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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001536 
 
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 03/24/06 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Defense and security: 
4)   US, Japan reach final coordination stage on Futenma 
  relocation, Marines' move to Guam 
5)   Japan to propose 300 billion yen in financing to cover its 
share of cost of move to Guam by Okinawa Marines 
6)   US, Japan restart senior working-level talks on USFJ 
realignment, agree to meet end of March deadline for final report 
7)   Nago City mayor hints at compromise to break stalemate over 
Futenma relocation site 
8)   Possibility that Nago City may be willing to meet government 
halfway on Futenma relocation 
9)   US, Japan agree to fully turn over Kadena Air Base's air 
control (RAPCON) rights 
10)  Henoko district seeking compensation for relocation of US 
Marines 
 
China ties: 
11)  Government plans to freeze yen loans to China, even speed up 
  end to all ODA to that country 
12)  China blasts Japan for cutting off of yen loans 
13)  Japan, China friendship committee meeting ends up discussing 
Yasukuni Shrine 
 
Broad agenda: 
14)  Prime Minister Koizumi making administrative reform package 
  his final hurrah in the Diet 
15)  Ruling camp still battling over use of word "patriotism" in 
the amendments to the Basic Education Law 
16)  Government survey shows that among regular company 
employees, women only make 70% of what men make as salaries 
 
17)  Agriculture and health ministries holding public hearings 
  all over Japan to hear consumer opinions on US beef 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Nihon Keizai, Sankei, Tokyo Shimbun: 
Land prices in three big business areas boost for first time in 
15 years 
 
Mainichi, Yomiuri: 
JAL flew MD-87 aircraft without having it undergo complete checks 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Rising land prices: Don't allow another bubble 
(2)  Thai political situation: Relying on the King unsound 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  President Bush's statement: Iraq should be stabilized during 
his term 
(2)  Social divide: Money alone does not make a community happy 
 
 
TOKYO 00001536  002 OF 011 
 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Uncover facts behind North Korea's state terrorism 
(2)  Land prices: Has mini-bubble started in urban areas? 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Land prices entering new phase in big business areas 
(2)  Efficacy of investment in research strategy questioned 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Land prices: Urgent need for measures to revitalize regions 
(2)  Reduction in and sale of government assets: Lax calculations 
adversely affect reconstruction 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  Land prices: Watch rise in land prices in calm manner 
(2)  PSE mark: Substantial measures needed before introducing the 
new system 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 23 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
10:57 
Met with East Timor Prime Minister Alkatiri at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence. 
 
13:06 
Lower House plenary session. 
 
15:10 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Kanemoto, followed by 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 
 
16:12 
Met with Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Pirinski. Then met 
with LDP Secretary General Takebe. 
 
17:12 
Met with Cabinet Office Senior Vice Minister Yamaguchi and Vice 
Minister Erikawa. Then attended a security meeting. 
 
18:11 
Met with senior GSDF, MSDF an ASDF officer to be transferred. 
 
19:04 
Dined with Takebe, Acting Secretary General Aizawa and Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Abe at a French restaurant at Akasaka Prince 
Hotel. 
 
20:42 
Arrived at the official residence 
 
4) Japan, US in final phase of coordination over Futenma 
relocation, Marine relocation cost 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
March 24, 2006 
 
Japan and the United States entered into another round of 
 
TOKYO 00001536  003 OF 011 
 
 
intergovernmental consultations yesterday in Tokyo on issues 
regarding the realignment of US forces in Japan, with senior 
officials for foreign and defense affairs attending. In the 
talks, the Japanese and US governments continued final 
coordination to reach an agreement late this month. The two 
governments still remain wide apart over how to share costs 
incident to moving US Marines from Okinawa to Guam, where to 
redeploy an air tanker fleet from Futenma base in the city of 
Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, and other specific realignment 
issues. The two countries are expected to hold talks over again 
in case they cannot find a way out of the impasse over these 
pending issues. 
 
The talks this time are scheduled to wind up today. Yesterday's 
meeting included Foreign Ministry North American Affairs Bureau 
Deputy Director General Kazuyoshi Umemoto and Defense Agency 
Defense Policy Bureau Deputy Director General Hironori Kanazawa 
on the Japanese side and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense 
Lawless on the US side. 
 
5) Realignment of US forces in Japan: Japan to offer 300 billion 
yen to cover part of the cost of relocating troops to Guam 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
By Yoso Furumoto 
 
The government yesterday decided to propose at Japan-US working- 
level talks today that Japan finance the cost of the construction 
of family housing, which will come to 2.5 billion dollars 
(approximately 300 billion yen), as part of Japan's share of the 
cost of relocating US Marines from Okinawa to Guam in the ongoing 
realignment of US forces in Japan. But this amount is still far 
from the US-requested amount of 7.5 billion dollars, or about 880 
billion yen, so bilateral talks are certain to hit a snag before 
the end-of-March deadline for a final report. 
 
The United States intends to move the Marines headquarters in 
Okinawa and its staff -some 8,000 personnel and about 9,000 
dependents - to Guam, and has estimated the total relocation cost 
at approximately 10 billion dollars, or nearly 1.17 trillion yen. 
The US has urged Japan to pay 75% of that amount. The housing 
construction cost is estimated at some 4.7 billion dollars, or 
some 550 billion yen. Half of that amount will be necessary for 
the construction of family housing. Japan is considering 
financing the cost of the construction of family housing. Japan 
plans to adopt the private finance initiative (PFI) system to 
this family housing so that the construction and management of 
housing will be put in the hands of the private sector, and that 
the loans will be repaid through rent. Japan is discussing the 
introduction of this PFI system with the US. 
 
Japan wants to exclude barracks from its financing, because they 
are considered part of the base, so they are not fit for 
management by the private sector. The US, however, has urged 
Japan to cover the cost of the construction of barracks, a 
headquarters building, and other facilities, as well. Both sides 
are still far apart. 
 
Foreign Minister Aso meets with senior officials of affected 
municipalities 
 
TOKYO 00001536  004 OF 011 
 
 
 
By Takuji Nakata 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso yesterday separately met at his 
ministry with Gov. Sekinari Nii of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Mayor 
Ryouichi Kabaya of Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Deputy 
Mayor Toshio Kayama of Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and 
discussed the ongoing realignment of US forces in Japan and the 
US base issue. Referring to the outcome of the Iwakuni City 
plebiscite conducted before the merger of the city and nearby 
municipalities in which nearly 90% of citizens were opposed to 
the planned relocation of a US carrier-based wing to the Iwakuni 
base, Gov. Nii stated, "We on the part of the prefectural 
government cannot accept the plan immediately." He then urged the 
central government to make efforts to obtain local understanding. 
 
6) Japan, US reconfirm agreement should be reached at end of 
March; Negotiations on Guam relocation cost enter final phase 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
Working-level talks on the realignment of US forces in Japan of 
foreign and defense officials from the Japanese and US 
governments yesterday began in Tokyo. The talks will continue 
through today. Both sides will discuss details about such items 
as the sharing of the relocation cost of US Marines from Okinawa 
to Guam, the centerpiece of efforts to lessen Okinawa's burden. 
Late yesterday, Defense Agency (JDA) Director-General Nukaga met 
with US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Lawless, and the two 
reconfirmed that both sides would strive to reach agreement on a 
final report at the end of March. 
 
On the relocation costs, Japan is likely to propose financing the 
cost of the construction of housing on a loan basis during 
working-level talks. The US is expected to urge Japan to pay, in 
addition to housing, costs related to the construction of other 
buildings, including training facilities that will be jointly 
used by the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), an operational facilities, 
and recreational facilities. Japan has estimated its share to be 
less than 5 billion dollars, but the US has requested Japan to 
pay about 7.5 billion dollars of a total of 10 billion dollars. 
The US has stated that determining the %ages of cost-sharing is a 
premise for Japan and the US to reach agreement. Whether both 
sides can compromise to reach agreement before the end of March 
is now the focus of attention. 
 
Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) General Council 
Chairman Fumio Kyuma yesterday met with Lawless at LDP 
headquarters and said of Japan's share of the cost of the Guam 
relocation: "The Japanese public could be convinced regarding 
paying the construction costs of housing, port facilities that 
will be used for joint drills with the SDF, and a runway. But we 
think it would be difficult to obtain public understanding if our 
payment involves the costs of constructing basic elements for the 
US military, for instance, a headquarters building." 
 
7) Nago mayor does not rule out possible concessions with central 
government 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
TOKYO 00001536  005 OF 011 
 
 
 
By Teruhisa Mitsumori 
 
As part of his efforts to deal with the planned relocation of the 
US military's Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa 
Prefecture, to the coastal area of Camp Schwab in Nago City, Nago 
Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro yesterday referred to the possibility 
of responding to talks on revising his municipality-proposed sea- 
based relocation plan so as to come a little bit closer to the 
coastline and hinted that there is room for him to make 
concessions with the central government, which has insisted on 
the coastal plan. 
 
Shimabukuro had until recently insisted that he would respond to 
talks on revisions if revisions were variations of the sea-based 
plan, but his remark yesterday hinted for the first time that he 
is willing to respond to talks even if revisions are not within 
that scope. A senior municipal government official was bolder 
than the mayor, saying, "A good idea is to exclude the housing 
area from flight routes." The central government also is showing 
its willingness to respond to minor revisions of the coastal 
plan. 
 
8) Nago may assent to Futenma relocation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
March 24, 2006 
 
Japan and the United States have now agreed to relocate the US 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from its current location in 
the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to a coastal area of 
Camp Schwab in the island prefecture's northern city of Nago. 
Asked about this coastal relocation plan, Nago Mayor Yoshikazu 
Shimabukuro told reporters yesterday at his city's municipal 
government office that he would continue to talk with the 
government about the issue. "We've yet to reach a conclusion on 
whether to accept the government's relocation plan," the mayor 
said. Deputy Mayor Bunshin Suematsu also said the city would 
enter into consultations if the course of flights to and from the 
newly planned tarmac would not extend over the city's two local 
communities, including Toyohara. 
 
Meanwhile, the city has asked the government to avoid setting a 
flight course over residential areas. In this regard, the two 
Nago officials indicated that they could accept the relocation if 
the flight course is off the city's populated areas even if it is 
close to the shore. 
 
9) Japan, US agree to talk about Yokota base air traffic control 
for overall return 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
Japan and the United States have now agreed to consult on the 
pending issue of returning the US Yokota Air Base's radar 
approach control, or RAPCON for short, to Japan's air traffic 
controllers. The agreement will be incorporated in a final report 
to be worked out in late March on various issues regarding the 
realignment of US forces in Japan. The United States has so far 
frowned on the complete return of RAPCON. The Japanese and US 
governments appear to have confirmed this course of action in 
 
TOKYO 00001536  006 OF 011 
 
 
yesterday's meeting of their senior officials for foreign affairs 
and defense. Meanwhile, the United States has already agreed to 
return Yokota-controlled airspace in part. The two governments 
are expected to hold procedural consultations on this matter. 
 
In yesterday's meeting of senior working-level officials, the 
Japanese and US governments also discussed where to redeploy a 
fleet of KC-130 air tankers currently deployed to the US Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa 
Prefecture. However, the two sides failed to reach an agreement 
on this issue. The two governments will enter into the final 
phase of coordination tomorrow over their respective shares of 
costs involved in moving US Marines from Okinawa to Guam. 
 
10) Henoko locals demand compensation for moving 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
Nago City's coastal community of Henoko, with about 500 
households and 1,500 residents, has asked the government to pay 
150 million yen per household as compensation for those who want 
to move due to the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station from its current location in the city of 
Ginowan in the island prefecture to a coastal area across the 
cape of Henoko in Nago, sources said yesterday. All Henoko 
residents have already agreed to claim such compensation from the 
government, and the community's representative has already 
informed the municipal government of the claim as the community's 
consensus. It is the first time a local community has come up 
with a conditional agreement to the relocation. The government 
frowned on the claim as being excessive, according to the 
sources. 
 
According to the sources, the community of Henoko has asked the 
government to compensate all of those who want to move because 
they could suffer from US military aircraft noise and could be 
endangered in case the newly planned facility's runway-initially 
planned to be installed in waters off the coast of Henoko-closes 
in on their houses. 
 
11) Government to defer decision on new yen loans to China 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 24, 2006 
 
The government decided yesterday to put off a decision on new yen 
loans to China for fiscal 2005, although a decision is usually 
made at the end of the fiscal year. The decision reflects growing 
criticism of China in the government and the ruling parties over 
China's reactions to the Prime Minister's visits to Yasukuni 
Shrine, as well as China's oil and gas field development in the 
East China Sea. The Japanese and Chinese governments have agreed 
on a plan for Japan to cut off new yen loans to China before the 
Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, but calls may grow for speeding up 
the suspension or for immediately ending the yen-loan program. 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters last night: 
"Coordination (on yen loans to China) should be carried out in 
the context of overall Japan-China relations. Both sides have 
agreed to end the yen-loan program before the Beijing Olympic 
Games." 
 
TOKYO 00001536  007 OF 011 
 
 
 
New Komeito Takenori Kanzaki, though, commented: "We must make 
utmost efforts to improve Japan-China ties by resorting to every 
possible means. What is the point in putting off a decision." 
 
The government has prepared a scenario under which it would cut 
off new yen loans for infrastructure buildings in China before 
the Beijing Olympics but continue to offer grant aid and 
technical aid with official development assistance (ODA) funds to 
finance mainly environment-protection measures, for instance, 
those to contain air and water pollution, as well as global 
warming. 
 
The government has been calling on China to establish a system 
for Tokyo and Beijing to jointly implement economic assistance 
for developing countries in African and Latin America. China, 
however, has not willingly responded to the call in reaction to 
Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. A source 
familiar with Japan-China relations said: "Negotiations between 
the Japanese and Chinese governments on ODA have not necessarily 
forged ahead smoothly." 
 
12) Chinese spokesman expresses displeasure with Japan's delay in 
deciding on yen loans to China 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
Nobuyoshi Sakajiri, Beijing 
 
The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced on March 22 that it would 
not make a cabinet decision within this fiscal year on yen loans 
to China for fiscal 2005 (to be implemented in fiscal 2006). In 
reaction, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang expressed 
displeasure in a regular press conference on March 23, saying: 
"The Japanese government's unilateral decision will do more harm 
than good in improving the atmosphere surrounding China-Japan 
relations." 
 
13) China urges "settlement of Yasukuni issue" while Japan 
presents roadmap for reconciliation in friendship committee 
meeting 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
The New Japan-China Friendship 21st Century Committee started its 
fourth round of meetings in Kyoto yesterday. The panel, composed 
of experts from both countries, is tasked with working out 
measures to improve and develop bilateral ties. The committee was 
launched with the aim of exploring ways to break the impasse in 
strained bilateral relations by promoting medium- and long-term 
exchange programs. In order to improve relations, the Chinese 
side stressed the need to resolve the issue of Prime Minister 
Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine first. 
 
Representing the Japanese side, Fuji Xerox Chairman Yotaro 
Kobayashi stated: 
 
"Both sides have made remarks that lack consideration for the 
other side, resulting in unnecessarily irritating each other. It 
is really too bad." 
 
TOKYO 00001536  008 OF 011 
 
 
 
Reform and Openness Forum President Zheng Pichien, who chairs the 
Chinese delegation, rapped Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to 
Yasukuni, saying: 
 
"The continued visits by the top Japanese leader to Yasukuni 
Shrine, which enshrines Class-A war criminals, hurt the Chinese 
people's feelings severely. The visits rub salt in the wounds 
contained in the Chinese memory. . . . The Chinese government 
will resolutely carry out measures to promote Japan-China 
friendship. It has no intention to use the history card in 
negotiations with Japan. We must make efforts first to resolve 
this issue in order to improve our relations." 
 
In the meeting, the Japanese side presented a "roadmap for 
reconciliation and cooperation" that included such programs as 
youth exchange and study of the history of Japan-China relations. 
 
The committee was inaugurated based on an agreement reached 
between Prime Minister Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao in 
their meeting in May 2003. The panel plans to present the 
government with a report of recommendations next year. 
 
14) Deliberations on administrative reform promotion bill get 
under way; Prime Minister eager to make reform take root; 
Opposition parties point out flaws in measures on reduction in 
number of public servants, amakudari practices 
 
YOMIMURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) 
March 24, 2006 
 
Deliberations on the administrative reform promotion bill, which 
the government and the ruling camp regard as the top priority 
bill in the current Diet session, started in a Lower House 
plenary session yesterday. In a Diet reply, Prime Minister 
Koizumi stated, "I would like to solidify the reform policy in 
order to realize a simple and effective government." He thus once 
again played up his desire to make his small government policy 
take root and continue to grow even after he steps down in 
September. The opposition camp is geared up to point out 
deficiencies in the bill, by bringing up such issues as amakudari 
(golden parachute) practices rampant among public servants. 
 
In the reply, the prime minister indicated his view that a hike 
in the consumption tax would be unavoidable in the future, 
noting, "It is difficult to restore the primary balance through 
spending cuts alone." He then said, "Even if taxes must be 
increased in the future, far-reaching administrative and fiscal 
reform efforts will enable to reduce the margin of the hikes." He 
thus indicated a stance of doing his utmost to cut back on 
government expenditures through administrative reform. 
 
Opposition parties criticized the government's plans to cut back 
on the number of public servants and regulate amakudari practices 
as lacking specific measures. 
 
The bill mentions a net reduction in the number of public 
servants by more than 5% in five years. Shu Watanabe of the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ = Minshuto) criticized this as no 
specific measures being included. He said, "The government plans 
to decide on the specifics of the proposed reduction in the 
number of public servants by June, independently of the 
 
TOKYO 00001536  009 OF 011 
 
 
legislation. It is impossible to discuss the bill, if it does not 
contain specific measures. 
 
15) How to express the word "patriotism" in revised education 
law: LDP reluctant to accept third proposal as well; Full-scale 
consultation to start next month; Agreement in ruling camp 
remains uncertain 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 24, 2006 
 
In the meetings of a study team on revising the Basic Education 
Law, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition 
partner New Komeito have been at odds over how to express the 
word "patriotism" in amending the law. As a compromise proposal, 
one idea that has now emerged for describing the word 
"patriotism" would be that each person should have "awareness and 
responsibility of being Japanese." In an attempt to submit a bill 
amending the education law to the ongoing Diet session, the New 
Komeito has taken a positive stance toward this expression, but 
it is uncertain whether the LDP will accept it. 
 
The reference to patriotism would be incorporated in the item 
called "objectives of education" in the amended law. The LDP and 
New Komeito have discussed the issue of patriotism already for 
two years and nine months.  They initially asserted separate 
proposals - the LDP insisting on the expression "love of nation," 
while the New Komeito proposing using the expression "cherish the 
nation." 
 
In order to break the impasse, a third idea has been floated. 
House of Representatives member Kosuke Hori, an advisor to the 
education law reform study team, told reporters in January: 
 
"There is a view that we should teach children to love our 
country, while including the expression awareness of being 
citizens of Japan and responsibility as Japanese nationals." 
 
Hori indicated that the two parties should search for a 
compromise. 
 
The government did not submit to the current Diet session a bill 
revising the Imperial House Law and a bill upgrading the Defense 
Agency to the status of a ministry even though it characterized 
them as important bills. The dominant view in the LDP was that a 
bill revising the Basic Education Law, the remaining key bill, 
should be submitted first to the ongoing session. Therefore, the 
ruling camp is seriously looking into a new proposal. A senior 
New Komeito member commented, saying, "We should not show that we 
are reluctant to revise the law." 
 
The reason for the New Komeito opposing the expression "love of 
country" is because the party says that the expression remind 
them of nationalism in the prewar period. Since the present law 
stipulates the similar one to the expression "awareness of being 
citizens of Japan and responsibility as Japanese nationals," the 
third idea would be more acceptable. A senior New Komeito 
lawmaker said, "This will not be a problem. It is much better 
than the LDP's proposal." 
 
16) Initial tabulation by Health and Labor Ministry comparing 
salaries of regular company employees reveals woman making a 
 
TOKYO 00001536  010 OF 011 
 
 
little less than 70% of wages that men receive 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
The Ministry of Health and Labor yesterday announced the results 
of its basic statistical survey of the wage structure for 2005. 
The set wages for general workers was a monthly 302,000 yen, up 
0.1% from the previous year, the first increase in four years. 
Men made a monthly 337,800 yen (up1.2%), while women made 222,500 
yen (a drop of 1.4%).  This survey introduces tallies based on 
different types of employment. Among the full-time general 
workers, if the salaries of male regular employees are set at 
100, male non-regular employees had 64, regular female employees 
had 69, and non-regular female employees had 48. In addition, 
there was very little difference in the salaries of younger 
regular employees and non-regular employees. If the salaries of 
young men in their early 20s is set at 100, non-regular male 
employees had 86.  For (young) female employees, compared to 
regular employees (100), non-regular employees had 85. But when 
it came to employees in their early 50s, in the case of men, (non- 
regular employees) had 54, and women (non-regular employees) had 
60, showing that the wage gap expanded as employees grew older. 
 
For part-time workers who are paid an hourly wage, men received 
1,069 yen (up 5.6%) and women 942 yen (up 4.2%). In the case of 
men, the peak for their hourly wages was in their early 40s with 
1,204 yen, while women peaked in their late 20s with 993 yen. 
After that, the hourly wage level dropped gradually. 
 
17) MAFF, MHLW to hold opinion exchange meetings with consumers 
with eye on resumption of US beef imports 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 24, 2006 
 
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and 
the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) yesterday 
decided to hold opinion exchange meetings with consumers at 
several locations throughout the country ahead of a decision to 
lift the ban on US beef imports so that the results of meetings 
could be reflected in conditions for beef trade resumption. This 
policy is based on the thinking that the resumption of beef 
imports should be premised on people's desire to eat US beef and 
their trust in it, as MAFF Minister Shoichi Nakagawa put it. 
 
When MAFF and MHLW decided to resume US beef imports last 
December, they held a briefing afterwards, but there were no 
occasions provided for consumers to directly express their 
opinions. This invited the criticism that the decision was made 
in a rough-and-ready manner. The two ministries now intend to 
hold prior meetings in order to give the impression that they 
were handling the issue in an elaborate manner. 
 
Bilateral meetings of experts to discuss the US import ban issue 
will take place on March 28 and 29. However, the two countries 
remain at odds over the cause of the inclusion of Vertebral 
columns in US beef shipment with Washington insisting that it was 
a unique case, while Tokyo suspecting defects in the US 
inspection system. The two countries will work out measures to 
prevent a recurrence, after ascertaining the cause of the 
incident. Whether preventive measures set by the governments of 
 
TOKYO 00001536  011 OF 011 
 
 
the two countries are sufficient or not will be put to the test 
by consumers at the planned opinion exchange meetings. 
 
MAFF are inviting opinions on the US beef issue by mail or e-mail 
(goiken@nm.maff.go.jp). It will refer to opinions received in 
making the decision. 
 
SCHIEFFER