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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001990 
 
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 04/13/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Defense and security issues: 
4)   Data leak at Misawa Air Base through Winny software 
5)   Okinawa Prefecture to go along with two-runway plan for 
Futenma relocation, appreciates reduction of security burden 
6)   Japan asks US for large reduction in estimated total cost of 
Guam relocation 
7)   Yokosuka Navy Base faces labor strike that could impact on 
carrier's embark 
8)   JDA presents outline of bill to LDP that would raise its 
status to ministry level 
 
North Korea problem: 
9)   China's vice foreign minister: No restarting of 6-party 
  talks this month as US, DPRK remain intransigent 
10)  US, DPRK talks did not materialize in Tokyo; Japan, US 
ratchet up pressure on the North 
11)  Government asks cooperation of South Korea to tackle North 
Korea abduction issue based on new DNA revelation 
 
12)  Iran's announcement of successful uranium enrichment has 
  Japan worried its oil field project in that country will be 
  affected 
 
13)  Former Prime Minister Nakasone calls for removal of 
  enshrined Class A war criminals from Yasukuni Shrine 
 
Political agenda: 
14)  Gap still wide but narrowing between Shinzo Abe and Yasuo 
  Fukuda in popular choice for next premier: Yomiuri poll 
15)  LDP, New Komeito agree to change controversial word in 
amended Basic Education Law to "love of nation and homeland" 
16)  Minshuto comes out against administrative reform bill, 
demands major overhaul 
 
17)  With US, China reaching agreement to resume beef trade, 
  Japan expects US to heighten pressure on it to do the same 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
LDP, New Komeito agree on idea of including in revised education 
law "patriotism" definition as a "mind that loves the nation and 
homeland" 
 
Mainichi: 
USEN mulls taking full control of Livedoor 
 
Yomiuri: 
Okinawa Prefecture set to accept Futenma relocation plan after 
release of final report on US force realignment 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Small, mid-size firms in precision parts and die-cast businesses 
increasing capital investments 
 
TOKYO 00001990  002 OF 012 
 
 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Lynch murder case: Police tried for negligence 
(2)  Six-party talks: Cold wind blowing 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  One year after anti-Japanese demonstrations: Strained 
relations between Japan, China have negative impact on Asia 
(2)  Lynch murder in Tochigi: Police must take judgment seriously 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Fundamental Law of Education: Dispute over "patriotism" 
finally comes to end 
(2)  Despite highest record of yuan's value, US still 
dissatisfied 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Distrust in EU exposed in general election in Italy 
(2)  Japan, South Korea should join hands on North Korea's 
abduction, nuclear issues 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Judgment in lynch-murder trial "Investigation neglect" has 
weighty meaning 
(2)  Perfect international coalition necessary against Iran's 
nuclear development 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  Tochigi murder case: Police must fulfill duty of protecting 
citizens' lives 
(2)  GM restructuring: Reliable business partner necessary 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 12 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
April 13, 2006 
 
09:56 
Met National Personnel Authority President Tani at Kantei. 
 
11:40 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe. 
 
14:28 
Met LDP Secretary General Takebe. 
 
16:00 
Met Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorim and others. 
 
17:47 
Met LDP Public Relations Bureau Director Ishizaki. 
 
18:25 
Had a haircut at Capitol Tokyu Hotel. 
 
20:46 
Arrived at residential quarters in Kantei. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001990  003 OF 012 
 
 
4) Misawa base data, including permits to enter premises, 
uploaded to Internet via Winny 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 13, 2006 
 
Report by the cyberterrorism news coverage team 
 
Information including data on permits required for entering US 
Misawa Air Base in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, and lists of 
registered vehicle numbers, have been uploaded to the Internet 
via the Winny file-sharing program, sources revealed yesterday. 
 
Experts have warned that such data, still in effect, might 
threaten the security of the base. 
 
According to data obtained by the Mainichi Shimbun, the lists are 
written in English and included some Japanese names. The data is 
believed to have been uploaded to the Internet in late March. 
Included in the data were permits issued to 109 construction 
workers and 77 vehicles. Additionally, such information as names, 
genders, dates of birth, names of companies, and specific work 
was listed. 
 
They are believed to be lists of companies and their workers who 
undertook repair work for a building at the base this past March. 
An official of an Aomori civil engineering company on the list 
acknowledged that engineering work had actually been conducted 
and that company employees were on the list, saying: "Our company 
carried out work at the base in around March. The people on the 
list exist." 
 
Besides these lists, the data includes construction reports in 
English. Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. is also listed as 
a contractor. A company spokesperson noted: "We don't know 
because we haven't been able to get hold of the person in charge. 
We would like to check facts." 
 
Both the US Forces Japan Headquarters Public Affairs Department 
in Tokyo and the US Misawa Base press section said, "We cannot 
make any comments, because officials in charge are not here." 
Officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Facilities 
Administration Agency also said, "We are not in a position to 
comment." 
 
The Air Self-Defense Force is jointly using Misawa Air Base. 
 
Comment by military analyst Kazuhisa Ogawa 
 
Equipped with a signal-monitoring facility commonly called an 
"elephant cage," Misawa Air Base is an extremely vital base for 
the US military. Someone could enter the base by passing himself 
off as a construction worker by forging a permit based on the 
leaked data. The use of data by a terrorist group for subversive 
acts could seriously damage the US military's global strategy. 
 
5) Okinawa ready to OK Futenma relocation 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) 
April 13, 2006 
 
Okinawa Prefecture has informally told the government that it 
 
TOKYO 00001990  004 OF 012 
 
 
overall appreciates and accepts the planned realignment of US 
forces in Japan, including a plan that has been basically agreed 
on between Tokyo and Nago City to relocate the US Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the city. 
The Okinawa prefectural government, however, has set 
preconditions for its acceptance of the realignment process on a 
formal accord between the Japanese and US governments to 
translate a package of burden-lessening steps into action. 
Specifically, Okinawa has asked Tokyo to cut 8,000 US Marines 
from those stationed in Okinawa, return bases in the middle and 
southern parts of Okinawa's main island, and transfer fighter jet 
training flight missions from Kadena airbase to elsewhere. 
Okinawa Prefecture's Governor Keiichi Inamine is ready to meet 
with Prime Minister Koizumi this month as soon as the two 
governments works out a final report on their realignment 
efforts. The governor will then welcome it. With this, the 
relocation of Futenma airfield, a major issue left pending in the 
process of realigning the US military presence in Japan, is now 
expected to reach a settlement. 
 
The government plans to lay down a V-shaped pair of airstrips at 
the site of an alternative facility to be built in Camp Schwab's 
coastal area (across the cape of Henoko in the city of Nago) to 
take over the heliport functions of Futenma airfield. Meanwhile, 
Inamine met with Defense Agency Director General Nukaga on April 
8 and told the defense chief that he would oppose the coastal 
relocation plan. Inamine also said he would respect the city's 
decision on its own. 
 
The government has yet to show the whole picture of measures 
designed to alleviate Okinawa's base-hosting burden. "If the 
package matches the request we presented to the government, then 
I will give it my positive evaluation," Inamine told his aides. 
 
On April 11, Okinawa asked Tokyo to redo a cabinet decision to 
replace the government's initially adopted Henoko offshore 
heliport installation plan with the newly agreed Camp Schwab 
coastal relocation plan after the final report is released. 
 
"The governor can't change his basic stance over the Futenma 
issue right away because of the circumstances in the past," an 
influential supporter of Inamine said. "That's why," this 
supporter added, "he says he will 'respect' (Nago City's decision 
to accept the government's overtures of V-shaped tarmacs)." He 
also said, "That's the same as his de facto acceptance (of the 
government's coastal relocation plan), and we also support the 
prefectural government's stance." 
 
The government is legally required to ask for the governor's 
permission before it can start filling in the sea to build the 
replacement facility. "That's the matter we'll talk about after 
an environmental assessment (three years from now)," the governor 
said. With this, the government is thinking of foregoing his 
decision on whether to give go-ahead or not. 
 
6) USFJ realignment; Japan to call for substantial reduction in 
cost of relocating US Marines to Guam to less than 8 billion 
dollars 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
April 13, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00001990  005 OF 012 
 
 
Tokyo and Washington will resume working-level talks of officials 
responsible for foreign and defense affairs in Tokyo starting 
today. The US estimates the cost of transferring US Marines 
stationed in Okinawa to Guam at approximately 10 billion dollars, 
but Japan plans to call on the US to cut the amount to less than 
8 billion dollars. Since the US estimate covers the cost of 
building facilities for the Navy and the Air Force, as well, 
Tokyo intends to ask it to limit the coverage of cost 
calculations to facilities for the Marine Corps, taking into 
account the wary atmosphere in the ruling camp about the massive 
fiscal burden Tokyo will likely have to bear. 
 
The government has recently struck a deal in principle with Nago 
City on its acceptance of the relocation to Camp Schwab of 
Futenma Air Station. The government wants to give impetus to a 
final agreement on the issue before the end of the month, by 
paving the way for the settlement of the relocation of US Marines 
to Guam, the greatest obstacle in working-level talks. 
 
Japan plans to pay over 30% of the relocation cost from the 
general account and over 30% in loans, using the Japan Bank for 
International Cooperation. It hopes that the US will cover the 
remaining 30% or so. 
 
7) All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union planning strike at 
Yokosuka Naval Base due to loggerheads with government and US 
military over continued employment; Kitty Hawk's departure may be 
affected; Talks with DFAA on April 14 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Abridged) 
Evening, April 12, 2006 
 
The All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union (Zenchuro) composed of 
Japanese workers employed at US bases in Japan has been at 
loggerheads with the government and the US military over 
employment conditions. In the event their collective bargaining 
April 14 with the Defense Facilities Administration Agency breaks 
off, union members are planning to stage a large-scale strike for 
the first time in 15 years at Yokosuka Naval Base, where the US 
Navy's Seventh Fleet is based, sources revealed. The strike may 
delay the departure of the USS Kitty Hawk based at Yokosuka and 
hinder US military operations. 
 
Yokosuka Naval Base is characterized as an essential base for the 
US military's global strategy. The USS Kitty Hawk based at 
Yokosuka is scheduled to be replaced with the USS George 
Washington in 2008. Of the 5,400 Japanese employees at the 
Yokosuka base, 1,700 engineers work at the Ship Repair Facility 
(SRF). 
 
The Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement stipulates that the 
employment of Japanese workers and their labor conditions are 
basically subject to domestic laws and ordinances. But in 
reality, making changes to their treatment is not possible 
without US consent. 
 
The union is demanding that those over 60 of age be allowed to 
continue to work at US bases in accordance with the revised Law 
for the Stabilization of Employment of the Aged that took effect 
April 1. The law basically obligates employers to continue the 
employment of all workers in accordance with their wishes to 
match the gradually delay in the eligible age to start receiving 
 
TOKYO 00001990  006 OF 012 
 
 
pensions. That can be achieved either by raising the mandatory 
retirement age, introducing a continued employment system as was 
agreed upon between labor and management, or abolishing the 
mandatory retirement system. Although private corporations have 
reportedly completed implementing one of those systems, a 
conclusion has yet to be reached for Japanese workers employed by 
US bases. 
 
The union has criticized the DFAA's stance toward the US military 
as weak-kneed, while the DFAA simply indicated that it would do 
its best to obtain the understanding of the US military. The two 
sides have yet to find common ground. 
 
A union member noted, "The US military, especially the Navy, is 
insistent on having discretionary powers to determine those 
subject to continued employment." 
 
According to a union executive, several hundred members are 
planning to put pickets at the base's gates. Details of the 
strike will be determined after talks. "We are not hesitate to 
adversely affect the departure of the Kitty Hawk expected to 
occur in late May," a union member said. 
 
Meanwhile, a DFAA labor union affairs official said, "We have 
been working hard so that the US military and the union can reach 
a basic agreement to (avoid the strike) in line with the union's 
position." 
 
8) Defense Agency presents to ruling coalition outline of bill to 
upgrade itself to a ministry 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 13, 2006 
 
The Defense Agency presented yesterday the outline of its bill to 
upgrade itself to the level of a ministry to the ruling coalition 
parties, which aim to submit a set of relevant bills to the 
ongoing Diet session. The agency plans to have the bill submitted 
as a set along with another bill amending the Self-Defense Forces 
(SDF) Law so that international peace cooperation activities 
would become an SDF primary duty. 
 
The agency proposes two amendments to the SDF Law that add to the 
SDF's primary duties: (1) activities in response to contingencies 
in areas surrounding Japan; and (2) activities that contribute to 
stability of the security environment through the promotion of 
international cooperation. 
 
The anti-terrorism special measures law and the Iraq 
reconstruction special measures law would be characterized as 
supplementary provisions to the SDF Law as is. However, 
activities to be conducted under those two laws would be 
interpreted as part of the SDF's primary duties. The ruling 
parties will likely start full-scale coordination next week or 
later. 
 
9) No resumption of six-party talks in April, according to 
Chinese vice foreign minister; No compromise between US, DPRK 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
April 13, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00001990  007 OF 012 
 
 
Chief representatives to the six-party talks on North Korea's 
nuclear programs yesterday continued mutual contacts in order to 
bring about a resumption of the six-party talks, but their 
efforts ended without results yesterday. Some of the 
representatives, including those from Japan and the United 
States, called on North Korean officials to return to the six- 
party talks unconditionally, but North Korea simply reiterated 
its position that the first order of business must be lifting the 
financial sanctions imposed on it. Because of the failure to gain 
any prospect for restarting the six-party talks, which have been 
suspended since last November, the US is certain to bolster its 
hard-line attitude toward North Korea in the days ahead. 
 
US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill and South 
Korea's Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Diplomacy Chun Yung 
Woo met yesterday morning. Chun briefed Hill on his meeting on 
the night of April 11 with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim 
Kye Gwan. After the meeting, Hil told reporters that resuming the 
six-party talks "would benefit not only us but also North Korea." 
Chun said, "It's difficult to find a point of compromise between 
the US and North Korea." 
 
Wu Dawei, vice foreign minister of China, the host nation of the 
six-party talks, yesterday was asked by reporters at Narita 
Airport about the possibility of restarting the six-party talks 
in April. Wu replied, "No." 
 
10) Japan, US shifting emphasis toward pressuring North Korea; No 
talks between US, DPRK 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
April 13, 2006 
 
Senior officials from the United States, China, and South Korea, 
who had been visiting Japan to attend an international academic 
conference, sponsored by a private organization, left for their 
home countries yesterday. Talks between the US and North Korea at 
the conference had been viewed as a key to a resumption of the 
six-party talks but never occurred. The US has instead decided to 
take a fresh sanction measure against North Korea. A stable 
Korean Peninsula is in the common interests of Japan, the US, and 
South Korea, and the three countries have used the two policy 
lines of dialogue and pressure as the situation demands, but they 
are likely to move to put even more pressure on North Korea in 
the near future. 
 
New sanction measure 
 
In addition to financial sanctions already imposed on North 
Korea, the US will take add a fresh punitive measure against 
North Korean ships starting on May 8. The US Department of the 
Treasury will amend the regulations on foreign asset management 
so as to prohibit US firms and Americans to possess or use North 
Korean ships. This action is unlikely to have a substantial 
impact on the North, but it is intended to underscore America's 
position of increasing pressure on that country. 
 
A high-level US official explained: "We will deal with such human 
rights issues as North Korean defectors during the upcoming US- 
China summit talks set for April 20." In the US-China summit, 
Washington apparently intends to make clear its position of 
driving Pyongyang into a corner by intensifying pressure on it. 
 
TOKYO 00001990  008 OF 012 
 
 
 
ROK shows sign of turning around its policy 
 
South Korea has until recently advanced its reconciliation policy 
but it is now showing signs of shifting the stance. Chun Yung 
Woo, chief of South Korea's Office of Korean Peninsula Peace 
Talks, visited Japan and attended a trilateral meeting of Japan, 
the US, and South Korea for the first time in a long while, 
although Seoul until then had avoided taking part in such a 
meeting out of fear of irritating Pyongyang. Before leaving 
Japan, Chun told reporters: "I hope North Korea has a good 
perception about the common voice of other members of the six- 
party talks and used that to consider returning to the six-party 
talks." 
 
On April 11, the Japanese government unveiled the results of DNA 
tests on Megumi Yokota's husband as if to be timed with 
individual talks between major representatives to the six-party 
talks. Many observers analyzed this move of Japan as aiming to 
form a coalition against North Korea by bringing South Korea, 
which also has the abduction issue, into the abduction talks. 
 
11) Japan asks ROK for cooperation on abduction issue, plans to 
provide Megumi Yokota's daughter's blood for DNA testing 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
April 13, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe yesterday discussed on the 
phone with South Korean Ambassador to Japan Ra Chong Il the 
results of DNA tests that showed a strong possibility that the 
husband of Megumi Yokota might have been a South Korean abductee 
and said to him: "We'd like to work in close cooperation with 
your country in the future as well." The government plans to 
provide a blood sample from Megumi Yokota's daughter, Kim Hye 
Gyong, and South Korea intends to conduct a DNA test 
independently. 
 
Abe expressed gratitude for cooperation from the South Korean 
government in the process of obtaining blood samples from 
families of South Korean abductees. Referring to Japan-South 
Korea cooperation, Ra stated: "After verifying the facts based on 
(our own DNA test result and other means), we'd like to consider 
a future response, heeding the wishes of the victims' families." 
 
12) Iran succeeds in producing enriched uranium; Japanese 
government concerned about impact on oil field development 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
April 13, 2006 
 
Iran announced on April 11 that it has succeeded in producing low- 
grade enriched uranium. The announcement came amid the United 
Nations Security Council's (UNSC) efforts to have Iran drop its 
uranium-enrichment project. Some observers anticipate that the UN 
may invoke economic sanctions against Iran under the lead of 
Western powers in fear of Iran's possible development of nuclear 
weapons. Talk is also growing for US military action against it. 
 
The Japanese government and business circles are closely looking 
at the situation. Should oil prices rise further in response to 
the tense situation, a damper could be put on Japan's rising 
 
TOKYO 00001990  009 OF 012 
 
 
economy. Further, the United States might urge Japan to suspend 
the development of the Azadegan oil field in Iran. 
 
Crude oil prices are now likely to go up further. On the New York 
Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) crude oil futures market on April 11, 
the Wet Texas Intermediate (WTI) to be delivered in May closed at 
68.98 dollars per barrel, up 0.24 dollars from the previous day. 
This figure is close to the highest ever record of 69.81 dollars 
on August 30 of last year. 
 
The intensifying situation in Iran is a cause for anxiety for 
Japan's energy policy. Japan imported about 230 million barrels 
of oil from Japan in 2004. Iran is its third largest oil supplier 
(15% of Japan's imports), following United Arab Emirates and 
Saudi Arabia. Japan has also established a friendly relationship 
with Iran. In February 2004, the two countries signed a contract 
for a project to develop the Azadegan oil field, the largest oil 
field in Iran. 
 
Given this, the Japanese government is now in a quandary. Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe criticized Iran in a press 
conference yesterday: "If it is true that Iran has started 
enriching uranium, it is highly regrettable." But he emphatically 
said that Japan would try to bring about a settlement through 
diplomatic efforts, indicating that Japan would like to avoid 
economic sanctions. 
 
The US, though, is expected to step up efforts toward UNSC 
economic sanctions against Iran. The Japanese government has no 
other choice for the time being but to work on both the US and 
Iran to continue diplomatic efforts. It has exchanged views with 
the US. 
 
13) Former Prime Minister Nakasone calls for separate 
enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 13, 2006 
 
Speaking at a study session yesterday of new lawmakers of the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, former Prime Minister 
Yasuhiro Nakasone criticized China and South Korea, "It is narrow- 
minded to reject summit meetings due to the Yasukuni issue." He 
then added: 
 
"I don't go along with the International Military Tribunal for 
the Far East (in which Class-A criminals were tried).  However, 
leaders at the time had responsibilities for the consequences. I 
am one of those who calls for enshrining the Class-A criminals at 
Yasukuni Shrine separately from the other war dead. I think such 
would be possible if the head of the shrine so decides." 
 
14-1) Poll: Fukuda closes in on Abe in post-Koizumi race 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
April 13, 2006 
 
In a recent face-to-face public opinion survey conducted by the 
Yomiuri Shimbun on April 8-9, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe topped 
the list at 44%, down 1 percentage point from last month's 
survey, as the most likely successor to Prime Minister Koizumi, 
 
TOKYO 00001990  010 OF 012 
 
 
who has clarified his intention to step down in September. In the 
survey, respondents were asked to pick one from among nine 
persons in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party as the post- 
Koizumi leader. Abe stood out of all other candidates, following 
the two previous surveys taken in February and March. In the 
latest survey, however, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo 
Fukuda rose 3 points to 13% in public support, starting to close 
in on Abe. 
 
Among other post-Koizumi candidates in the LDP, Foreign Minister 
Aso stood at 5%, down 1 point from last month; Internal Affairs 
and Communications Minister Takenaka at 3%, leveling off from 
last month; former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato at 2%, 
leveling off from last month; Environment Minister Koike at 2%, 
also flat from last month; Finance Minister Tanigaki at 1%, down 
1 point. 
 
14-2) Poll: Post-Koizumi race 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 13, 2006 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage.) 
 
Q: Prime Minister Koizumi has clarified that he would step down 
when his term as LDP president expires in September this year. 
Pick only one from among the following nine persons if there is 
anyone who you think is appropriate as the next prime minister. 
 
Taro Aso                       5.0 
Shinzo Abe                    44.0 
Koichi Kato                    2.3 
Yuriko Koike                   1.9 
Heizo Takenaka                 2.6 
Sadakazu Tanigaki              1.2 
Fukushiro Nukaga               0.2 
Yasuo Fukuda                  13.2 
Taku Yamasaki                  0.5 
Others, none, no answer       29.2 
 
Polling methodology 
Date of survey: April 8-9. 
Subjects of survey: 3,000 persons chosen from among all eligible 
voters throughout the country (at 250 locations on a stratified 
two-stage random sampling basis). 
Method of implementation: Door-to-door visits for face-to-face 
interviews. 
Number of valid respondents: 1,823 persons (60.8%). 
Breakdown of respondents: Male-48% , female-52% . 
 
15) LDP, New Komeito agree to define "patriotism" as "a mind that 
respects tradition and culture, loves the country and homeland 
that have fostered them" 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
April 13, 2006 
 
A study panel on a revision of the Basic Education Law of the 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito yesterday 
agreed to find a suitable expression for "patriotism" by calling 
it "a mind that respects tradition and culture, loves the country 
 
TOKYO 00001990  011 OF 012 
 
 
and homeland that have fostered them." Following this, the 
government and ruling coalition will hurry up coordination in 
order to submit a bill to the current Diet session. Coordination 
will not go smoothly because some LDP lawmakers will likely 
oppose the panel's decision and because there will be need to 
extend the term of the ongoing Diet session in order to pass the 
bill. 
 
Regarding the description of patriotism, the panel accepted its 
chairman Tadamori Oshima's proposal with no changes. 
 
The panel also agreed in effect to retain such wording as "in 
accordance with the sprit of the Japanese Constitution," which is 
stipulated in the preamble to the Constitution, as well as 
"(education) is not compliant with improper control," which is 
included in a clause of the education administration law. 
 
16) DPJ to present counterproposals to government's 
administrative reform promotion bill; Drastic revision to 
government-sponsored projects 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 13, 2006 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) at a meeting of 
its "next cabinet" decided to oppose the government's 
administrative reform promotion bill. It will introduce 
counterproposals to the Diet today. The major opposition DPJ will 
thus come up with a stronger confrontational stance in Diet 
debate on administrative reform as well. 
 
The DPJ's bill will consist of the following features: (1) 
establishing an administrative renewal conference chaired by the 
prime minister for a major transfer of central-government- 
sponsored projects to local governments; and (2) strengthening 
regulations on the prevention of government-office-led bid- 
rigging and amakudari practices by retiring bureaucrats. 
 
A senior DPJ Policy Research Council member noted that in calling 
for revisions to government-sponsored projects, the DPJ would 
claim that the abolition or decentralization of unnecessary 
projects would contribute to eliminating over 40% of such 
projects. 
 
As measures to prevent government-office-led bid-rigging, the DPJ 
will propose reviewing qualifications for companies that have 
accepted retired bureaucrats to take part in bidding and 
strengthening a regulation that restricts former bureaucrats 
reemployed in the private sector from asking for the provision of 
information on biddings from government offices to which they 
belonged. 
 
The DPJ bill will also include various proposals it has made in 
the past, including reform of the civil servant system, 
government-affiliated financial institutions, and the special 
account system. 
 
Commenting on his party's bill, DPJ Policy Research Council 
Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto on April 12 told a news conference: 
"Leader Ozawa said that in presenting such a bill, it is 
important that the basic positions on various proposals are 
solid. In this respect, we are in total agreement with Mr. 
 
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Ozawa." 
 
He also explained why the DPJ is against the government bill, "It 
has become clear during the process of discussions on the bill 
that its contents are opaque." 
 
17) Japan may come under greater pressure to resume US beef 
imports 
 
YOMIURI (Page 8) (Full) 
April 13, 2006 
 
Now that an agreement has been reached between Washington and 
Beijing on China's reinstatement of US beef imports, Japan may 
come under heavy fire for its continued rejection of beef trade 
with the US. US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns noted in the 
April 11 press conference, "China's decision will send a signal 
throughout the world (that US beef is safe)." 
 
China has expressed its willingness to match its import 
conditions to international standards. The US may urge Japan to 
ease significantly its standards, which are more severe than 
those of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), in 
resuming US beef imports. 
 
SCHIEFFER