response to the question, "Was the war a war of aggression?" 
Aso offered a model answer: "The so-called Murayama statement (in 
1995 that expressed self-reflection on (Japan's) colonial rule 
and aggression) is the government view. The foreign minister's 
view conforms to it." Asked about the Tokyo Tribunal of War 
Criminals (Tokyo Trials), Aso replied: "We accepted the decision 
in the San Francisco Peace Treaty. That's all there is to say." 
 
Meanwhile, Abe hinted that how to view it could change depending 
on the situation, noting: "We need to think what parts of the war 
we will deal with and how." On the Tokyo Trials, Okada said, "The 
Japanese government is bound by the court decisions." But Abe 
responded emotionally: "It sided with the General Headquarters 
(GHQ)." And he revealed dissatisfaction, noting: "Japan could not 
have recovered its independence if it had not accepted the peace 
treaty. Japan owes what it is now to an agonizing decision at the 
time." 
 
Replies by Abe and Aso 
 
  ¶1.   Historical perception of WWII 
¶2.   Evaluation of the Tokyo Trials 
¶3.   Asia diplomacy 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe 
  ¶1.   From the government's position, I should not say this or 
     that as though I am a judge in the court of history. 
¶2.   Japan could not have become independent if it had not 
accepted (the San Francisco Peace Treaty that accepted the Tokyo 
Tribunal's decision). Accepting it was an agonizing decision for 
Japan. 
¶3.   Trouble could occur on the political front, but it is 
necessary to create a mechanism to prevent the escalation of 
trouble. 
 
TOKYO 00000805  010 OF 012 
 
 
 
Foreign Minister Aso 
  ¶1.   I have stated that the government view is that the war was a 
     war of aggression. 
¶2.   The San Francisco Peace Treaty accepted the decision. As a 
member of the government, I am not in a position to comment. 
¶3.   Japan can hold summits with Asian nations other than China 
and South Korea. Just because some are bad does not mean that all 
are. 
 
14-2) Foreign minister's history-related remarks under fire at 
home and abroad 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
By Takuji Nakata 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso remained cautious during the Lower 
House Budget Committee session, but he is facing growing 
criticism at home and abroad for his recent remarks on history. 
Referring to relations with China and South Korea, Aso has 
stated: "Just because portions are bad doesn't mean that 
everything is bad." However, the remarks of the foreign minister 
are presenting obstacles for a government looking to improve 
relations. This may explain in part Aso's cautious stance. 
 
His recent remarks include such statements as: "The best way 
would be for the Emperor to visit (Yasukuni Shrine)"; and "Japan 
introduced compulsory education into Taiwan (when it was under 
Japan's rule). As a result, the academic level there has improved 
tremendously." 
 
The Feb. 13 edition of the New York Times blasted Aso, writing, 
"His sense of diplomacy is as strange as his historical 
perception." The Feb. 14 edition of North Korea's government 
paper Minju Choseon said that Aso is jockeying for position in 
the party presidential race by trying to boost his political 
popularity." 
 
A diplomatic source expressed concern, saying: "Because Japan- 
China summit talks have stopped, it has become important for the 
foreign ministers to meet. But if a foreign ministerial meeting 
were held at the wrong timing, the result would be serious." 
However, there is no prospect of foreign ministerial talks being 
resumed. Aso's remarks have also been criticized by senior 
members of the New Komeito and others. 
 
15) SDP's Fukushima says, "SDF's Iraq mission is 
unconstitutional," but DPJ President Maehara warns, "Such might 
give rise to misunderstanding that the party has returned to its 
old self" 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 15, 2006 
 
Social Democratic Party (SDP) head Mizuho Fukushima called on 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Seiji Maehara 
yesterday in which she repeatedly said, "The Self-Defense Forces' 
mission in Iraq is unconstitutional, isn't it?" Fukushima's 
courtesy call on Maehara followed the SDP's party convention, 
which had adopted a platform describing the existence of the Self- 
 
TOKYO 00000805  011 OF 012 
 
 
Defense Forces as unconstitutional. In response to Fukushima's 
remarks, Maehara simply said: "The expression (that the current 
situation is unconstitutional) might give rise to a 
misunderstanding that the SDP has returned to (the now defunct 
Social Democratic Party of Japan). (Former Prime Minister and 
SDPJ Chairman Tomiichi) Murayama also said that he didn't want to 
get involved in it." 
Maehara has opposed the deployment of SDF to Iraq for such 
reasons as that there was no such area as a non-combat zone in 
Iraq. Fukushima apparently wanted Maehara to share the SDP's view 
that the SDF is unconstitutional in the current situation. 
 
To begin with, Maehara is a constitutional revisionist who wants 
to apply the brakes on the activities of the SDF. His view 
completely differs from the SDP's standpoint to confine the SDF 
within the framework of the current Constitution. Fukushima's 
approach was inappropriate in the first place. 
 
16) Prime Minister rebuts criticism of growing income disparity 
in Japan 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpt) 
February 15, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi last evening met with top 
business leaders, including Nippon Keidanren Chairman Hiroshi 
Okuda, at a Tokyo hotel. According to an attendee, the Prime 
Minister responded to criticism that income disparity was growing 
in Japan because the structural reforms he has himself promoted 
served to boost competition. He rebutted: "If there was excessive 
competition, the economy simply could not grow."  In response to 
it being pointed out that the reason for the Livedoor scandal lay 
in the excessive deregulation, the Prime Minister stressed: "That 
kind of thinking is completely wrong." 
 
17) Former National Land Agency chief Ito asked senior IRC 
official last June to meet Huser President Ojima regarding IRC's 
hotel auction 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
February 15, 2006 
 
It was learned yesterday that former National Land Agency Kosuke 
Ito asked last June a senior Industrial Revitalization 
Corporation (IRC) official to meet the developer Huser President 
Susumu Ojima, who desired to make a successful bid for IRC's 
hotel auction. Ito had introduced Ojima, who has now been accused 
of the earthquake-resistance data scan, to a senior Land, 
Infrastructure and Transport Ministry official. The IRC 
reportedly did not help Huser win the bid, but the company 
actually won the bid. It has not become clear that Ito repeatedly 
asked officials concerned for help for the sake of Ojima. 
 
Ito has admitted that he asked a IRC official to meet Ojima, 
responding through his office and a his family member to 
questions by this newspaper: 
 
"Since Huser President Ojima told me that he wanted to question 
the IRC about Seishin Oriental Hotel, I got in touch with an IRC 
official and asked him to respond Ojima's questions. I regard 
what I did as a kind of lobbying activities." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000805  012 OF 012 
 
 
The planning and coordination office head of the IRC, who was 
asked by Ito, said, "We cannot respond to individual claims, but 
we do sometimes respond to references from politicians and 
companies. " 
 
According to those involved, Ito made a telephone call in early 
June last year to the IRC's planning and coordination office head 
to ask him to meet Ojima. After that, the ROC official met with 
Ojima and Huser employees. Ito did not accompany them, however. 
 
SCHIEFFER