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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001931 
 
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 04/10/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
6-party delegates in Tokyo: 
4)   Assistant Secretary of State Hill nixes US-DPRK dialogue 
5)   US delegate calls for North Korea to unconditionally come 
back to 6-party talks 
6)   US, North Korea at tug of war 
7)   US teaming up with Japan, ROK to resume 6-party talks 
8)   Japan also urges North Korea to sit down at negotiating 
table, but Pyongyang refuses 
 
China, ROK ties: 
9)   President Bush wants Japan to improve relations with China, 
  ROK 
10)  Prime Minister Koizumi left out of info loop over diplomat's 
suicide in Shanghai 
11)  Japan, China to resume ruling party talks in October 
 
Defense issues: 
12)  Prime Minister Koizumi, JDA Minister Nukaga concur on 
  expediting solution to cost sharing for Marine relocation from 
  Okinawa to Guam 
13)  JDA chief estimates Japan's Marine relocation cost share at 
several hundred billion yen 
14)  Japan mulls over 30% in cost sharing for Marine relocation 
to Guam 
15)  Tokyo to make decision this month on Guam relocation cost 
16)  Gov't to renew previous cabinet decision on Futenma 
relocation 
17)  2 airstrips for only 3 airplanes: JDA 
18)  USFJ realignment talks to reach watershed in a week or two: 
JDA chief 
19)  Prime Minister Koizumi willing to meet, but Okinawa Gov. 
Inamine reluctant 
 
Political issues & opinion poll: 
20)  Class-A war criminals unqualified at Yasukuni Shrine: DPJ 
  President Ichiro Ozawa 
21)  56% hold high hopes for DPJ President Ozawa in Yomiuri poll 
22)  Yomiuri poll shows support rate for Koizumi cabinet rises to 
56% 
23)  Ozawa on stage, but public support for DPJ flat in Fuji- 
Sankei poll 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi & Mainichi: 
France announces decision to rescind a new employment law 
 
Yomiuri: 
Suicide of Japanese diplomat at Consulate General in Shanghai: 
Cabinet Information Research Office report that mentioned fear of 
leakage of official secrets did not reach prime minister 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Construction and Transport Ministry to release quoted prices of 
 
TOKYO 00001931  002 OF 012 
 
 
real estate quarterly 
 
Sankei: 
Sankei-FNN poll: No sharp increase in support rate for Ozawa-led 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan); Abe takes lead over other 
contenders to succeed Koizumi 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Supreme Court says on lawsuit against Janome Machine Co. that 
payment for "consideration" is equivalent to payoff, noting, "The 
company is responsible for compensation" 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Personal information: Inadequate protection is unacceptable 
(2)  Protectionism: US is highly responsible 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Abolition of the nominated bidder system: Other government 
agencies should follow the MLIT 
(2)  Palestinian situation: Caution needed on "starvation" 
strategy 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Salaries for local public servants: Problems not meeting the 
changes of the times are conspicuous 
(2)  Disclosure of national life insurance companies' 
information: Management shift needed to attach importance to 
policyholders 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Solution to social disparities can be found in growth and 
reform 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Financial contributions to UN: Japan should explain the 
adequacy of its proposal 
(2)  Baseball player Kanemoto's world record: Significant record 
proves him to be an iron man 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  Futenma relocation: Need to listen to voices of Okinawa 
residents 
(2)  Legal assistance system needs to be made reliable for every 
citizen 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 9 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Spent whole day at his official residence. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 10 
 
09:51 
Attended the National Spring Road Safety Campaign Central 
Convention held at an elementary school in Ebisu. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001931  003 OF 012 
 
 
10:55 
Returned to Kantei. 
 
11:29 
Met with defense chief Nukaga, his deputy Moriya, and others in 
the presence of Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe and his deputy 
Futahashi. 
 
15:57 
Met with the Ethiopian Ambassador to Japan. 
 
17:03 
Met in the Diet building with DPJ President Ozawa, Vice President 
Kan, Secretary General Hatoyama, Diet Affairs Committee chief 
Watanabe, and others, in the presence of LDP Secretary General 
Takebe. Afterward, attended a party executive meeting. 
 
17:49 
Attended an IT Headquarters meeting at Kantei. 
 
18:57 
Returned to his residence. 
 
4) US Assistant Secretary of State Hill turns down dialogue with 
Pyongyang; Individual talks continue between delegates to six- 
party talks 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Major chief delegates to the six-party talks on North Korea's 
nuclear ambitions yesterday actively engaged in multilateral 
talks, such as meetings between China and South Korea, China and 
North Korea, and Japan and the US. Thus, they intensively 
discussed the issue of restarting the six-party talks, which have 
been suspended since last November. US Assistant Secretary of 
State Christopher Hill was expected to arrive in Japan yesterday 
afternoon. The greatest focus of attention is whether US-North 
Korea talks will take place. 
 
Hill categorically said at a Tokyo hotel, "Since Pyongyang 
insists on its position of boycotting the six-party talks, I will 
not meet with the North Korean delegate." He thus rejected talks 
with Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, the delegate from North 
Korea. 
 
Hill reiterated his intention not to hold a US-North Korea talks 
under the present circumstances, saying after a dinner meeting 
with the delegates from Japan and South Korea, "The point is 
whether North Korea will return to the six-party talks or not." 
 
Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi yesterday told a press 
conference, "North Korea has not yet presented anything that 
would allow us to take an optimistic view regarding restarting 
the six-party talks." He added, "There are no prospects for 
realizing US-North Korea talks." South Korean negotiator Chun 
Young Woo said, "The current situation is considerably difficult. 
I think all concerned parties need patience." 
 
Kim bilaterally met with the chief delegates from Japan, South 
Korea, and China April 8-10. Prior to a dinner meeting with the 
Chinese delegate yesterday evening, he rejected the idea of 
 
TOKYO 00001931  004 OF 012 
 
 
restarting the six-party talks, noting, "I have no intention of 
taking part in the talks while the US financial sanctions are in 
place." 
 
5) US chief delegate to six-party talks Hill strongly urges 
Pyongyang to return to negotiating table unconditionally 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, US chief delegate 
to the six-party talks, yesterday morning arrived at Narita 
Airport and told reporters: "It appears that North Korea has not 
yet decided whether to return to the six-party talks. At present, 
I have no plans to meet with the North Korean delegate." He thus 
strongly called on Pyongyang to unconditionally return to the six- 
party talks. Referring to the US financial sanctions on the North 
over its unlawful activities, Hill also stressed that the 
financial sanctions and the restarting of the talks are two 
separate issues. He said, "The North understands our position, 
and we understand their position." 
 
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan and Vice Foreign 
Minister Wu Dawei of China, which hosts the six-party talks, met 
in Tokyo yesterday evening. Prior to the meeting, Kim told 
reporters: We demand the sanctions be eased. We cannot take part 
in the talks as long as the sanctions are in place." He thus 
called for the settlement of the sanctions issue. 
 
6) Full-scale maneuverings start between US, North Korea, to seek 
breakthrough on restarting six-party talks 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
In an effort to reach a breakthrough on restarting the stalled 
six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programs, negotiators 
gathered in Tokyo yesterday and started full-scale maneuverings. 
The United States has called on North Korea to unconditionally 
return to the negotiating table, while North Korea has urged the 
US to make concessions by resorting to every possible tactic. 
Whether the six-party talks will be resumed at an early date 
hinges on a crucial meeting between the US and North Korea. 
 
The North Korean delegation, including Foreign Vice Minister Kim 
Kye Gwan, arrived in Japan on April 7. Responding to questions 
from reporters prior to a China-North Korea meeting yesterday, 
Kim said, "This is a good chance, so it would be nice for me to 
be able to meet (with US delegate Christopher Hill)," 
unexpectedly showing a flexible stance. 
 
However, hearing that Hill had said: "North Korea's return to the 
six-party talks is the precondition for the US to hold a meeting 
with North Korea," his attitude completely changed. Kim stated: 
"(To resume the six-party talks), the US knows what it needs to 
do." 
 
But North Korea's real desire is to negotiate directly with the 
US. With a meeting with Hill as his main purpose, Kim came to 
Tokyo. 
 
Meanwhile, the US has maintained a consistent stance this time. 
 
TOKYO 00001931  005 OF 012 
 
 
Hill said: "I think there is nothing left to say to North Korea." 
Hill met with Kim in Beijing this January, and in March, a US- 
North Korea meeting was held in New York. "Despite such efforts, 
North Korea took no action." Such feelings can be detected from 
his words. Japanese and South Korean government officials have 
also urged North Korea to take a flexible stance, by telling 
North Korean delegates: "It would be difficult to bring about a 
US-North Korea meeting in Tokyo." Even so, the US also cannot 
give up on the six-party framework. 
 
7) Japan, US, South Korea confirm cooperation for resuming six- 
party talks 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
The chief delegates of Japan, the United States, and South Korea 
to the six-party talks on North Korean nuclear programs confirmed 
in a meeting last night in Tokyo that the three countries would 
call on North Korea to return to the negotiating table as early 
as possible. But the prospects for US-North Korea negotiations 
remain unclear, since the gulf has yet to be bridged between the 
US, which has called for a resumption of the talks without any 
conditions, and the North, which has insisted the US lift the 
financial sanctions on it before restarting them. 
 
Attending last night's meeting were Kenichiro Sasae, director 
general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs 
Bureau, US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, and 
South Korean top envoy Chun Young Woo. After the meeting, Sasae 
stated, "The three countries will make efforts to have North 
Korea return to the negotiating table." Hill insisted that the 
six-party talks and the financial sanctions were two separate 
matters. 
 
8) Japan urges North Korea to return to six-party talks; North 
rejects call, insisting on end to sanctions 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Kenichiro Sasae, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian 
and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, yesterday afternoon met with North 
Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan for about two hours at 
the annex of the Foreign Ministry's Azabudai Guest House. During 
the talks, Sasae urged North Korea to return to the six-party 
talks at an early date. However, Kim did not show any sign of 
responding to the call. Emerging from the meeting, Sasae told 
reporters, "There are at present no prospects for restarting the 
stalled six-party talks." 
 
Yesterday's meeting between the two was the second, following the 
one on April 8. The meeting then focused on the abduction issue, 
but yesterday they discussed the nuclear issue. 
 
The US had earlier announced that it had no intention of holding 
talks with Pyongyang unless it declares it will come back to the 
six-party talks. With this in mind, Sasae called on Kim to 
declare that North Korea would return to the negotiating table at 
an early date. However, Kim reportedly stuck to his usual 
position that as long as the US financial sanctions on Pyongyang 
remain in place, the North will not return to the six-party 
 
TOKYO 00001931  006 OF 012 
 
 
talks. 
 
Sasae later met with US chief delegate Christopher Hill and chief 
South Korean delegate Chun Young Woo and held trilateral talks. 
The three negotiators reaffirmed their intention to work together 
in order to restart the six-party talks. 
 
9) US president calls for improvement in Japan-China relations, 
Japan-South Korea ties 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Koji Maruya, Washington 
 
US President George W. Bush delivered a speech on April 10 in 
Washington, in which he indicated that better relations between 
Japan and China and between Japan and South Korea were desirable. 
He expressed his hopes for the promotion of bilateral dialogue 
between Japan and China and between Japan and South Korea. He 
then revealed that the US would assist in promoting dialogue 
between the Asian countries. 
 
Meetings between the top leaders of Japan and China have been 
suspended. President Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao are 
scheduled to meet in Washington on April 20. The expectation is 
that the strained Japan-China relations may become a topic of 
discussion in the planned US-China summit. 
 
In his speech, Bush also expressed hopes that reform of the 
Chinese yuan would achieve results. He hailed an agreement 
between the Japanese government and Nago City on the relocation 
of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, stressing the move 
would strengthen Japan-US defense cooperation. 
 
10) Suicide of Japanese diplomat at Consulate General in 
Shanghai: Cabinet Information Research Office's report that 
mentioned fear of leakage of official secrets did not reach prime 
minister 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Lead paragraph) 
April 11, 2006 
 
A 46-year-old Japanese diplomat at the Consulate General in 
Shanghai committed suicide in May 2004. In order to get to the 
bottom of the incident, the Cabinet Information Research Office 
(CIRO) conducted an on-the-spot survey two months after the 
incident and compiled a report in which it said, "There is a 
chance that our country's official secrets were leaked." CIRO 
submitted the report to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masahiro 
Futahashi, according to information obtained by the Yomiuri 
Shimbun. The report concluded that behind the diplomat's suicide, 
there seemed to have been blackmail by China's State Security 
Ministry, and it urged the government to conduct a through probe 
into whether official secrets were leaked. But Prime Minister 
Koizumi had been left in the dark about the report for over a 
year and a half. There is a strong possibility that a bureaucrat 
in the Foreign Ministry decided not to verify whether diplomatic 
secrets were leaked. Crisis management in the Prime Minister's 
 
SIPDIS 
Official Residence is likely to draw criticism. 
 
11) Japanese ruling coalition, Chinese Communist Party to resume 
 
TOKYO 00001931  007 OF 012 
 
 
exchanges in October 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Hidenao Nakagawa, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
Policy Research Council, held an informal meeting last night with 
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi over dinner at a Tokyo 
restaurant. The two agreed to hold an exchange in October in 
Tokyo between Japan's ruling parties -- the LDP and New Komeito - 
- and the Chinese Communist Party. The last session was held in 
February in Beijing. The next meeting will likely be held after 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi steps down from office. 
 
12) Prime minister, JDA chief affirm early settlement of Guam 
relocation cost issue 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Koizumi yesterday met at his office with Defense 
Agency (JDA) Director-General Nukaga, and the two discussed 
Japan's share of the cost of the relocation of US Marines from 
Okinawa to Guam, a focal point in the ongoing consultations with 
the United States. Sharing the view that a reduction in Marines 
will help ease the burden on Okinawa Prefecture, as well as on 
Japan, and will also lead to enhancing the safety of Japan and 
regional security, Koizumi and Nukaga affirmed the government 
policy of striving to bring about an early settlement of the 
issue. 
 
Late yesterday, Koizumi told reporters: "(I told Nukaga) that if 
you think of the need to alleviate the burden of military 
facilities on Okinawa, the importance of the Japan-US alliance, 
and Japan's national security, you will without fail reach a good 
conclusion. I'd like you to have close consultations on the 
issue." 
 
Of the total cost of 10 billion dollars estimated by the US, 
Washington has asked Tokyo to pay 7.5 billion dollars, but Tokyo 
has insisted that its share of the cost should be limited to 3 
billion dollars, including loans for the construction of housing 
and other facilities. Consultations have continued between the 
two countries. Japan is trying to reach an agreement with the US 
during the upcoming senior-working-level talks slated for April 
13-14. 
 
Nukaga yesterday emphasized the necessity of cost sharing in a 
speech in Nagoya: "Japan offered 1 trillion yen at the time of 
the Gulf War and is going to provide Iraq with 5 billion dollars. 
Given the need to lessen the Okinawa people's burden as quickly 
as possible, I think it is not mistaken to pay a portion of the 
relocation cost in accordance with our country's abilities." 
 
13) Defense chief Nukaga indicates estimate of several hundred 
billion yen for relocating US Marines from Okinawa to Guam 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga stated yesterday 
in a speech delivered in Nagoya City, "Considering that Japan 
 
TOKYO 00001931  008 OF 012 
 
 
spent 1 trillion yen for the Gulf War and 500 billion yen for 
humanitarian assistance for Iraq, Okinawa's burden of US military 
bases should be reduced as quickly as possible." He indicated 
that the Japanese government estimated several hundred billion 
yen for the relocating of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam, a 
major issue in negotiations on the realignment of US forces in 
Japan. 
Nukaga sought understanding from the audience for Japan's 
financial burden for the relocation of US Marines to Guam, 
saying, "(The relocation) will reduce Okinawa's and Japan's 
burden of US military bases. It is not wrong for Japan to bear 
its appropriate share." The Japanese and US governments will hold 
an intensive discussion on the issue in an April 13-14 meeting in 
Tokyo of their senior foreign and defense officials. 
 
14) Cost of relocating US Marines to Guam; Government decides to 
pay over 30%; Japan's share to reach approximately 70%, including 
loans 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
The government yesterday decided to approve direct outlays from 
the general account, a budget item financed with tax money, to 
share the costs of relocating US Marines in Okinawa to Guam in 
connection with USFJ realignment. It will convey to the US during 
bilateral working-level talks of officials responsible for 
foreign and defense affairs, which are to restart on April 13, 
that Japan is looking into the possibility of paying 
approximately 30% of the relocation cost from the general 
account. The focus will be on how the US will respond to this 
proposal, because it is calling on Japan to bear 75%. 
 
Tokyo and Washington are aiming to reach a final agreement on 
USFJ realignment before the end of the month. The Japanese side 
wants to speed up negotiations by conveying to the US its 
readiness to pay its share directly from the general account, 
which it has never referred to in previous talks. 
 
The number of US Marines to be transferred from Okinawa to Guam 
is approximately 17,000, including their family members. Japan's 
plan is to pay approximately 30% of the relocation cost from the 
general account and another 30% or so in loans, using the Japan 
Bank for International Cooperation, and to ask the US to pay for 
the remaining cost. 
 
The US estimates the total amount of the relocation cost at 
approximately 10 billion dollars, of which it is urging Japan to 
pay 7.5 billion dollars. The US has presented the breakdown of 
the total amount as follows: 7.59 billion dollars for Marine 
Corps facilities, 940 million dollars for Navy and Air Force 
facilities, and 980 million dollars for off-base facilities. 
Japan will ask the US to reduce the total amount as well. 
 
In previous talks with the US, Japan has proposed a plan to pay a 
total of approximately 3 billion dollars for the consolidation of 
housing facilities for the families of Marines, using a loan 
system. Direct payment from the general account will likely be 
mainly for the consolidation of daily-life-related 
infrastructure. 
 
15) Government decides to bear 30% of Guam relocation cost to 
 
TOKYO 00001931  009 OF 012 
 
 
settle US force realignment issue before end of this month; 
Likely to steal attention in Diet in connection with fiscal 
reconstruction 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
April 11, 2006 
 
The government has decided to earmark funds directly from the 
general account for the relocation of US Marines from Okinawa to 
Guam in a bid to settle the US force realignment issue before the 
end of this month. An agreement has also been reached with Nago, 
the relocation site for Futenma Air Station, on building two 
runways. The Guam relocation issue is now the only remaining high 
hurdle. 
 
Japan has been avoiding mentioning its share of the relocation 
costs for two reasons. One is because the Japan-US Status of 
Forces Agreement has no stipulation on financial support for US 
base facilities overseas, and the other is because the Finance 
Ministry has been reluctant to increase spending amid a heated 
debate on spending cuts as a condition for hiking the consumption 
tax. 
 
At one point, some in the government had argued that Japan should 
bear 40% of the cost, but with Washington's estimate at 10 
billion dollars, it has lowered Japan's share to slightly over 
30%. Although Japan's direct share still remains fluid, the 
government's decision this time suggests that the stage has been 
set for a political settlement for a final decision on the US 
force realignment issue. 
 
At the same time, the government has to fulfill its 
accountability to the public. Although Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi has indicated that he has left the matter entirely to 
Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga, direct 
disbursements from the general account may escalate into a topic 
of contention at the Diet between the ruling and opposition 
blocs. 
 
It is the time for Koizumi to directly explain the need for US 
force realignment to the people to win their understanding. 
 
16) Government eyes new cabinet decision on Futenma relocation; 
Cabinet meeting today to discuss Guam relocation cost 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
April 11, 2006 
 
In order to make a cabinet decision after obtaining Okinawa Gov. 
Keiichi Inamine's understanding, the government intends to hold 
talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the governor, 
who is opposed to relocating Futenma Air Station to the coastline 
of Camp Schwab, after a US force realignment final report is 
produced by Japan and the US later this month. 
 
Koizumi told reporters last night, "I would like to hold talks 
with Gov. Inamine to win his cooperation." 
 
Appearing on an NHK program last night, Inamine also said: 
 
"A time will definitely come for me to meet with the prime 
minister. At that point, I would like to discuss Okinawa's 
 
TOKYO 00001931  010 OF 012 
 
 
standpoint squarely. But it is not the time to see the prime 
minister." 
 
The government made a cabinet decision in December 1999 based on 
the original Henoko offshore plan. The government wants to make a 
new cabinet decision overriding the 1999 decision after 
confirming Okinawa's base realignment and reduction blueprint in 
a final report and softening Inamine's stance. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, 
Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga, and Finance 
Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki are scheduled to hold talks this 
morning to discuss the relocation of US Marines from Okinawa to 
Guam. They will specifically discuss Japan's share of the 
relocation cost ahead of the April 13-14 Japan-US senior-working- 
level talks. 
 
17) Defense Agency decides to build additional Futenma runway to 
accommodate just three planes 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged) 
April 11, 2006 
 
The government has decided to build another runway at the Futenma 
Air Station relocation site at Camp Schwab to accommodate just 
three fixed-wing aircraft, a source revealed yesterday. 
Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya admitted 
yesterday the costliness of the second runway, saying, "We are 
aware of the high cost for it." 
 
A total of 12 KC-130 fixed-wing air tankers will be transferred 
from Futenma Air Station to mainland Japan. As a result, two C-12 
small liaison planes and one T-39 will remain at Futenma. 
 
Moriya said, "The helicopters (deployed at Futenma Air Station) 
will not fly over residential areas." He also revealed that the 
government has decided to build two runways in a V-shape to 
ensure that the fixed-wing planes will not pass over residential 
areas. 
 
The construction of two runways is certain to delay the 
government's construction deadline of 2014 and increase the 
amount of reclaimed land needed. The new construction period and 
cost are unknown, according to the Defense Agency. 
 
Both runways will be 1,800 meters long, including the overrun 
portions. The new airfield will become the second US base in 
Okinawa to have two runways, following Kadena Air Base. 
 
18) JDA chief: Japan-US talks on US force realignment will enter 
an important phase in one or two weeks 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Defense Agency (JDA) Director-General Fukushiro Nukaga yesterday 
afternoon delivered a speech in Nagoya, in which he mentioned 
Japan-US talks on how to decide on Japan's share of the cost of 
relocating US Marines from Okinawa to Guam and indicated his 
intention to seek to finalize the talks as swiftly as possible. 
He then said: "The cost issue will become a major agenda item 
over next one or two weeks." 
 
TOKYO 00001931  011 OF 012 
 
 
 
19) Futenma relocation: Koizumi willing to meet, Inamine 
reluctant 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has indicated that he would like 
to meet with Okinawa Prefecture's Governor Keiichi Inamine soon 
over the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the island 
prefecture. "I hope that I can meet with the governor before long 
to talk about alleviating Okinawa's burden, developing Okinawa's 
economy, and the importance of the bilateral alliance between 
Japan and the United States," Koizumi told reporters at his 
office yesterday. The premier has so far been negative about 
meeting with the governor. 
 
However, Inamine frowned on the idea of meeting with Koizumi at 
an early date. "We still cannot meet for now, I think," Inamine 
said on an NHK-TV news program yesterday evening. "We're now 
still coordinating issues, and I believe that the time will come 
for sure when we'll have to meet in that process," Inamine said, 
adding: "If the time has come, then I would like to state 
Okinawa's stance." 
 
20) In interview, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) head Ozawa 
states that Class-A war criminals were "not qualified to be 
honored at Yasukuni Shrine" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Lead paragraph) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Minshuto President Ozawa, who assumed the top DPJ post, yesterday 
was interviewed by the Mainichi Shimbun at party headquarters. 
When asked about the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at 
Yasukuni Shrine, Ozawa again gave a critical view: "From the 
beginning, they should not have been enshrined there. That's 
wrong." Referring to Class-A war criminals, he stated: "They told 
the Japanese people that you should die if you were taken 
prisoners. They, however, did not die and were held as prisoners. 
That's nonsense. They were not war dead and were not qualified to 
be honored at the shrine." 
 
21) Poll: 56%, or 90% of Minshuto supporters, have expectations 
for Ozawa 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
April 11, 2006 
 
A total of 56%of respondents have expectations, either fully or 
to some extent, for the new Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) 
head Ichiro Ozawa, while 40% do not expect much from him, 
according to a nationwide (interview) survey by the Yomiuri 
Shimbun on April 8-9. Among those who said they supported the 
largest opposition party, 90% said they expected much of Ozawa. 
Public support for Minshuto stood at 14.0%, up 2.9 points over 
the previous survey in March (11.1%). 
 
Some 50%of respondents said they believed Ozawa had the ability 
to rebuild the party, while 43% gave a negative reply. Among 
Minshuto supporters, 76% said Ozawa would be able to resuscitate 
 
TOKYO 00001931  012 OF 012 
 
 
the party. 
 
Asked if Minshuto has the ability to hold the reins of 
government, 61% said they did not think Minshuto was capable of 
governing, while 30% said that they believed the party was 
equipped to take the reins of government. In a (telephone) survey 
in early April, just after former Maehara announced his intention 
to resign over a bogus e-mail scandal, 67% said "no," and 22% 
said, "yes." Asked about the policy stance the opposition party 
should take in future Diet sessions, 77% suggested a "stance of 
presenting counterproposals," while 16% called for a 
"confrontational stance." 
 
22) Cabinet support inches up to 56 % 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Public support for the Koizumi cabinet edged up 1.1 points to 56 
%. The support rate of the Liberal Democratic Party rose 0.5 
point to 42.8 %. 
 
23) Poll: Public support for Ozawa-led Minshuto remains low; Abe 
stands out as top choice to succeed Koizumi 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
April 11, 2006 
 
Following Ichiro Ozawa's assumption of the post of Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) president, the Sankei Shimbun and FNN 
(Fuji News Network) conducted a joint survey on the current 
political situation on April 8-9. The poll found that 43.8% of 
respondents had expectations for the ability of the Ozawa-led 
Minshuto to hold the reins of government while 38.4% didn't. The 
support rate of Minshuto, though, stood at 17.4%, a distant 
second following the 42.1% for the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP). Asked who is desirable as a successor to Prime Minister 
Koizumi, a whopping 47% chose Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, 
placing former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda a distant 
second with 18.3 %. 
 
Support for the cabinet dropped below the previous survey (56.9 
%) conducted just after the cabinet was reshuffled last November 
to 48.8 %, but the cabinet has enjoyed stable public support 
despite Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's announcement of his 
intention to resign this September. 
 
SCHIEFFER