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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 001521 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 03/23/06 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Poll: 87% feel income gap expanding 
 
(2) E-mail fiasco: Minshuto to urge Nagata to reveal middleman's 
name; LDP to call for summoning that individual before Diet 
 
(3) Iwakuni City's referendum on USFJ realignment: Overwhelming 
opposition against central government plan 
 
(4) Iwakuni City's referendum on USFJ realignment: Overwhelming 
opposition against central government plan; Opinion by Taku 
Yamasaki, LDP Security Affairs Commission chairman, aims at 
realizing USFJ realignment 
 
(5) Government must stresses to US its great benefits from 
strengthened base functions in Guam by relocating Okinawa Marines 
 
(6) "Rising Sun-led crude oil" project now adrift 
 
(7) Arguments for and against whaling: Fisheries Agency - "Whale 
meat consumption can be expanded," "Whaling is necessary for 
controlling aquatic resources"; Those against whaling - "Japan's 
needs for whale meat are low," "Research is possible by 
observation" 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Poll: 87% feel income gap expanding 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Abridged) 
March 23, 2006 
 
The Japan Polling Association conducted a face-to-face nationwide 
public opinion survey on March 4-5 to probe into the public 
awareness of income disparities. In the survey, respondents were 
asked if they thought the nation's income gap was widening. In 
response to this question, "yes" and "yes to a certain degree" 
totaled 87%. As is evident from the figure, the widening of 
income disparities is now being felt by the greater part of the 
nation. The government will likely be urged to carry out a fact- 
finding survey for policy-based countermeasures. 
 
The most common reason given for "yes" and "yes to a certain 
degree" was the increasing number of part-time workers at 43%, 
pointing to an increase in the number of nonpermanent employees 
who are less paid than permanent employees. Among other reasons, 
32% attributed it to the expansion of corporate and industrial 
wage differentials, with 31% picking socioeconomic advantages to 
the rich. 
 
Meanwhile, a total of 8% answered "no" or "no to a certain 
degree" when they were asked if they thought the income gap was 
widening. Among them, 38% did not think the gap was becoming 
wider in wages based on ability or work performance. 
 
In the survey, respondents were also asked if they thought the 
nation's economy was improving. In response to this question, 
"yes" and "yes to a certain degree" totaled 61%, up 21 percentage 
points from a previous survey conducted at the same time a year 
before. "No" and "no to a certain degree" totaled 35%. As seen 
from these figures, the general public was upbeat about the 
nation's economy, substantially differing from the previous 
 
TOKYO 00001521  002 OF 009 
 
 
survey in which public opinion was split. 
 
Polling methodology: For the survey, a total of 3,000 persons 
were sampled out of males and females aged 20 and over at 250 
locations throughout the country on a stratified two-stage random- 
sampling basis, so as to epitomize the nation's voting population 
of more than a 100 million. The survey was conducted over a 
period of two days, March 4-5, on a face-to-face interview basis. 
Answers were obtained from 1,810 persons, excluding those who 
could not be interviewed because of their having moved away or 
being on a trip, or for other reasons. The retrieval rate was 
60.3%. In the breakdown of respondents, males accounted for 
48.0%, and females 52.0%. 
 
(2) E-mail fiasco: Minshuto to urge Nagata to reveal middleman's 
name; LDP to call for summoning that individual before Diet 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 23, 2006 
 
House of Representatives member Hisayasu Nagata apologized 
yesterday to the Lower House Disciplinary Committee for creating 
the e-mail uproar. Nagata's explanation was focused on 
conversations between him and a middleman, a freelance reporter, 
who had acted as a go-between for Nagata and the information 
source. The main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of 
Japan), which has suspended Nagata's membership, intends to 
convince Nagata to reveal the name of the middleman at a 
committee session on March 24. The ruling coalition has strongly 
called for summoning the middleman to testify as a witness before 
the Diet. Chances are strong that the committee will decide what 
punishment should be given to Nagata next week or later. 
 
Nagata explained the reasons why he believed a false e-mail that 
allegedly Livedoor Co. had transferred money to a son of Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe. He said 
that: the middleman had repeatedly told him that bringing up the 
email issue at the Diet he would be able to achieve self- 
realization and get the credit; the middleman said he had given 
him the most important e-mail from among 200 e-mails; and the 
middleman had told him the money was transferred from the 
Roppongi bank branch of a major bank to the Ginza bank branch of 
a major bank. 
 
Nagata, however, gave no grounds for his information. He did not 
mention exchanges between the middleman and him until he judged 
that the e-mail was a fake. 
 
LDP Acting Secretary General Ichiro Aisawa told reporters 
yesterday: "(Nagata's explanation) will not convince the public. 
He will have to explain more specifically at a committee session 
on March 24." 
 
LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Hiroyuki Sonoda said to 
reporters yesterday, "We have to ask the person caused the e-mail 
uproar the reason why he gave (Nagata) the false e-mail." He 
indicated that Diet testify by the middleman is indispensable. 
 
The focus will be shifted to the name of the middleman, the 
result of Minshuto's investigation into the e-mail fiasco planned 
for the end of March, the committee's decision on Nagata's 
punishment, and on whether Nagata will give up his Diet seat. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001521  003 OF 009 
 
 
Minshuto intends to urge Nagata to reveal the name of the 
middleman in the form of responding to a question by the ruling 
camp at tomorrow's committee session. Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama said, "He should reveal the name during the session." If 
Nagata does not accept the party's request, the main opposition 
party plans to reveal the name when it makes public the result of 
its investigation. However, many party members are reluctant to 
take legal steps, with a senior member remarking, "We don't have 
time to file a lawsuit against such a person." 
 
The expectation is that the Disciplinary Committee will give 
Nagata an order to suspend his attendance at the Diet for 30 
days. However, since calls for his resignation are strong inside 
and outside Minshuto, the e-mail fiasco will not be resolved 
soon. 
 
(3) Iwakuni City's referendum on USFJ realignment: Overwhelming 
opposition against central government plan 
 
ASAHI (Page 15) (Full) 
March 17, 2006 
 
Opinion by Iwakuni Assembly member Jungen Tamura 
 
It is significant that the citizens of Iwakuni City were able to 
express their opposition to an increase in their burden of 
hosting a US military base prior to final formulation by the 
governments of Japan and the United States of a report on the 
realignment of US bases in Japan. 
 
There is a view that it is inappropriate to take a referendum on 
security, for which the central government is responsible. 
However, it is impossible to stably operate the base without 
cooperation from the local community. If carrier-borne aircraft 
are transferred to Iwakuni base, the number of US jet flights 
there will double and greatly affect the lives of Iwakuni 
residents. Therefore, obtaining local understanding is absolutely 
necessary. 
 
Based on the National Protection Law, local governments are 
working on drafting a national protection plan that would involve 
local governments and private companies. Local government 
jurisdictions, including the use of ports, are involved. Since 
jurisdictions of local and central governments are sometimes 
intertwined, national defense is an immediate issue for local 
communities. 
 
The transfer of carrier-based aircraft transfer to Iwakuni is 
planned for 2009 after the ongoing construction of an offshore 
runway is completed. After a US military plane crashed into the 
campus of Kyushu University in 1968, there was a strong outcry 
for Iwakuni base to be relocated, because communities were 
worried out another accident. Because of this reason, the 
construction is now underway to build a new runaway on land 
reclaimed from the sea. Now, the central government has decided 
to transfer carrier-born aircraft to Iwakuni to use the new 
runaway. 
 
Although the offshore runaway project was planned to respond to 
the wish of Iwakuni residents, the government has decided to use 
it as part of the USFJ realignment process. Iwakuni residents 
view the central government's plan to transfer carrier-borne 
aircraft from Atsugi base (Kanagawa Prefecture), where more than 
 
TOKYO 00001521  004 OF 009 
 
 
a million people live, to Iwakuni base, where only 100,000 live, 
as done only for its convenience. The local citizens, therefore, 
became very angry at the government's plan. After the city 
decided to conduct a referendum, many central government 
officials made comments downplaying Iwakuni's decision. This only 
has added fuel to the fire in Iwakuni. 
 
Of course, Iwakuni residents have raised various reasons for 
their opposition to the transfer of carrier-born aircraft. While 
some residents have called for a removal of the base, others are 
against any strengthening of the functions of the base; while a 
third group opposes the plan because they still do not know what 
economic incentives the central government will offer them. But 
once such a package is revealed, the third group may accept or 
may think they have to go along with it. 
 
Since Iwakuni City financially depends on a base economy. The 
city is not viable without the presence of the base. In the past, 
it was able to build a new office building because of subsidies 
in return for its acceptance of a heliport unit. The Defense 
Facilities Administration Agency's (DFAA) budget is used for 
various public facilities, including the sewage system and roads. 
 
Iwakuni Mayor Ihara is completely aware of that reality. He will 
end his tenure on March 19 when Iwakuni City and seven towns and 
villages merge to become a new city. The new Iwakuni mayor will 
be elected in late April. If Ihara is elected as the new mayor, 
he may introduce a flexible policy. 
 
Nevertheless, the city residents after agonizing over the issue, 
decided to vote "no" to the plan, Their opposition is 
significant. 
 
Iwakuni residents are normally cooperative toward the base. They 
have been regarded as meek when it came to base problems. 
Whenever the issue of strengthening the functions of the base was 
raised, the mayor made the decision to accept it. No claims were 
ever filed for damages against base noise. Since many citizens 
earn their living by working at the base, base issues were 
regarded as taboo. With the referendum this time as a turning 
point, a public backlash against pressure from the base suddenly 
erupted, resulting in a majority of votes opposing the transfer 
of carrier-born aircraft. 
 
USFJ realignment will have an impact on the local community for 
the next 20 to 30 years. Therefore, in-depth discussion on the 
issue should be conducted, respecting the views of local 
communities as much as possible. The government's unilateral 
imposition is therefore unacceptable. 
 
(4) Iwakuni City's referendum on USFJ realignment: Overwhelming 
opposition against central government plan; Opinion by Taku 
Yamasaki, LDP Security Affairs Commission chairman, aims at 
realizing USFJ realignment 
 
ASAHI (Page 15) (Full) 
March 17, 2006 
 
I predicted that Iwakuni's referendum would turn out that way. 
The government takes a position of being responsible for the 
security of the entire nation, but for local residents, there is 
strong feeling that such is a nuisance. If a public opinion poll 
were conducted on the same issue, most people would oppose it. 
 
TOKYO 00001521  005 OF 009 
 
 
Iwakuni City will merge with neighboring municipalities on March 
¶20. A decision on the issue should be made after the new mayor is 
elected. 
 
Since the Iwakuni issue is linked to the realignment of US forces 
in Japan, the central government will likely continue its effort 
in order to obtain local understanding. 
 
It is desirable for the central government to reach an agreement 
with the United States after securing the consent of local 
governments by explaining its plans to local residents and 
convincing them. I think there could be such a case. However, 
there is a limit to the local government's authority. The central 
government is responsible for foreign policy and security. Even 
if the government fails to obtain approval of the local 
residents, it will in the end implement its plan. 
 
When Tokyo and Washington compiled an interim report on the USFJ 
realignment at the end of October, I pointed out that it was the 
report having been formulated without the participation of local 
governments would be a problem. I thought the central government 
should have explained its plan to local governments before coming 
up with an interim report. It is true that a consensus on the 
details had not yet been reached within the government, so it was 
difficult for the government to explain its realignment plan to 
local governments. I have made efforts to explain the government 
plan, but I was able to explain matters only to Okinawa. Unless 
the US Marine Futenma Air Station relocation issue is resolved, 
the entire USFJ realignment process will not be realized. The US 
government has placed top priority on the relocation of Futenma 
heliport functions, thinking that as long as this issue remains 
unsettled, it will not be possible to reach a final agreement. 
Regarding Okinawa's plan to build an alternate heliport offshore, 
the central government and local governments were able to 
coordinate views, but the main reason for the plan failing to be 
realized was because the new heliport had to be built on coral 
reefs. Supporters of environmentalism in Tokyo were the main 
protesters to the offshore plan. They were concerned about coral 
reefs rather than the safety of residents. Local fishermen let 
them use their boats (for demonstrations) for their own safety, 
not for protesting against the heliport plan. 
 
In August 2004, a US Marines' helicopter crashed on the campus of 
Okinawa International University. As a result, distrust of the 
entire US forces in Japan spread to other parts of Japan as well. 
Anti-US Marines movements erupted. If the Futenma base were 
relocated as agreed by the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on 
Okinawa (SACO), the problem would have been resolved. Therefore, 
Washington is unhappy with the present situation, thinking that 
Tokyo is to blame for the Futenma issue since agreement was 
reached. 
 
There might be a possibility that a final agreement will be 
delayed to next month in order to ensure the effectiveness of the 
plan. No changes will be made in the government plan, but 
coordination is needed between the central government and local 
residents. I believe that the city of Nago will accept the 
government plan at the end. I can say that there is no 
possibility at present of changing the relocation site. The 
relocation site, the area, and the length of a runaway will not 
be changed since they have been agreed between the governments of 
Japan and the United States. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001521  006 OF 009 
 
 
The residents of Nago City want security and regional 
development. The reason why they put up a stronger fight than 
ever is because that flight routes are located near their 
residential area. They are concerned about safety. However, most 
flight routes are not over the shore. If the site is changed, the 
issues of dugongs and coral reefs will come up again. I think the 
government's plan this time is best. 
 
We must realize the relocation plan in order to maintain the 
Japan-US alliance, which is one of the pillars of Japan's foreign 
policy. The Koizumi government has set the deadline of a final 
agreement at the end of March, which is sort of a political 
pledge. I think the prime minister is determined to resolve this 
issue. 
 
(5) Government must stresses to US its great benefits from 
strengthened base functions in Guam by relocating Okinawa Marines 
 
Commentary by Editorial Division member Hidemichi Katsumata 
 
YOMIURI (Page 13) (Full) 
March 23, 2006 
 
In the ongoing Japan-US talks on US force realignment plans, 
Japan's share of the cost for the planned relocation of US 
Marines from Okinawa to Guam has taken center stage. 
 
This issue will also be high on the agenda in the talks of 
foreign and defense deputy directors general from Japan and the 
United States to start in Tokyo today. In the US force 
realignment talks held so far, Japan and the US agreed on a plan 
to transfer to Guam about 8,000 Marines, including headquarters 
members, of the approximately 15,000 Marines stationed in 
Okinawa. The US has estimated 10 billion dollars or approximately 
1,170 billion yen as the transfer cost. 
 
The cost estimate includes expenditures for constructing the 
headquarters building, barracks, housing for troops' families, 
family welfare facilities, as well as infrastructure buildings 
such as roads, docks, electric power stations near bases. The US 
has asked Japan to pay 75% of the cost (approximately 880 billion 
yen) for relocating the Marines. 
 
The Defense Agency (JDA) and the government have fiercely reacted 
to the request, one official remarking: "We cannot accept it at 
all. I wonder how the 75% was worked out." 
 
A government source, though, stated: "It is necessary for us to 
consider the meaning of the figure 75%." The source added: "The 
US wants to underscore that the transfer of Marines to Guam is in 
response to Japan's request and is not part of US force 
realignment plans." 
 
The US takes the above view based on a provision in the status of 
forces agreements (SOFA) that the US has concluded with Japan, 
South Korea, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 
 
Article 18 of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement stipulates 
that when the US military or US troops cause damage in Japan to 
third parties and if the US side alone is responsible, the cost 
incurred in satisfying claims shall be distributed in the 
proportion of 25% chargeable to Japan and 75% chargeable to the 
US. In the incident in which a US military helicopter crashed 
 
TOKYO 00001521  007 OF 009 
 
 
into the campus of Okinawa International University (in the 
summer of two years ago), it has been decided that the US will 
pay 75% of the 47 million yen in compensatory payment. Under the 
SOFAs with other countries as well, the maximum share is set at 
75% even if one side alone is responsible, out of consideration 
given to security benefits enjoyed by both parties. 
 
The planned relocation of Okinawa Marines to Guam is outside the 
reach of the Japan-US SOFA, so both sides will work out new 
legislation to determine their shares of the cost. Washington's 
request for Japan to foot 75% of the cost is supposedly based on 
the view that Japan is in charge of the planned Marine 
relocation. 
 
Japan and the US expect to face stormy negotiations on US force 
realignment from now, but it is important for the government to 
clarify the meaning of bases in Guam in US force realignment 
plans. 
 
In the 1990s in the post-cold war period, the US significantly 
reduced its bases in Guam, keeping Anderson Base and some others 
in place. But the US recently announced plans to make Guam its 
strategic base, focusing on China's ocean strategy aiming to 
advance into the Pacific Ocean. The US has decided to deploy B-2 
Stealth bombers and cutting-edge F-22 fighters. It has also 
deployed several submarines since three years ago. 
 
The purpose of the planned Marine relocation is to reduce the 
base burden on Okinawa. Given this, Japan must be ready to share 
a certain level of burden. Even so, it is also necessary for the 
government to underline that the reinforcement of its bases in 
Guam will greatly benefit the US. It is certain that huge costs 
will be needed for moving bases in Iwakuni (Yamaguchi Prefecture) 
and other cities in the nation. Without such, it is impossible to 
obtain public understanding. 
 
(6) "Rising Sun-led crude oil" project now adrift 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
March 23, 2006 
 
Statement by Koichiro Tanaka from the JIME Center, Institute of 
Energy Economics 
 
Iran will not give up its nuclear ambitions. Its goal is to 
develop nuclear weapons, and by acquiring necessary technologies 
for the development of such weapons while denying its intention 
to possess them, to acquire deterrent force. Iran is trying to 
reach that goal, well aware that this is causing a stir in the 
international community. A halt to uranium enrichment activities 
does not serve as a bargaining chip. 
 
Depending on the circumstances, Iran would surely try to unsettle 
other nations, for instance, Japan, and push the price of crude 
oil upward as a strategic move. But Iran needs to sell its oil, 
so as long as it is at liberty to export its oil, it will not 
take such actions as depriving Japan of its rights to develop the 
Azadegan oil field. 
 
If a decision were made by an international coalition to impose 
economic sanctions on Iran or if Japan were to reduce its oil 
imports, either would deal a blow to Iran. Iran, though, has 
enough money set aside to keep its economy afloat for at least 
 
TOKYO 00001521  008 OF 009 
 
 
two years. If during that timeframe Iran could complete the 
process of uranium enrichment, a new game would begin. 
 
Would Japan face difficulty if oil imports from Iran stopped? No. 
It is possible for Japan to buy oil from Saudi Arabia instead of 
Iran. However, if China and European nations do the same, oil 
supplies will not be smooth over the short term. Japan would then 
have to be ready to buy oil at much higher prices. 
 
When it comes to securing independently developed oil fields, 
Japan has spent the past two decades adrift without charting a 
clear map for that purpose. Since winning the rights to develop 
the Azadegan oil field, Japan has not thought about what to do 
next. Japan has focused its energy for independent oil 
development solely on Azadegan in Iran. This strategy has now 
driven Japan into a tight spot. 
 
(7) Arguments for and against whaling: Fisheries Agency - "Whale 
meat consumption can be expanded," "Whaling is necessary for 
controlling aquatic resources"; Those against whaling - "Japan's 
needs for whale meat are low," "Research is possible by 
observation" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 28) (Slightly abridged) 
March 22, 2006 
 
The argument on whether whaling should be continued or not is 
becoming protracted. In the meantime, distributors' whale meat 
stocks are building up. The surplus of stocks might spark 
discussions on the legitimacy of the argument that whale meat is 
Japan's traditional food. The discussions might pick up, covering 
such issues as the use of whale as a resource and how to protect 
them. The Tokyo Shimbun probed into the focus of the arguments. 
 
Whale meat stocks 
 
According to statistics on the distribution of chilled fishery 
products released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and 
Fisheries (MAFF) on March 9, the trade inventory of whale meat 
stood at 3,512 tons as of the end of last December and 3,185 tons 
as of the end of this January. The Fisheries Agency noted that 
whale meat stocks dropped to 1,500 tons in the 1990s. It takes an 
aggressive view: "One reason for the increase in whale meat 
stocks is that the species of whales for research have increased 
since 2000. We sometimes receive inquiries from consumers about 
where they can buy whale meat. Consumption will increase if 
distribution routes are expanded." 
 
On the other hand, Greenpeace Japan, an environmental 
organization, criticized whaling: "In a survey conducted in 1999 
by an independent British research organization, only 1% of 
Japanese surveyed replied that they ate whale meat once a month. 
Consumer needs for whale meat are low, and yet whaling is 
continuing. The government should conduct a survey of the need 
for whale meat instead of research whaling." It also noted that 
in surveys conducted in the past, the government adopted an 
unfair questionnaire method in which it told respondents that the 
International Whaling Commission (IWC) allows research whaling 
when it questions respondents. 
 
Research whaling 
 
Research whaling is being carried out in order to do research on 
 
TOKYO 00001521  009 OF 009 
 
 
such matters as the number of whales. The Japan Whales and Other 
Marine Mammals Research Center is responsible for whaling. 
Portions of the whales caught in research whaling are preserved 
as samples, and the remaining parts are put on the market for 
sale. Profits from the sales are used to fund research whaling. 
According to the Fisheries Agency, 500 million yen a year in 
government funds is used for research whaling and more than 400 
million yen for joint research with the IWC. 
 
The Fisheries Agency stressed that research whaling was necessary 
to protect the ecosystem as well. It also added that it would aim 
to resume commercial whaling. 
 
Greenpeace criticized research whaling: "We want the Fisheries 
Agency to take a second look at the situation in which humans 
casually leave food, including fish, half-eaten. We also want the 
government to survey the overexploitation of whales. Research on 
whales can be done through observation. DNA research is also 
possible, by sampling parts of whale bodies. It is not necessary 
to catch whales." 
 
Traditional food 
 
Some of those who are in favor of whaling have pointed out that 
whale meat is a traditional Japanese food and that it is 
inappropriate to criticize Japan's traditional culture. 
 
The Fisheries Agency also noted: "Whaling is necessary in order 
to raise the nation's food self-sufficiency rate, which is 
overwhelmingly low among advanced industrialized nations. Is it 
all right for Japanese to eat imported foods instead of 
traditional food?" 
 
Greenpeace and other anti-whaling organizations offered a 
counterargument: "Whales' gestation period is 10 to 17 months. 
Their reproductive rate is low, with whales giving birth to only 
one offspring at a time. They are not fit for commercial use. Is 
it traditional to dispatch high-tech vessels out into the 
Antarctic Ocean to catch whales?" They also noted, "Since Japan's 
food sufficiency rate is low, we should use our funds to increase 
the rate in a more effective manner instead of carrying out 
research whaling." 
 
The positions of those in favor of whaling and those against it 
differ in many areas ranging from food culture to the ecosystem. 
The future course of the arguments is not yet in sight. 
 
SCHIEFFER