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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 002519 
 
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 05/10/06 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Defense issues: 
4)   With USFJ realignment settled, JDA pushing alone for a 
  rewriting of Japan-US security declaration 
5)   JDA chief Nukaga wants to expedite revision of joint 
operations plan 
6)   Cost of relocating Futenma Air Station to Henoko Point will 
be 100 billion yen cheaper than estimated cost of original plan 
for runway off shore 
7)   MSDF Aegis ship to join US' missile defense test for first 
time next month 
 
China connection: 
8)   Japanese business leaders oppose Prime Minister Koizumi's 
  Yasukuni Shrine visits, propose secular national war monument 
9)   Ambassador Wang in speech calls for improvement of ties 
between China, Japan 
10)  Gas talks restart between Japan, China as prelude for 
normalcy in relations 
11)  Ambassador Wang wants to see a foreign ministerial meeting 
soon between China, Japan 
 
12)  Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda is off to visit 
  the US to build credentials as prime ministerial candidate 
 
13)  Japan carrying out spot inspections of US meatpackers in 
  preparation for restarting beef imports 
 
14)  With unsold stocks piling up, Fisheries Agency begins 
  campaign to get more Japanese to eat whale meat 
 
15)  For eight years in a row, suicide rate in Japan rises above 
  30,000  a sign perhaps of growing social disparity 
 
Diet agenda: 
16)  With important bills in Diet being delayed, hard line 
  positions in the LDP to ram them through gaining ground 
17)  Plan for joint party presentation of national referendum 
bill on Constitution withdrawn as Minshuto balks 
18)  Minshuto President Ozawa reveals that heart condition 
prevents him from working immediately after eating 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Punishment of Chuo-Aoyama Audit Corporation will affect 2,800 
companies; Decision to be made today 
 
Mainichi: 
Citibank misprocesses 275,000 transactions due to computer glitch 
 
Yomiuri: 
Education Ministry survey finds 208 erroneous descriptions in 
middle school textbooks 
 
 
TOKYO 00002519  002 OF 013 
 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Yamato Transport, Nippon Yusen KK to forge business alliance; 
Mutual investments by leading companies 
 
Sankei: 
Using benefits for elderly people for measures to deal with low 
birth rate proposed; Social security panel considering fiscal 
resources, including consumption tax hike 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
National referendum bill: LDP, New Komeito give up presenting 
bill jointly with DPJ 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Members of Goto-gumi crime syndicate rounded up: Stem the 
spread of underworld's influence 
(2)  New elections in Thailand will pave way for normalization 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Chuo-Aoyama Audit Corporation to be disciplined: Mechanism 
to prevent wrongdoing needed 
(2)  Reform of tax allocation system: Encouraging 
decentralization important 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Chuo-Aoyama Audit Corporation: Crime and punishment of audit 
firm that allowed window dressing 
(2)  Local allocation tax: Downsizing key to reform 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Speed up efforts to prevent collusive ties between companies 
and accountants 
(2)  End tragedy in Sudan 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Punishment of Chuo-Aoyama Audit Corporation: Japanese 
Institute of Certified Public Accountants should take 
responsibility and carry on with reform 
(2)  Stem business activities by crime syndicates 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  Chuo-Aoyama Audit Corporation: Padding accounts of client 
firm deplorable 
(2)  Annual spring wage battle: Small, medium-size companies, 
part-timers fought well, but disparities remain 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 9 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
May 10, 2006 
 
09:01 
Attended cabinet meeting in Diet building. Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nagase remained in the room. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
09:34 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002519  003 OF 013 
 
 
10:13 
Attended grand cordon personal investiture ceremony at the 
Imperial Palace. 
 
10:52 
Returned to Kantei. 
 
13:23 
Attended award ceremony for the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and 
Silver Star at the Imperial Palace. 
 
15:04 
Met US Cherry Blossom Queen Kristina Hillboldt and Japanese 
Cherry Blossom Queen Tomoko Miki. Met afterwards with Vice 
Finance Minister for International Affairs Watanabe. 
 
16:30 
Met with Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Takenaka. 
 
17:12 
Met with Financial Affairs Minister Yosano. 
 
19:07 
Dined with secretaries at Australian restaurant in Akasaka. 
 
21:21 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) USFJ realignment up in the air 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
May 10, 2006 
 
The realignment of US forces in Japan is up in the air. The 
Defense Agency wants to revise the Japan-US Security Joint 
Declaration in order to redefine the bilateral alliance. The 
agency also wants to renew the Japan-US Defense Cooperation 
Guidelines in an aim to clear up bilateral cooperation between 
the two countries. However, there are negative views in the 
government about that move. In the meantime, the United States 
also wants to go ahead with actual joint operations. Tokyo and 
Washington will likely continue to jockey for their respective 
standpoints ahead of a Japan-US summit slated for late next 
month. 
 
"Our bilateral alliance is now about to enter a new phase with 
the realignment of US forces in Japan, and we should discuss 
ideals and objectives." Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro 
Nukaga made this statement before the House of Councillors 
Foreign and Defense Affairs Committee in its meeting held 
yesterday. With this, Nukaga reiterated his willingness to revise 
the security declaration. 
 
The Japanese and US governments released the security declaration 
when the two countries' leaders met in 1996. In those days, the 
Soviet threat had disappeared after the Cold War. Meanwhile, 
North Korea was suspected of developing nuclear weapons. 
Factoring in these uncertainties, the joint declaration set forth 
the importance of a close partnership between Japan and the 
United States in the Asia-Pacific region. 
 
In an aim to revise the joint declaration, Nukaga is laying 
 
TOKYO 00002519  004 OF 013 
 
 
emphasis on his notion of globalizing the Japan-US bilateral 
alliance. "We should consider how to define our international 
peace cooperation." With this, Nukaga talked about Japan's role 
as a US ally. 
 
Following the 1996 security declaration, Japan sent Maritime Self- 
Defense Force ships to the Indian Ocean and also dispatched 
Ground Self-Defense Force troops to Iraq. Japan's Self-Defense 
Forces have been teaming up with US forces in their international 
activities. The SDF's role was to back up the war on terror in 
order to prevent Iraq and other nations from becoming terrorist 
hotbeds in their political and security destabilization. 
 
Reason came after reality. Even so, many in the Defense Agency 
are insisting on redefining Japan's role in its international 
activities. "We should clear up our bilateral tasks and efforts 
for international activities in a revised security declaration," 
a senior official of the agency noted. Satoshi Morimoto, director 
of the Institute of World Studies at Takushoku University, has 
also suggested the need to revise the security declaration. 
"North Korea launched a Taepodong missile, and the September 11 
terrorist attacks also took place," Morimoto noted. He added: 
"China's military power is also different from that of ten years 
ago. In all senses, the security environment has undergone a sea 
change." 
 
The Defense Agency wants to have a new security declaration 
released at the scheduled summit, and the agency also wants to 
have the new security declaration specify a course of action to 
renew the defense guidelines. This is the same roadmap as that 
for the security declaration issued 10 years ago and the defense 
guidelines revised in 1997. 
 
However, such a move was halted. "We won't go so far as to review 
the guidelines." This statement came from Foreign Minister Taro 
Aso right before the May 1 meeting of the Japan-US Security 
Consultative Committee, or SCC for short and known as a "two-plus- 
two" meeting of cabinet ministers for foreign and defense 
affairs. There are negative views in the government about 
revising the security declaration. "We've already declared global 
cooperation, though not much has been done about it," a 
government source said. 
 
In addition, Aso has also suggested the need to detail the Japan- 
US security arrangement to make it function effectively. This 
also can be taken as reflecting the US government's standpoint. 
 
Japan and the United States, in their last revised defense 
guidelines, clarified their intention to study bilateral defense 
planning in anticipation of emergencies in Japan. However, the 
two governments have failed to work it out, and Washington's 
frustration has been growing. The US government therefore wants 
to shape plans for actual combat operations instead of revising 
the guidelines over again, according to a defense-related 
lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. 
 
5) Defense chief Nukaga: Speed up revising bilateral defense 
planning 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 10, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00002519  005 OF 013 
 
 
At a session yesterday of the House of Councillors Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and Defense, Defense Agency Director General 
Fukushiro Nukaga revealed that his agency would accelerate the 
work of revising bilateral defense planning between Japan's Self- 
Defense Forces (SDF) and the US military in a contingency 
involving Japan. He stated: "The plan should have been revised. 
Since we fall behind, we will seed up the work." 
 
6) Construction of Futenma alternative facility will cost over 
300 billion yen, 100 billion yen less expensive than Henoko 
offshore plan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 10, 2006 
 
An outline of the plan to build an alternative facility for the 
US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station at the coastline of Camp 
Schwab in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, became clear yesterday. The 
facility will occupy a total space of 180 hectares. Of it, about 
20% will be built on the land portion of the base with the 
remaining 80% on reclaimed land. The alternative facility is 
expected to be completed by 2014 at a cost of 300 to 350 billion 
yen -- l00 billion yen less than the previous Henoko offshore 
plan. The government plans to determine the plan in detail by the 
summer based on talks with the Okinawa and Nago municipal 
governments to begin environment assessment procedures in the 
fall. 
 
The US force realignment final report, released on May 1, 
specified the construction of two runways in a V shape measuring 
600 meters each and 1,800 meters in total including the overruns. 
 
It also became clear that reclamation would cost 200 billion yen 
and that the construction of such facilities as the runways, 
apron, aircraft hanger, and the relocation of existing facilities 
from Camp Schwab to the training range would come to over 200 
billion yen. 
 
7) MSDF Aegis ship to participate in US test for 1st time 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Abridged) 
May 10, 2006 
 
An Aegis-equipped destroyer of the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
will participate in an intercept test to be conducted next month 
by the United States for missile defense in waters off Hawaii 
with an Aegis ship's SM-3 sea-based intercept missiles, the MSDF 
announced yesterday. The MSDF destroyer will radar-track the 
target, according to the MSDF. 
 
This is the first time for the MSDF to participate in an 
intercept missile test with its Aegis vessel. "We'd like to 
improve our interoperability at sea," MSDF Chief of Staff Takashi 
Saito said. Japan and the United States will further joint naval 
operations including intelligence sharing. 
 
According to the MSDF, participating in the MD test is the 
Kirishima, a 7,250-ton destroyer, which was staged in the Arabian 
Sea for refueling missions. In the MD test, an Aegis vessel of 
the US Navy is to intercept a mockup ballistic missile with an SM- 
3 missile. The Kirishima will track the mockup projectile's path 
to back up the US Navy. 
 
TOKYO 00002519  006 OF 013 
 
 
 
8) Japan Association of Corporate Executives urges prime minister 
to reconsider his Yasukuni visits; Proposes construction of 
secular memorial 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 10, 2006 
 
The Japan Association of Corporate Executives (JACE or Keizai 
Doyukai) yesterday released a set of proposals on the future of 
Japan-China relations, which included words dissuading Prime 
Minister Koizumi from visiting Yasukuni Shrine. It is unusual for 
any economic organization to oppose the prime minister's visits 
to Yasukuni in its policy proposals. The report also proposed 
that the state construct a secular memorial to offer condolences 
to all war victims, including civilians. The JACE noted that the 
package was mapped out based on the national memorial project 
plan proposed by a private advisory council set up by Yasuo 
Fukuda, when he was chief cabinet secretary. The organization's 
proposals could affect the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) 
presidential election in September. 
 
Concerning the present state, which does not permit the holding 
of a bilateral summit, the package noted: "Taking any action that 
makes Asian countries, such as China, entertain doubts about 
Japan, could lead to undermining what has been achieved in the 
postwar period. The prime minister should exert self-constraint 
on such actions that would not benefit Japan's national 
interests." The business leaders thus took the view that the 
situation has become extremely serious. 
 
The report also pointed out that Prime Minister Koizumi's 
Yasukuni visits are hindering a resumption of summit-level 
exchanges. It then urged the prime minister to reconsider his 
Yasukuni visits, arguing that a national consensus on visits to 
Yasukuni Shrine by a prime minister has yet to be obtained, 
questioning whether the shrine is an appropriate place for 
renewing a pledge never to fight a war again, and raising doubts 
from the perspective of separation of state and religion. 
 
The report also sought China's understanding for Japan's soul- 
searching and to recognize its contributions to Asia. It called 
on China to promote patriotism in education in an objective and 
fair manner. 
 
President Kakutaro Kitashiro, chairman of IBM Japan, told a news 
conference: "We issued those proposals from a standpoint that the 
propriety of visiting Yasukuni Shrine is an issue that should be 
determined at Japan's own judgment. We thought that in Japan's 
view, it would be better if the prime minister refrained from 
visiting Yasukuni. It is undesirable from a national security 
standpoint, too, for the peoples of Japan and China to hold 
confrontational feelings toward each other. Such feelings will 
also hamper stable economic development." 
 
The business organization discussed the set of proposals at an 
executive meeting on April 21. It revealed that among about 270 
executives, approximately 70 attended, of whom about 60 favored 
the proposal, while 11 or 12 opposed it. The motion was adopted 
by a majority.  It is unusual for the JACE to take a vote on such 
a proposal. It was the first time since Kitashiro became 
president. 
 
TOKYO 00002519  007 OF 013 
 
 
 
9) Chinese ambassador calls for improvement in Japan-China 
relations 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 10, 2006 
 
Delivering a speech at a lecture sponsored by the Asia Research 
Council, chaired by former Ambassador to the US Nobuo Matsunaga, 
at a Tokyo hotel yesterday, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi 
called for improvement in the strained relations between Japan 
and China. To do so, Wang stressed the need for both sides to (1) 
establish the goal of promoting Asia as a common interest; (2) 
share roles and complement each other to pursue common interests; 
and (3) shift Japan-China relations from the current vicious 
cycle to a virtuous cycle. 
 
The ambassador said: 
 
"Even in view of gross domestic product (GDP) and trade value, 
the two countries have a major impact on the Asian region as a 
whole, going beyond just the bilateral relationship. Setting the 
promotion of Asia as a common interest, both countries should 
reach consensus to that end." 
 
Wang also cited the following remarks made by Chinese President 
Hu Jintao when he met with seven Japan-China friendship groups: 
China (1) will maintain the stance of giving priority to Japan; 
(2) will try to deepen mutual understanding by expediting private- 
sector exchanges; and (3) is ready to hold a summit if the 
Japanese leader promises not to visit Yasukuni Shrine. 
 
The ambassador added: "This message reflects the Chinese 
government's willingness to resolve problems pending between the 
two countries. How to overcome the (Yasukuni) issue, however, is 
Japan's problem in the end." 
 
10) First step toward improving Japan-China relations with 
foreign ministerial talks on natural gas exploration likely to 
occur shortly, but optimism not allowed 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 10, 2006 
 
Through the meeting yesterday of the Japanese and Chinese vice 
foreign ministers to discuss comprehensive policy, it has become 
likely that Japan-China foreign ministerial talks will take place 
by the end of the month. The Japanese government was pleased with 
this outcome, noting: "It is significant for the foreign 
ministers of the two countries to have a face-to-face meeting 
after a lapse of nearly one year." But no optimism is allowed 
about whether relations with China will improve, because Prime 
Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine have cast a long 
shadow over bilateral ties. In addition, senior officials of 
Japan and China are expected to meet next week to discuss natural 
gas exploration in the East China Sea, but given the wide gap in 
views between the two countries, it is unlikely for both sides to 
meet halfway, many observers say. 
 
On a possible meeting between Foreign Minister Aso and his 
Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, Prime Minister Koizumi late 
yesterday said firmly: "Doesn't this mean that (China) has given 
 
TOKYO 00002519  008 OF 013 
 
 
importance to the Japan-China friendship as we have expected? 
Isn't it that China is realizing that it is strange not to hold a 
summit meeting because of one controversial issue (Yasukuni 
Shrine)?" Earlier in the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe told 
the press: "Japan thinks it is necessary to hold talks. For 
China, too, isn't it necessary to hold talks?" Abe thus 
emphasized that holding talks would benefit both Japan and China. 
 
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi yesterday delivered a speech 
in Tokyo, in which he stated: "Holding foreign ministerial talks 
is a big push for (Japan-China relations) to move into a virtuous 
cycle." 
 
The foreign ministerial talks are expected to occur on the 
sidelines of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Qatar set for 
May 23. If realized, they will be the first ones after the ones 
held on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Kyoto 
last May. 
 
In the talks, Foreign Minister Aso is likely to point out the 
importance of continuing political dialogue between Japan and 
China. He also intends to discuss such issues as the now 
suspended six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. But 
China's intention appears to be "making a direct criticism of 
Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine," according to 
a Japanese government official. A heated discussion between Aso 
and his Chinese counterpart is also expected, because Aso often 
irritates China by making hawkish remarks, for instance, calling 
China a threat. 
 
11) Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi eager to bring about 
Japan-China foreign ministerial discourse 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 10, 2006 
 
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi yesterday delivered a speech 
in Tokyo in which he cited the fact that no foreign ministerial 
talks between Japan and China have been held for about a year and 
indicated his intention to rectify the situation, noting: "I hope 
to see them realized. In order to put (Japan-China relations) in 
a virtuous cycle, dialogue at various levels will be essential 
for the two countries." 
 
Wang referred to a growing sense of alarm in Japan toward China, 
which continues to grow, and asserted: "China has no intention of 
becoming the leader of Asia. The premise that Japan and China 
will compete for leadership does not exist." Wang emphasized the 
need for Japan and China to work together for economic 
development in Asia. 
 
12) Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda to leave for US today; 
Aims to call attention to his differences with Koizumi; Growing 
expectations for his ability to widen personal network 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 10, 2006 
 
By Nakahiro Iwata 
 
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, one of the major 
contenders to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, will be 
 
TOKYO 00002519  009 OF 013 
 
 
visiting Washington starting May 10. In the United States, Fukuda 
intends to sell himself as an expert on diplomacy by holding in- 
depth discussions with members of Congress, researchers, and 
other leading figures, while minimizing courtesy calls on high- 
level government officials. 
 
This part March, Fukuda visited South Korea and met with 
President Roh Moo Hyun and other leaders. During the recent 
Golden Week holidays, he traveled to Jordan and the United Arab 
Emirates and met with key government officials. In the meantime, 
he met with US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer, former US 
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and others at home and 
 
SIPDIS 
exchanged views on Japan-China relations and Japan-US relations. 
 
Fukuda's emphasis on Asia diplomacy is increasing his chances of 
criticizing "Koizumi diplomacy." Describing Japan's current 
inability to hold top-level talks with China and South Korea as 
"abnormal," Fukuda lashes out at the current administration's 
attitude regarding historical perceptions, including Prime 
Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine: "Past politicians 
were prudent enough not to cause trouble. But these days, even 
when someone in the cabinet makes a controversial remark, that 
person does not step down." 
 
Fukuda, concerned about this situation in Japan, has stated that 
he would reveal a new set of diplomatic guidelines intended to 
rebuild Japan's diplomacy toward Asia, keeping in mind the 
"Fukuda Doctrine," a basic policy toward Southeast Asia asserted 
by his father, the late former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, and 
envisioning the establishment of an East Asian Community. 
 
Fukuda decided to visit the US out of strong concern that 
although Japan-US ties are viewed as being in good shape, their 
maintenance depends solely on the personal relationship between 
Koizumi and US President Bush. 
 
In addition, during his stay in Washington, where the number of 
pro-Japanese members of Congress and government officials are 
declining, Fukuda intends to see firsthand how much "differences 
in perception" of issues involving Japan exist through exchanges 
of views with American leaders. 
 
There are growing calls within the ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party, particularly among veteran lawmakers, for Fukuda to lead 
other lawmakers in widening Japan's network of contacts with US 
leaders, as evidenced by remarks by a former cabinet member as to 
when to resume US beef imports and the realignment of US forces 
in Japan: "If Japanese and US lawmakers had a broader network of 
connections, these issues would be resolved more easily." 
 
13) Japan to carry out spot inspections of meat-processing plants 
to ease public concern about US beef 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 10, 2006 
 
As measures to allay public concern about the safety of US beef, 
the government decided yesterday to dispatch Japanese inspectors 
to the US to carry out spot inspections on a regular basis of 
meat-processing plants with licenses to ship beef to Japan after 
it resumes US beef imports, according to some government sources. 
The US has also indicated a willingness to accept Japan's plan. 
 
TOKYO 00002519  010 OF 013 
 
 
By underscoring such an approach, the two governments hope to win 
public understanding toward a resumption of trade in US beef. 
 
According to informed sources, inspectors from the Health, Labor, 
and Welfare Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 
Ministry will join unannounced inspections by the US Agriculture 
Department. In public hearings last month between the two 
ministries and consumers, some called for this measure. The 
government also plans to carry out inspections of meatpackers by 
Japanese inspectors before resuming imports and to strengthen 
inspections at the border, like airports, even after reopening 
its market. The government will shortly present these measures to 
the US as preconditions for resuming imports. 
 
14) Fisheries Agency to establish firm to promote more eating of 
whale meat 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
May 10, 2006 
 
The Fisheries Agency and the Institute of Cetacean Research 
announced yesterday that they would jointly establish a company 
to promote sales of meat obtained from research whaling. They 
plan to develop new customers, such as hospitals, and also target 
individuals by using the Internet. 
 
Owing to expanded research whaling, the supply of whale meat has 
expanded from 1,700-1,800 tons from the 1990s to 5,500 tons in 
¶2006. However, sales routes have been limited mainly to 
traditional whale meat restaurants. 
 
By capitalizing on the low-calories found in whale meat, the new 
company intends to develop new customers, such as hospitals, 
supermarkets, and restaurant chains. 
 
15) Number of suicides reach 30,000 for eighth consecutive year, 
experts cite widening income disparity as major cause 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 10, 2006 
 
The number of people who committed suicide in Japan last year is 
likely to top 30,000 for the eighth consecutive year. According 
to a survey by the National Police Agency (NPA), the number of 
suicides was over 30,000 for the seven years in a row from 1998 
through 2004. In 2005, 28,240 suicide cases have been reported to 
the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) as of last 
November, 423 more than a year ago. Since MHLW has set a more 
limited definition of "suicide" than NPA, the number of suicides 
tabulated by NPA is 1,000 to 2,000 more than that of MHLW. Given 
this, it is now almost certain that the number statement of 
suicides to be announced by NPA will exceed 30,000. Some experts 
attribute the growing number of people who commit suicide to the 
widening wealth gap in society. The government is likely to be 
urged to come up with more effective measures to help prevent 
suicides. 
 
NPA targets the nation's overall population (including 
foreigners) in working out its statistics and also regards as a 
suicide even a case in which the cause of death was unknown when 
the body was found but was later concluded to have been a suicide 
through investigation. However, MHLW targets only Japanese 
 
TOKYO 00002519  011 OF 013 
 
 
nationals in Japan and includes in its tally only cases in which 
the death certificate specifies the cause of death as suicide. As 
a result, NPA presented 32,325 as the number of suicides in 2004, 
while MHLW came up with 30,247, about 2,000 less than that of 
NPA. 
 
16) LDP Upper House members, including Aoki, calling for arm- 
twisting approach in reaction to slow Diet deliberations on 
important bills 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) 
May 10, 2006 
 
With less than 30 days left for deliberations in the current Diet 
session, the hard-line argument is gaining ground in the Liberal 
Democratic Party that the lawmakers should speed up deliberations 
and railroad important bills, such as a bill to amend the Basic 
Education Law, through the Diet. Though a minor extension of the 
Diet may be possible, the hardline argument is ascribable to 
growing discontent in the Upper House with a delay in 
deliberations in the Lower House. But the largest opposition 
party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), is reacting strongly 
to such calls. 
 
The LDP held an executive liaison meeting yesterday in which 
Upper House executives, beginning with Mikio Aoki, who heads the 
LDP caucus in the Upper House, complained about the Lower House's 
management of Diet affairs. One said, "(The ruling bloc) should 
clearly demonstrate that it holds two-thirds of the Lower House 
seats." Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe also subscribed to the 
arm-twisting argument, saying to the press after the meeting, "If 
deliberations do not go anywhere and things do not move forward 
as a result, we should take a vote." 
 
Discontent is growing in the Upper House with the ruling bloc's 
failure to set the pace in the Lower House's management of the 
Diet. The government submitted 89 bills to the Diet in the 
current session. Of them, only 30 bills had cleared the Diet as 
of yesterday. Despite the fact that the ruling coalition garnered 
a two-thirds of the Lower House seats as a result of the election 
last September, the ratio of successful bills remains at 33.7%, 
the same as last year's. In addition, deliberations on important 
bills are lagging behind schedule, such as a bill to amend the 
Basic Education Law and a bill to revise the Organized Crime Law 
to make conspiracy a crime. 
 
The Upper House's anxiety was also fueled by Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi's rejection of an extension of the Diet session 
and Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Hiroyuki Hosoda's adamant 
stance to keep harmony with the opposition bloc. LDP Upper House 
Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama complained in a press 
 
SIPDIS 
conference yesterday, "Because the term of the Diet session is 
fixed, a delay in receiving (bills) from the Lower House will 
take its toll on our remaining time." 
 
The adoption of any arm-twisting approach by the ruling bloc is 
certain to draw a backlash from Minshuto. Minshuto Upper House 
Diet affairs chief Kenji Hirata warned the LDP yesterday: "We can 
handle anything, including the ruling bloc's attempt to ram a 
bill through the Diet. We will not hesitate to boycott 
deliberations." 
 
 
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17) Ruling coalition gives up submitting national referendum to 
current Diet session along with Minshuto 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Full) 
May 10, 2006 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition 
partner New Komeito yesterday gave up on submitting to the 
current Diet session jointly with the main opposition party 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) a national referendum bill 
that would set procedures for amending the Constitution. 
 
The ruling coalition has determined that it would be impossible 
to continue consultations since Minshuto President Ichiro Ozawa 
stated yesterday in a press conference that his party was unable 
to approve the idea of introducing the bill together with the two 
ruling parties. 
 
The LDP and New Komeito will look for a possibility of handling 
the bill in their own way. Since the ongoing session will close 
on June 18, many in the two parties are saying that it is not 
necessary to submit the bill early. Whether the ruling coalition 
will present the bill to the current session remains unknown. 
 
The ruling and opposition camps have been at odds over such 
issues as whether other state affairs should be subjected to the 
bill and whether the minimum age for granting voting rights 
should be lowered to 18. It has been difficult for the three 
parties to settle differences of opinions. 
 
Ozawa stressed yesterday that his party had no intention to make 
concessions to the ruling camp, stating: "Minshuto has its own 
views, and they should be accepted." 
 
In a joint meeting last evening of Minshuto's constitutional 
research councils of Upper and Lower House members, a general 
agreement was reached that if the ruling coalition submitted its 
bill, the party should present its own bill. 
 
18) Minshuto President Ozawa explains reason for abstaining from 
Lower House plenary session, saying, "I cannot work soon after 
eating because of heart disease" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 10, 2006 
 
At a press conference yesterday, Minshuto (Democratic Party of 
Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa explained his absence from a 
plenary session of the House of Representatives: 
 
"Since I was hospitalized for heart disease several years ago, my 
doctor told me not to work soon after having a meal. So I have 
followed my doctor's advice. I want you to understand." 
 
Ozawa was admitted with cardiac angina in June 1999. Since he 
assumed the presidency of the largest opposition party in April, 
he attended the first plenary session as Minshuto president, but 
he has been absent seven times in row, including yesterday's 
session. 
 
Ozawa said: 
 
 
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"I have declined to attend official breakfast and luncheon 
meetings. I participate in important sessions, changing my 
schedule. But I have abstained from sessions (Lower House full 
sessions starting at 1:00 p.m. and other sessions) that take 
place around noon." 
 
A senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker made a critical 
comment on Ozawa: "Attending plenary sessions is the duty of a 
politician. What will he do about luncheons with foreign 
dignitaries if he becomes prime minister?" 
 
SCHIEFFER