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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 002751 
 
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 05/19/06 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Beef issue: 
4)   Decision to reopen Japanese market to US beef could come 
  next month 
5)   US-Japan experts talks on BSE issue continue into third day, 
focusing on conditions for resumption of US beef imports 
6)   After consumers are briefed, US beef could start flowing 
into Japan this summer 
 
Foreign policy issues: 
7)   UN Ambassador Bolton concerned about Japan's oil investment 
  in Iran, seeks rollback 
8)   Visiting UN Secretary General Annan expresses concern that 
Yasukuni Shrine issue was increasing tensions in the Asia region 
9)   LDP's Koga presents plan that would separate Class-A war 
criminals from war dead enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine 
10)  Japan-China talks on gas development issue fail to reach any 
conclusion 
11)  Speaking at Tokyo forum, Sri Lanka's foreign minister 
optimistic about peaceful progress in his country 
 
Okinawa issues: 
12)  UN Human Rights Commission special rapporteur accuses Japan 
  of discrimination against Okinawan residents 
13)  Foreign Minister Aso rebuts UN rapporteur's charge of 
Okinawa discrimination 
14)  US, Japan agree to partial return of auxiliary airfield at 
Yomitan 
15)  Okinawa special economic zone to be allowed to produce 
ethanol 
 
Political prospects: 
16)  Jiji poll sees rising popularity rate for Minshuto 
  (Democratic Party of Japan), with Cabinet support rate up a notch 
  to44.5% 
17)  Radio station poll: 65% of the public loves Ichiro Ozawa; 
35% hates him 
18)  Conspiracy crime bill to pass today over the objections end 
even boycott of Minshuto 
 
19)  Government panel released "global strategy" for labor market 
  that would cut by 20% number of job-hoppers, increase foreign 
  labor 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Missing elementary school boy in Akita found dead on riverbank 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Seven & I Holdings to develop common terminal device used for its 
e-money as well as other companies' digital cash; Negotiations 
underway with JR East Japan on its Suica e-cash system 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
TOKYO 00002751  002 OF 011 
 
 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Mindan and Chongryon: How best to use this reconciliation? 
(2)  Public opening of Kitora mural painting: What the White 
Tiger tells us 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Shigeru Yokota's ROK visit: Spread of sympathy and 
solidarity to South Korea 
(2)  Hiroshi Fuse's viewpoint on US restored relations with 
Libya: It's too early to have an optimistic view of Libya as a 
model country that abandoned nuclear ambitions 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Medical reform: Prefectural governments ready to play a 
leading part? 
(2)  UN Secretary-General Annan's visit: Stagnation on UN reform 
would only lead to dysfunction 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  International broadcasts need to be expanded in a way to be 
convincing to the nation 
(2) False quake-resistance reports: More criminal acts likely, in 
addition to fraud 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Arrest of Huser President Ojima: Ministry of Land, 
Infrastructure, and Transport should come up with safety measures 
(2)  Annan and UN: Full efforts needed for reform of UN 
Secretariat 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  Medical reform bills sent to Upper House: Do not repeat 
tepid debate 
(2)  False quake-resistance reports: Safety of housing should be 
restored 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 18 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 19, 2006 
 
10:37 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Suzuki at Kantei. 
 
13:40 
Met Brazilian Ambassador to Indonesia Fujita in the presence of 
Justice Minister Sugiura. 
 
14:10 
Attended an Upper House Administrative Reform Special Committee 
meeting. 
 
18:32 
Attended an Economic and Fiscal Policy Council meeting at Kantei. 
 
19:55 
Returned to his residence. 
 
4) Decision next month on resuming US beef imports 
 
TOKYO 00002751  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
May 19, 2006 
 
The Japanese and US government held experts talks on May 18 on 
the issue of resuming imports of US beef. As a result of the 
talks, the Japanese government's doubts have just about been 
removed by the US government's report of its re-inspections of 
targeted meatpacking facilities. The outlook is for a formal 
decision on resumption of US beef imports, possibly in mid-June. 
 
At the meeting, the US delegation reported on all the 35 plants 
that it had re-inspected. Japan repeatedly asked if there were 
any problems in the meat processing and method of inspection, but 
no problem could be ascertained similar to the case of the 
shipment of meat with vertical columns that causes a halt in 
imports in January. There will be a restart of discussions on 
Friday morning, the 19th, but if there are no problems, a basic 
agreement will be reached on the safety of US facilities. 
 
5) US beef imports; Bilateral talks in final stretch today with 
final decision likely next month; Import conditions to be 
discussed again today 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
May 19, 2006 
 
The governments of Japan and the US yesterday held an experts 
meeting at the Foreign Ministry to discuss the resumption of US 
beef imports by Japan. Participants exchanged views to work out 
specific conditions for lifting the embargo. The two parties 
agreed to extend the session until today, because there still 
remained some unfinished issues, though they generally shared the 
same view that the US safety control system has almost been 
readied. Tokyo will continue to coordinate views with the aim of 
formally deciding to resume beef trade before the end of June, 
when a bilateral summit is scheduled to take place. 
 
The second beef import ban was imposed following the discovery of 
specified risk materials (SRM) in a US beef shipment in January. 
The main agenda item of the ongoing talks, which had kicked off 
on a two days' schedule, is how a recurrence can be prevented. 
Washington carried out the reinspections of 35 meat processing 
plants authorized to export products to Japan regarding the 
situation of how export manuals had been put in place and the 
details of employee training and conveyed the results to the 
Japanese side. 
 
The two parties also exchanged views on such additional measures 
as Japanese government officials inspecting US meat packers prior 
to the resumption of imports and being present at the scene of 
spot checks by US inspectors after the resumption of beef trade. 
 
Japanese government officials, such as those of the Ministry of 
Health, Labor, and Welfare, which is in charge of securing food 
hygiene, take the view that it is necessary to check more details 
about the US safety control system. 
 
If the two countries can reach a final agreement on conditions 
for importing US beef, the Japanese government will hold town 
meetings throughout the nation to exchange views with consumers. 
It will seek their understanding, by presenting draft conditions 
 
TOKYO 00002751  004 OF 011 
 
 
for restarting beef trade. The sessions will likely take about 
three weeks, including the period of notification on the outline 
of such sessions. Once the government judges that it has obtained 
broad-based understanding from the public, it will formally 
decide to resume imports. 
 
Following that decision, it will dispatch experts to the US for 
prior inspections. It will likely take a month to inspect all 35 
US facilities. After completing these procedures, US beef will 
reach Japanese consumers in July, if all goes smoothly. 
 
6) US beef imports: Government to explain details of talks with 
US to consumers to pave way for resumption of beef trade in 
summer 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 19, 2006 
 
Japanese and US beef experts discussed for two days the 
resumption of US beef imports by Japan. Yesterday evening they 
generally completed discussing agenda items. Though they will 
also meet today, because some details still have to be worked 
out, prospects have now become strong that beef trade will be 
reinstated in the summer. 
 
If Tokyo and Washington reach a consensus on the resumption of US 
beef imports, the Japanese government will take procedures to 
hold town meetings with consumers to exchange views with them, 
which will take about two weeks. The government will explain the 
specifics of the experts meeting to consumers during these 
sessions. Once it obtains understanding, it will then formally 
decide on conditions for lifting the embargo. 
 
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa 
yesterday told reporters in Tokyo: "We called on the US side to 
investigate into the reasons for the inclusion of SRM in its beef 
shipment and take thorough measures to prevent a recurrence. We 
are now working to determine whether to resume the beef trade." 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also stated last evening, "Beef 
imports will be restarted, if conditions are met." 
 
7) US ambassador to UN express concern about Japan's investment 
in Iran 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Full) 
May 19, 2006 
 
Ikeda, New York 
 
In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun at the US mission to the 
United Nations in New York on May 18, US Ambassador to the UN 
Bolton revealed that the US government has repeatedly expressed 
to the Japanese government its concern that Japan's development 
of the Azadegan oil field would only "benefit Iran." Washington 
is mulling economic sanctions against Iran, based on a UN 
Security Council, but it is also considering sanctions to be 
imposed by a "coalition of the willing." Bolton's remarks 
supposedly are intended to urge Japan to fall in step with the 
US. 
 
Ambassador Bolton stated: 
 
 
TOKYO 00002751  005 OF 011 
 
 
"Iran is apparently trying to place India, China, Japan and other 
great oil consumers under its thumb on the strength of its oil 
and natural gas.    Japanese policymakers should work out 
measures to diversify energy-resource suppliers, without relying 
overly on a single nation." 
 
Bolton also expressed his strong apprehension about Japan's 
promotion of oil field development, saying: 
 
I wonder if it is proper to invest in a country that has said it 
would eliminate Israel and is preparing to possess nuclear 
weapons. Japan must consider this point." 
 
On the reform of the UNSC, Bolton said: "We will have to continue 
utmost efforts to reform other areas, such as the Secretariat, at 
least for several more months," indicating that an early UNSC 
reform would be difficult. 
 
To a question about a successor to UN Secretary General Kofi 
Annan, whose term of office expires at the end of this year, 
Bolton replied: "The sole condition is someone from a country 
other than the permanent member nations." "I do not mean to say 
that Japan should give up its bid for a UNSC permanent seat," he 
said, adding; 
 
"The role Japan has played at the UN is great. Joining the UNSC 
as a permanent member is an important challenge for Japan, but 
there are obstacles to the challenge, from a realistic point of 
view. Since China has declared that it will continue to use its 
right to refuse Japan's bid for a permanent seat, it might be 
worth for Japan to consider (assuming the post of chief of 
secretariat)." 
 
SIPDIS 
 
8) UN Secretary-General Annan: "Tensions in the region are 
increasing" due to prime minister's visits to Yasukuni Shrine 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 19, 2006 
 
By Ryo Kudochi 
 
Meeting the press yesterday in Tokyo, United Nations Secretary- 
General Annan mentioned the chilly relations between Japan and 
China and between Japan and South Korea and urged the leaders of 
the three nations to take action to improve their relations, 
saying: "The situation will not be resolved if no action is 
taken." Referring to Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni 
Shrine, Annan stated: "Haven't such visits, in a sense, added 
fuel to tensions in the region?" 
 
Speaking of Japan-China relations, Annan commented, "Improving 
their ties would benefit both sides. For that, I think the 
leaders of the two countries need to be both tolerant and bold." 
 
When asked about Japan's relations with South Korea, which he 
visited prior to his Japan tour, Annan said: "The leaders of the 
two countries are well aware of the importance of friendship. 
Both sides are well aware what has irritated the other side and 
what has made the other side harbor concerns. Both sides should 
help each other." 
 
9) LDP lawmaker Koga suggests discussion of separate enshrinement 
 
TOKYO 00002751  006 OF 011 
 
 
of Class-A war criminals, aims to make Yasukuni a major issue in 
LDP presidential campaign 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
May 19, 2006 
 
By Kengo Sakajiri 
 
Former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Makoto 
Koga, chair of the Japan War-Bereaved Association, announced a 
set of policy proposals yesterday, having in mind the LDP 
presidential election set for September, and referring to Class-A 
war criminals enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine, Koga indicated that 
"separating a portion of the spirits of the war dead from the 
shrine will be a matter to be discussed." On the Yasukuni issue, 
Prime Minister Koizumi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, and some 
other politicians are insisting that it should not be made a 
major issue in the presidential campaign. But Koga, by floating a 
proposal for separate enshrinement of Class-A war criminals, 
apparently aims to make history a major campaign issue in the 
upcoming presidential election to choose a successor to Koizumi. 
 
Koga came up with a set of policy proposals at a policy study 
meeting of the LDP's Niwa-Koga faction led by Koga and lawmaker 
Yuya Niwa. The faction agreed to use Koga's proposals as a basis 
for policy proposals the faction will work out in the weeks 
ahead. 
 
In his proposals, Koga described the prime minister's shrine 
visits as "something that has soured relations with China and 
raised the sense of impasse now felt from Japanese diplomacy." 
"Separating a portion of the spirits of those who died for other 
reasons but were enshrined will be one idea to be considered so 
that many more people, including foreigners, will be able to 
visit the shrine to offer condolences to the spirits of the war 
dead," he added. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe told a news conference yesterday: "I 
think it is a matter members of the Japan War-Bereaved 
Association will discuss cool-headedly." Asked if the issue 
should be made a campaign issue in the presidential race, Abe 
said: "If that happened, it would turn into a more intricately 
political and diplomatic issue. We should not do so." Prime 
Minister Koizumi, as well, told reporters about separate 
enshrinement: "The government is not in a position to be involved 
in the matter." 
 
Yasukuni Shrine has asserted that because of religious reasons 
separate enshrinement is impossible. An official of the Japan War- 
Bereaved Association said puzzledly: "There is no need to 
separate certain spirits from others. I can't understand Koga's 
true intentions." 
 
But in the LDP, momentum is rising to somehow settle the question 
of enshrinement of Class-A war criminals in order to rebuild 
relations with China as Koizumi is to step down. 
 
10) Japan, China fail to close gap in talks on gas field 
development 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 19, 2006 
 
TOKYO 00002751  007 OF 011 
 
 
 
The Japanese and Chinese governments held their 5th bureau 
director-level talks on the development of natural gas fields in 
the East China Sea in Tokyo yesterday. Both sides detailed their 
earlier joint-development proposals but failed to close the gap 
over where the joint work should take place. The two countries, 
though, agreed to continue talks on joint development to resolve 
the dispute. Next round will be held in China in June. 
 
Both sides shared the need for measures to prevent a vessel 
collisions in nearby waters and to smoothly handle the situation 
in the event that an unexpected accident takes place. They then 
confirmed a commitment to construct communication and information 
systems. 
 
In the talks, Japan stressed its position of not allowing China 
to continue developing gas fields in the oceanic area close to 
waters that Japan claims, renewing its call for China to stop 
development in the Shirakaba gas field (Chunxiao in Chinese) near 
the median line and to present data of geologic research results. 
The median line is claimed by Japan thQQ%NSKQQ some point of compromise with the 
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)." 
 
Since this April, military attacks supposedly by LTTE, an 
antigovernment group, have been intensifying. The foreign 
minister stated: "Their uncompromising stance is the same as 
before, but their posture toward peace remains unchanged." 
 
12) Gov't to present rebuttal in writing to UN on "discrimination 
against Okinawa" remark: Aso 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 3) (Full) 
Eve., May 18, 2006 
 
TOKYO-Doudou Diene, a special rapporteur appointed by the United 
Nations Human Rights Commission, delivered a speech on May 16 in 
 
TOKYO 00002751  008 OF 011 
 
 
the city of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, and noted that the 
concentration of US military bases on the small island prefecture 
speaks of discrimination. In response, Foreign Minister Taro Aso 
rebutted Diene in a meeting of the House of Councillors Foreign 
and Defense Affairs Committee this morning. "It's based on 
geopolitical needs, not based on any discriminatory intention," 
Aso stated before the committee. Diene has indicated that he 
would present a fact-finding report to the UN Human Rights 
Commission. "Japan would like to present a letter of rebuttal 
before the commission meets," Aso said. 
 
Aso was replying to a question asked by Masahide Ota, a member of 
the Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto). "It's true that 
Okinawa is home to 75% of all US military facilities in Japan," 
Aso admitted. "However," Aso went on, "it's based on geopolitical 
needs or de facto requests, and it's clear that it's not based on 
any discriminatory intent." He also stated, "It's a personal view 
(representing Diene's own), not the United Nations' view. It's 
not legally binding, either." 
 
13) Base concentration on Okinawa not discrimination; Foreign 
minister rebuts Diene 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full) 
Eve., May 18, 2006 
 
TOKYO-Foreign Minister Taro Aso appearing before the House of 
Councillors Foreign and Defense Affairs Committee in its meeting 
today rebutted a United Nations special rapporteur's viewpoint 
that the concentration of US military bases on Okinawa is 
discriminatory against the residents of that prefecture. UN 
Special Rapporteur Doudou Diene made the claim after having 
visited Okinawa.  Aso said. "It is clear that (the US bases being 
on Okinawa) is not based on any discriminatory intention," Diene 
has indicated that he would report his Okinawa visit to the UN 
Human Rights Commission in September. Aso stated that he would 
officially rebut Diene's viewpoint in written form. "I'd like to 
present a rebuttal in writing to the United Nations before the 
commission meets," Aso stated. 
 
Okinawa is home to 75% of all US military facilities in Japan. 
"This is based on geopolitical reasons and de facto requests 
(from the United States)," Aso stated. With this, he explained 
that the US military presence on Okinawa is not any kind of 
discrimination. 
 
"Mr. Diene visited Okinawa on the sidelines of a private visit to 
Japan," Aso stated. Asked about Diene's "discrimination" remark, 
Aso stressed that this was not an official  United Nations 
statement. "I think it's his personal view, and not the United 
Nations' view, so it's not legally binding," Aso said. 
 
Aso was replying to a question asked by Masahide Ota, a member of 
the Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto). 
 
Diene visited Okinawa on May 15-16 to view US military facilities 
in Okinawa Prefecture, including Camp Schwab, where the US Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station will be relocated. 
 
14) Japan, US agree on partial return of Yomitan airfield 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00002751  009 OF 011 
 
 
May 19, 2006 
 
The Japanese and US governments held a meeting of their joint 
committee at a US military facility in Tokyo yesterday. In the 
meeting, the two governments agreed on the return of Yomitan 
airfield, a US military facility located in the village of 
Yomitanson, Okinawa Prefecture. The airfield covers a total area 
of about 191 hectares, and the United States will return about 
140 hectares on the airfield's east side by the end of July this 
year. 
 
The Japan-US Special Action Committee on Facilities and Areas in 
Okinawa (SACO) released its final report in 1996, incorporating 
an agreement to return the airfield by the end of fiscal 2000. 
However, the airfield has yet to be returned due to the US 
military's delay in the planned relocation of the Sobe telecom 
facility, contiguous to the airfield, to Camp Hansen. 
 
The remaining 51-hectare portion is expected to be returned along 
with the Sobe site's reversion. 
 
15) Special ethanol zone floated as Okinawa stimulus measure; 
Government to encourage use of sugarcane 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
May 19, 2006 
 
As part of Okinawa stimulus measures following USFJ realignment, 
the government has begun looking into the possibility of an 
ethanol zone to promote the development and production of alcohol 
(bio-ethanol) made from sugarcane indigenous to Okinawa. It will 
call on Okinawa to apply for approval for the plan. In line with 
the project, the government is considering easing regulations on 
the sale of ethanol-gasoline fuel and instituting preferential 
tax measures. 
 
Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Nikai on May 16 informed 
Prime Minister Koizumi of the plan to develop bio-ethanol mainly 
in Okinawa as a new energy source. The prime minister then 
ordered him to specifically look into the plan. 
 
16) Poll: DPJ rebounds to 10.0%; Cabinet inches up to 44.5% 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
May 19, 2006 
 
The approval rating for the Koizumi cabinet in May was 44.5%, up 
0.6 percentage point from last month, according to a Jiji Press 
poll released yesterday. The disapproval rating has also risen 
1.6 points to 36.0%. Meanwhile, it has been a month since Ichiro 
Ozawa became the new president of the leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto). The DPJ stood at 
10.0% in public support, up 0.9 point, and the party's support 
rate rebounded to double digits for the first time in seven 
months. The survey was conducted May 11-14 on a face-to-face 
basis with a total of 2,000 samples aged 20 and over. The 
retrieval rate was 66.6%. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ 
went up for the third month in a row. The ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party was at 25.9%, down 1.1 points. The LDP's support 
rate went down for the first time in three months. 
 
TOKYO 00002751  010 OF 011 
 
 
 
17) Radio program conducts poll on Ozawa: 65% like him, 35% 
dislike him 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) 
May 19, 2006 
 
Nippon Broadcasting System's morning radio program hosted by 
Takuro Morinaga and Kakihana Tadashi conducted an opinion survey 
of its listeners yesterday on Minshuto (Democratic Party of 
Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa. The survey showed that 64.9% of 
the respondents said they liked Ozawa, while 35.1% said they 
disliked him. 
 
Following the May 17 Koizumi-Ozawa Diet debate, the program 
conducted the survey between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. yesterday. The 
program received a total of 114 e-mails and faxes, with 74 saying 
they like Ozawa and 40 indicating they dislike him. Those who 
said they like him cited such reasons as that "His combination of 
fastballs and curveballs the Diet debate was good," or "He is not 
a bad guy like people say," or "Of all past Minshuto heads, he 
has the strongest aura." Reasons for disliking him included, "He 
has carried bad impression since he was LDP secretary general," 
and "At that age, he cannot change." 
 
18) Ruling bloc-dominated Lower House committee to approve 
conspiracy charge bill today; Minshuto determined to resist it 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 19, 2006 
 
The Lower House Committee on Judicial Affairs met yesterday to 
discuss a bill allowing law-enforcement authorities to file 
conspiracy charges against those who are regarded to have 
discussed a crime. In the session, the committee's chair Nobuteru 
Ishihara decided to hold a committee meeting on the afternoon of 
May 19 by virtue of his office. The committee intends to approve 
the bill today, the ruling coalition saying, "We have discussed 
the bill thoroughly." The ruling coalition's plan is to continue 
revision talks with Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) until 
noon, and if the talks fail, it intends to take up the ruling 
bloc's revision plan of late April to submit a newly revised bill 
independently. If the ruling bloc's rams the bill through the 
Lower House, Minshuto intends to boycott Diet deliberations on 
May 19 and beyond altogether. 
 
Minshuto characterizes the bill as a major hurdle in the current 
Diet session during its remaining days. Following the forcible 
adoption May 17 of medical reform-related bills including higher 
medical fees for the aged by the Lower House Health, Labor and 
Welfare Committee, Minshuto boycott yesterday all Lower House 
committee meetings to discuss the timetable. But the largest 
opposition party took the strategy of not boycotting the plenary 
session and presenting engagements opposing the bill. 
 
19) Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy sets targets for 2010, 
including reducing part-time workers by 20% and increasing Haneda 
Airports' carrying capacity by 40% 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 19, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00002751  011 OF 011 
 
 
The government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy compiled 
yesterday global strategy aimed at increasing Japan's 
international competitiveness. The strategy set numerical targets 
in four areas -- human resources, industries, local areas, and 
international contributions -- such as reducing young part-time 
workers by 20% and increasing Haneda Airport's carrying capacity 
by 40% by 2010. The report also calls for active acceptance of 
highly skilled foreign workers, such as researchers. 
 
After consulting with the ruling coalition, the government plans 
to reflect the strategy in the 2006 "big-boned" economic and 
fiscal management policy guidelines" to be produced in June. The 
strategy lists a number of challenges required for Japan to 
demonstrate international leadership in the backdrop of rising 
China and India, saying they will help the country maintain the 
competitive edge. 
 
The report also mentions specific ways to improve the environment 
to accept more foreign workers, such as extending the duration of 
stay from the current three years to five years and expanding the 
scope of family members' stay in Japan, now limited to children 
and spouses, to include parents. Additionally, the strategy calls 
for the flexible acceptance of foreign caretakers for the aged. 
 
Major challenges shown by the global strategy 
 
AreaItems that need to meet targets by 2010 
 
Numerical targets 
Human resources 
Young free-time workers 
Decrease the number by 20% from 2.13 million recorded in 2004. 
 
700 points or over in TOEIC 
Double the number of 140,000 recorded in 2004. 
Industries 
Investment in Japan to GDP 
Increase the level to about 5%. 
 
Exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and foods 
(2009) 
Double the volume to 600 billion yen. 
Local areas 
Number of foreign visitors 
Increase the number to 10 million from 2005's 6.73 million. 
 
Railroad access to Narita Airport from central Tokyo 
Reduce the time by 20 minutes to 30 minutes. 
International contributions 
Oil dependence (by 2030) 
Reduce dependence to 40%. 
 
Number of people learning Japanese language abroad 
Increase the number to 3 million from 2.36 in 2003. 
 
SCHIEFFER