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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000929 
 
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 02/23/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Defense topics: 
4)   Kevin Maher picked as next consul general for Naha Consulate 
  in Okinawa 
5)   Estimated cost of relocating Marines from Okinawa to Guam 
upped to 813.2 billion yen 
6)   MSDF secret data including top-secret crypto material leaked 
out on 290 floppy disks 
7)   Foreign ministerial meeting of US, Japan, Australia next 
month to discuss Samawah troop withdrawal 
8)   Former reporter who broke story of "secret pact" between US, 
Japan at time of Okinawa reversion blasts Foreign Ministry for 
denying pact's existence 
 
China connection: 
9)   Chinese premier meets METI Minister Nikai but no compromises 
  on the historical issue 
10)  Talks between Japan, China on gas field development to start 
next month 
11)  Taiwan's Lee Teng-hui receives approval to visit Japan again 
 
12)  ROK asking Japan to compensation for deaths or injuries of 
  100,000 WWII forced laborers 
 
13)  Now Russia is irritated at comment by Foreign Minister Aso 
  taken as  "interference in internal issues" 
 
14)  ODA restructuring plan is complete 
 
15)  1,300 tons of US beef still unloaded and unclaimed in Japan 
  due to import ban 
 
Minshuto's e-mail caper: 
16)  In debate with Prime Minister in Diet, Minshuto's Maehara 
  unable to show proof that Livedoor Horie's money ever went to son 
  of LDP's Takebe 
17)  Takebe considering lawsuit against Minshuto's Nagata for 
defamation of character over phony charges against Takebe's son 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Yomiuri, Nihon Keizai, Sankei, and Tokyo Shimbun: 
Horie and three other former Livedoor executives rearrested on 
suspicion of padding the company's earning to 5.3 billion yen; 
Representative director Kumagai also arrested 
 
Mainichi: 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's encoded secret documents equivalent 
to 290 floppy discs leaked to Internet through file-sharing 
program Winny 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Window-dressing by Livedoor must be brought to light 
 
TOKYO 00000929  002 OF 011 
 
 
(2)  Minshuto must not leave questions up in the air 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Horie rearrested: Strict punishment required for preventing 
financial crimes 
(2)  Horie e-mail: Minshuto's credibility at stake 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Minshuto must not be allowed to switch stalking horses 
(2)  Solid system necessary to prevent building code violations 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Restore market health by uncovering window-dressing tricks 
(2)  An ambiguous settlement unacceptable 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Livedoor: Uncover the whole picture of the complex scandal 
(2)  Horie e-mail: Minshuto must not leave its pursuit unfinished 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  Diet party-head debate: Minshuto must not allow suspicions 
to linger on 
(2)  Horie rearrested: There is no magic wand 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, February 22 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
10:07 
Handed at his official residence a written official appointment 
of a National Public Safety Commission member to JR East Chairman 
Kasai, attended by Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe and NPSC Chairman 
Kutsukake. 
 
15:00 
Participated in party-heads debate at the Diet. 
 
15:51 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
16:35 
Met with Intellectual Property Strategy Promotion Chief of 
Secretariat Arai and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
 
SIPDIS 
Saka. 
 
17:33 
Attended monthly economic report-connected cabinet minister's 
meeting. 
 
18:15 
Met with Financial Affairs Minister Yosano. 
 
18:51 
Dined with LDP lawmakers belonging to no factions at Chinese 
restaurant Taikan En at Hotel New Otani, joined by Secretary 
General Takebe. 
 
20:52 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
TOKYO 00000929  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
4) Maher to become new consul general in Okinawa, arriving 
possibly in July 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full) 
February 22, 2006 
 
The US Department of State has appointed Kevin Maher, currently 
chief of the security unit at the US Embassy in Tokyo, to succeed 
Thomas Reich as US consul general in Okinawa. He is expected to 
arrive in July. 
 
Consul-general designate Maher is in charge of US force 
realignment issues at the US Embassy in Japan. He also is very 
familiar with US military affairs in Japan. He has served three 
times in the US Embassy in Japan, from 1984 to 1986, 1989-92, and 
from 2001 to the present. From 1998 to 2001, he served as consul 
general in Fukuoka. This will be his first posting to Okinawa. He 
is fluent in Japanese, having had the experience of being a 
research fellow at Tokyo University's Oriental Cultures Research 
Institute from 1997 to1998. 
 
5) In relocation of US Marines to Guam, other facilities 
construction being added to 813.2 billion yen cost 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
Working-level talks were held on Feb. 21 (Feb. 22, Japan time) in 
Hawaii between the Japanese and American governments on the 
realignment of US forces in Japan. The US delegation indicated 
that they were adding to the overall cost of moving US Marines 
from Okinawa to Guam, until now an estimated $7.6 billion (or 
813.2 billion yen at a fiscal 2005 rate exchange), the cost of 
building facilities for the use of the Self-Defense Forces when 
there is joint training in Guam with US forces. The estimated 
cost included the price of land to be acquired for construction 
and outlays for construction of housing. 
 
6) MSDF's classified data leaked on Internet via Winny 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's classified information has been 
leaked in large quantities on the Internet, sources revealed 
yesterday. That leaked information-equivalent to about 290 floppy 
disks-includes classified documents regarding the MSDF's secret 
codes, battle training plans, and evaluations, and various other 
documented data. The leaked files also include maritime telephone 
numbers for about 130 MSDF vessels, MSDF personnel's photo 
rosters, and emergency telephone trees. The Defense Agency is now 
investigating the case. An expert on military affairs warns that 
the leaked data include top-secret information. The case is 
likely to develop into the largest military intelligence breach 
ever. 
 
The classified information had made its way to the Winny file- 
sharing network, according to informed sources. Those classified 
files, judging from their contents, are believed to have leaked 
from a virus-infected personal computer belonging to a sailor on 
board the Asayuki, a Sasebo-based destroyer with a displacement 
 
TOKYO 00000929  004 OF 011 
 
 
of about 3,000 tons and a total crew of about 200. 
 
One of the files is a folder labeled "crypto-related." The folder 
contained a detailed description of manuals for a "code changer" 
that is believed to be a decoder. In addition, the folder also 
contained a "table of cryptographic documents," which lists names 
and reference numbers for various "crypto-related" documents, 
such as emergency cryptographic documents and random number 
tables. One of those filed documents was a "classified" encoding 
and decoding table of random numbers used by MSDF vessels on the 
watch at sea. There was another classified document that lists 
call signs for MSDF vessels. 
 
Another folder, named "drill package," contained a log titled 
"surveillance summary," which apparently records operations 
conducted by an MSDF vessel chasing a ship. The log described the 
radar discovery of a ship at sea, reading "detection at 258 
degrees, 38 miles away (1,600 yds)" and "1,000 yards ahead." 
There is no knowing if the MSDF vessel was on a training mission. 
However, an expert notes that the MSDF's operational capability 
could be made known. 
 
There was also a file named "telephone number list," which 
contains telephone numbers beginning with 090, fax and other 
maritime telephone numbers, and satellite telephone numbers with 
a note of "as of March last year" on its upper part. The leakage 
of that many telephone numbers could result in access to even 
more important information. 
 
The leaked roster of MSDF personnel is possibly a listing of 
about 40 MSDF crewmembers on board the Asayuki as of April last 
year. The list also has spaces to write in their legal domiciles, 
current addresses, family dependents, educational backgrounds, 
and religion. In addition, there are Asayuki-related documents 
containing various data, such as an "emergency telephone call 
network," an "onboard work schedule," a "personnel deployment 
table," and a "shift timetable." 
 
Internet bulletin boards have posted about the leaked information 
for several days. The Defense Agency is now investigating the 
case, according to its public information division. 
 
7) Japan, US, Australia foreign ministerial planned for mid-March 
to discuss troop withdrawal from Samawah 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4, 2006 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso will visit Australia for three days 
from March 17 to hold foreign ministerial talks with Australian 
counterpart Alexander Downer and US Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice, according to informed government sources 
yesterday. The three are expected to discuss plans to withdraw 
troops stationed in Iraq, including the timing for withdrawing 
Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) troops from Samawah, southern 
Iraq. 
 
The government plans to withdraw GSDF troops out of Iraq starting 
in late March. Over the plan, Japan will iron out differences 
with the US, Britain and Australia. 
 
Initially, Japan, the US and Australian planned to hold foreign 
ministerial talks in Australia in January, but with Israeli Prime 
 
TOKYO 00000929  005 OF 011 
 
 
Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke, they decided to postpone 
the talks. 
 
8) Former Mainichi Shimbun reporter Nishiyama criticizes 
government over Japan-US secret deal on reversion of Okinawa 
 
ASAHI (Page 38) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
Former Mainichi Shimbun reporter Takichi Nishiyama, 74, who had 
been found guilty in the official telegram leakage case 
concerning a secret pact relating to the agreement on the 
reversion of Okinawa, yesterday held a press conference at the 
Judicial Press Club at Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, where he criticized 
the government for continuing to deny the existence of the secret 
pact despite the fact that Bunroku Yoshino, former chief of the 
Foreign Ministry's American Affairs Bureau who had been in charge 
of negotiations on the reversion of Okinawa to Japan, recently 
told the media, including the Asahi Shimbun, that there was the 
secret deal concluded between the Japanese and US governments on 
 
SIPDIS 
the reversion of Okinawa. 
 
Nishiyama has filed suit against the government to seek 33 
million yen for compensation, arguing: "The existence of the 
secret deal has been already made clear by US official documents, 
 
SIPDIS 
but the government has not made any apology at all." 
 
Speaking of the former diplomat's recent statement, Nishiyama 
conjectured the reason why he made the statement by breaking his 
silence for some 30 years: "Now that the existence of the secret 
pact was made clear also in US official files, the diplomat 
perhaps felt like seeking public judgment on his common sense as 
a diplomat." 
 
Meanwhile, the government has rejected the diplomat's statement 
this time or in the words of Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe: "We 
have been informed that there was no such a secret pact at all." 
 
9) Chinese premier takes uncompromising position on historical 
issues in meeting with Nikai 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
Shoji Nishioka, Beijing 
 
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, now in 
China, met with Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing yesterday. Wen 
restated his criticism of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's 
repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine, indicating that he would not 
compromise in his position on historical issues. Wen said: "Some 
Japanese leaders do not have an accurate understanding of the 
history of Japan and China. I have been disappointed by this 
fact." 
 
The meeting marked the first time for a Chinese leader to meet a 
Japanese cabinet minister since Koizumi's last visited the shrine 
last October. 
 
Talks on gas filed development next month 
 
Nikai also met with Chinese State Council member Tang Jiaxuan 
 
TOKYO 00000929  006 OF 011 
 
 
(former foreign minister) the same day. Tang proposed holding 
government-level talks on the issue of gas field development in 
the East China Sea in Beijing early next month. Nikai agreed to 
the proposal. 
 
In the meeting with Premier Wen, Nikai said: "Japan is willing to 
make utmost efforts to move forward bilateral economic ties, 
based on a friendly, future-oriented spirit." In response, Wen 
indicated that China welcomes Japanese firms' participation in 
the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the Shanghai Exposition in 
¶2010. He then implied that the current strained bilateral 
relations over historical issues should not be reflected in the 
economic area. In reference to the gas field development issue, 
Wen stated: "It is important for the two countries to cooperate 
in developing the East China Sea, defining it as 'peaceful 
waters,' while putting the conflict on the backburner." Nikai 
asked Wen to visit Japan. 
 
Premier Wen met a Japanese cabinet minister in China for the 
first time in one year and 10 months. Keeping Prime Minister 
Koizumi's departure from the current post in September, China 
aims to demonstrate, through Chinese leaders' meetings with 
Nikai, who has good channels in the Chinese government, the 
stance of placing importance on talks with key other Japanese 
government officials than Koizumi. 
 
10) METI minister agrees in meetings with Chinese leaders to hold 
talks on gas field development in Beijing next month 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
February 23, 2006 
 
Toru Shiraishi, Beijing 
 
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, now 
visiting China, met Premier Wen Jiabao, State Council member Tang 
Jiaxuan (for foreign affairs), and other Chinese officials in 
Beijing yesterday. Both sides agreed on the need for the two 
countries to make efforts to deepen mutual understanding as a 
step toward repairing strains in the bilateral relationship. 
Premier Wen met a Japanese cabinet minister for the first time 
since April 2004. In the meeting with Tang, Nikai agreed to hold 
the fourth bureau director-level talks on the issue of developing 
gas fields in the East China Sea in Beijing in early March. 
 
11) Government to allow Taiwan's Lee Teng-hui to visit Japan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
The government decided yesterday to allow a visit to Japan by 
former Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui in May. In consideration 
of China, which regards Lee as advocate of an independent Taiwan, 
the government will ask him to refrain from carrying out 
political activities. It intends, however, to allow him to 
deliver a speech, which it did not permit in his previous visits, 
on condition of his not referring to political affairs. 
 
Since the government has exempted short-stay visas for tourists 
from Taiwan since last March, Lee will come to Japan without a 
visa. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000929  007 OF 011 
 
 
Lee has expressed his desire to travel to the Tohoku region, 
including the city of Sendai and Akita Prefecture, where Matsuo 
Basho, a Japanese poet of the Edo period, traveled and later 
wrote his famous book Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road Through 
the Deep North). He also hopes to visit Tokyo. 
 
In order not to irritate China, the government intends to discuss 
the matter with Taiwan and place conditions on Lee's visit to 
Japan. However, since more than five years have passed since Lee 
stepped down from Taiwan's presidency, the government intends to 
allow him freer movements. 
 
Specifically, the conditions include: Lee will not be allowed to 
meet the prime minister, cabinet ministers, and Diet members; he 
will be allowed to deliver speeches only such themes as culture 
and history; and he will be able to visit Tokyo. 
 
12) South Korea to compensate a maximum of 100,000 draftees 
during WWII, some of whom have already died or suffer injuries, 
not to seek compensation from Japan 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
Hayami Ichikawa, Seoul 
 
The South Korean government decided to offer in effect individual 
compensation to bereaved relatives of those Koreans who, after 
being recruited by Japanese firms or its military during its 
colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945, died or were injured. A 
maximum of 100,000 or so Koreans are likely to receive 
compensation. Those Koreans who came back alive from the front 
will be excluded. The amount of unpaid wages by Japanese firms to 
recruited Koreans is estimated to exceed 230 million yen. In this 
regard, too, the South Korean government will pay them from the 
national treasury instead of asking Japan to pay them. 
 
This policy decision was revealed by several government sources. 
The South Korean government will ask the Japanese government to 
cooperate to provide materials, such as firms' payrolls on 
deposits for unpaid wages, necessary to identify victims. 
 
The action this time is part of the review of modern history now 
promoted by the Roh Moo Hyun administration. In the process of 
normalizing diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea in 
1965, the Pak Chong Hui regime accepted a political decision that 
Japan would offer 300 million dollars in grant aid and 200 
million dollars in loans in return for South Korea's waiver of 
claim rights for property. But this decision did not necessarily 
satisfy all Koreans. Last year, the Roh administration disclosed 
every document related to Japan-South Korea negotiations and 
declared that South Korea on its own initiative would resolve 
such issues as compulsory recruitment during the period of 
colonial rule. 
 
In past Japan-ROK negotiations, the South Korean government 
produced file indicating that there were 1.03 million victims of 
the recruitment with damages amounting to some 300 million 
dollars. Between 1975 and1977, the Pak administration used less 
than 10% of the 300 million dollars of grant aid to pay 300,000 
won (about 37,000 yen at the current exchange rate) each to some 
8,500 bereaved relatives of draftees. But the administration met 
 
TOKYO 00000929  008 OF 011 
 
 
with criticism that the coverage of recipients and the amount of 
money paid were not sufficient. Since the beginning of the 1990s, 
victims and concerned people have filed suits against the 
Japanese government or Japanese firms to claim compensation for 
recruitment or to seek payment of unpaid wages. 
 
The South Korean government has stated that the reason for 
payment does not stem from state responsibility but from the 
notion of assistance to people's livelihoods. But a government 
official commented: "In actuality, it is compensation." Some war 
victims and bereaved family organizations in South Korea call for 
expanding the budget for assistance, arguing that the 300 million 
dollars paid in the past should have been given to war victims. 
How much money will be actually paid is likely to be determined 
in March. On humanitarian issues, including military comfort 
women, which was not discussed at the time of normalization talks 
with Japan, the South Korean government's position is that 
portions of legal and moral responsibilities lie with Japan. 
 
Regarding Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, in the 
recent Japan-DPRK talks on diplomatic normalization North Korea 
insisted that in addition to economic cooperation, compensation 
is necessary. South Korea's policy decision this time could have 
an impact on Japan-DPRK talks in the months ahead. 
 
13) Russia: Foreign Minister Aso's remarks rapped as 
"interference in domestic affairs" 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
Akiyoshi Komaki, Moscow 
 
The Russian Foreign Ministry released on Feb. 22 a statement 
severely criticizing a series of remarks by Foreign Minister Taro 
Aso on Japan-Russia relations. The statement wrote: "We regard 
(his remarks) as interference in our country's domestic affairs." 
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexeyev called Japanese Minister to 
Russia Yohitaka Akimoto in his ministry to inform him of the 
ministry's statement. 
 
The statement does not specify as which remarks Aso made that 
Russia was criticizing. According to the Japanese embassy in 
Moscow, Alexeyev, referring to Aso's remark on the northern 
territories issue in a public meeting on Feb. 18 in Tokyo, 
pointed out, "(His speech) goes against an agreement reached in 
the summit last November that the two countries will not publicly 
address this issue." 
 
Aso said in the public meeting: "I want the residents of the four 
northern islands (to think) that if the islands were Japanese 
territories, their standard of living would be improved." He then 
suggested that Japanese TV programs be broadcasted to the 
islands. 
 
14) Cabinet council to be established anew to discuss ODA; 
Reorganization of MOFA Economic Cooperation Bureau proposed 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
The Council to Consider Overseas Economic Cooperation (chaired by 
 
TOKYO 00000929  009 OF 011 
 
 
Akio Harada, former attorney general), a private panel reporting 
to Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, is expected to submit a report to 
Abe late this month. The full text of the report was unveiled 
yesterday. The report said that in order for the government to 
promote official development assistance (ODA) in unison, a new 
cabinet council (chaired by the prime minister) to be established 
under the Cabinet should discuss the ODA Charter, mid-term policy 
and resources, and energy policy. The panel has also come up with 
a proposal for drastic reorganization of the Economic Cooperation 
Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) from the 
perspective of enhancing Japan's ODA strategy. 
 
The report also noted the yen loan section of the Japan Bank for 
International Cooperation should be transferred to the Japan 
International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and its international 
financing section to a policy-financing organization to be 
established anew. The report added that JICA should be solely 
responsible for the implementation of ODA projects through a 
revision of the International Cooperation Organization Law, 
rather than newly setting up an ODA implementing organization, 
because the name of JICA is internationally recognized. 
 
For the planning and formulation of ODA projects, the report 
characterized MOFA as the center of intragovernmental 
coordination. In order to reinforce the functions of ODA- 
implementing vehicles in recipient countries, the report called 
for an increase in the number of staff members for posts 
responsible for economic cooperation at diplomatic missions 
abroad and the assignment of aid experts from outside. 
 
15) Imported US beef with nowhere to go: 1,300 tons stored in 
warehouses at airports, ports 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
February 23, 2006 
 
A large quantity of US beef is stuck at ports and airports 
throughout the country due to an embargo. US beef shipped prior 
to Jan. 20, when the government decided to ban its imports, 
remains unable to clear customs. An organization of importers has 
asked the US to buy back the products, but it has received no 
positive reply yet. Importers are trying to work out what to do 
about the products, which have nowhere to go, and warehouse 
costs. 
 
According to the Japan Meat Import and Export Association (JMIEA) 
(Minato Ward, Tokyo), consisting of 31 companies, such as trading 
houses, approximately 1,366 tons of US beef worth about 1.4 
billion yen is being stored at warehouses at ports and airports. 
Since contracts for those products have already been made, 
Japanese companies are obligated to pay for them. Boxes of beef 
that contain backbones are believed to be stored near Narita 
Airport. 
 
JMIEA on Feb. 9 called on the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), 
based in Colorado, to buy back the products and pay the warehouse 
costs. JMIEA said it had received no reply yet. The government is 
determined to watch the situation calmly, with Agriculture 
Minister Shoichi Nakagawa saying, "The case is basically an issue 
concerning the private sector." 
 
In view of the possibility of the embargo becoming protracted, 
 
TOKYO 00000929  010 OF 011 
 
 
importers have taken various measures, including moving chilled 
beef to cold storage warehouses. However, they believe that 
storage costs will continue to grow and just want to return the 
products rather than waiting for a resumption of beef trade. 
 
16) Party-head debate on Horie e-mail: Minshuto fails to produce 
new evidence 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
In his party-head debate in the Diet yesterday, Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) President Seiji Maehara took up the e- 
mail allegedly sent by former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie 
instructing his company to send money to the second son of 
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe. 
Maehara explicitly said, "We have conclusive evidence that funds 
were provided to (Takebe and others) via his son." But despite 
his party's efforts to find evidence verifying the authenticity 
of the e-mail, Maehara failed to produce clear evidence in the 
session. Maehara also call for the invocation of the Diet's 
investigative powers to clarify fund flows. In response, Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi urged Minshuto to disclose evidence, 
saying, "Once evidence is produced to prove that (the e-mail) is 
authentic, there is no need to exercise the Diet's investigative 
powers." 
 
Minshuto is in the hot seat due to the questionable Horie e-mail 
despite its offensive against the LDP over a set of four issues, 
including the question of resuming US beef imports. Maehara 
failed to turn the tables in yesterday's one-on-one debate with 
Koizumi. 
 
Maehara thinks that proving the authenticity of the e-mail is 
difficult in the current situation, according to a Minshuto Diet 
Affairs Committee member. As a result, he has shifted focus from 
Horie to the flow of funds to Takebe. The party's failure to 
produce evidence may draw strong criticism from the public. Such 
a consequence is certain to cause the Minshuto leadership to lose 
its grip on the party. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe commented at a meeting in 
Tokyo last night, "If Minshuto cannot produce solid evidence, 
someone would have to take the blame." 
 
In his 45-minute debate with Koizumi yesterday, Maehara did not 
broach the alleged Horie e-mail until 10 minutes before the end 
of the debate. Maehara finally said: 
 
"We will disclose the account name and account number. We want 
you to produce the account book. If you have nothing to hide, you 
should allow the Diet to exercise its investigative powers to 
bring things to light." 
 
In response, Koizumi said: 
 
"If there is clear evidence, we are willing to exercise the 
Diet's investigative powers. But such would be unnecessary if you 
can produce evidence that can verity the authenticity (of the e- 
mail)." 
 
17) LDP Secretary General Takebe considering filing defamation of 
 
TOKYO 00000929  011 OF 011 
 
 
character lawsuit against Minshuto lawmaker Nagata 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 23, 2006 
 
House of Representatives member Hisayasu Nagata (Minshuto or 
Democratic Party of Japan) made statements on a TV program about 
an e-mail which he claimed proved that money had been 
"transferred" (from former Livedoor president Horie) to the son 
of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Tsutomu 
Takebe.  The Secretary General said yesterday: "Diet members are 
exempted from liability for their speeches in the Diet. But he 
said it on a TV program. I think I can sue him and, so, I'm 
preparing to do just that." Takebe revealed that he was 
considering filing a defamation of character lawsuit against 
Nagata. 
 
SCHIEFFER